No Compassion at Laser Masters Worlds

Dun Laoghaire, Ireland (September 9, 2018) – Dublin Bay served up a robust opening day to the Laser Masters World Championships of two races for the 302 entries from 25 countries.

Defying winds gusting from 20 to 27 knots, Australia’s Brett Beyer in the Standard Master class, Britain’s Stephen Cockerill in Radial Grand Master and Bill Symes in the Great Grand Masters along Peter Seidenberg in the Legends event – both of the United States – all scored two wins each.

With consistency as key to the leaderboard, tomorrow is also expected to have similar or perhaps stronger conditions to test the eight divisions racing under Standard and Radial rigs.

Yet Beyer, Cockerill, and Symes hardly have runaway leads at such as early stage of the regatta and each has a hunting pack close behind.

The Standard Grand Master class has Australia’s David Whaite tied for second place with Canada’s Ray Davies and Britain’s Orlando Gledhill just a point behind them in their 60-strong class.

Similarly, in the Radial Grand Master Class, Sweden’s Gustaf Svensson is second overall with just two points separating him from fifth place.

Today’s opener came as a surprise for some competitors after two days of near calm and drizzle; the westerly wind produced a tricky day with frequent shifts in the gusts that led to plenty of capsizes and one or two minor injuries. A rest day is planned for Wednesday (Sept 12) when lighter breezes are currently forecast to arrive.

Event details – Results – Facebook

The field of men and women is spread across five divisions plus Standard and Radial rigs and is grouped by age ranges: Apprentice age 35 and over; Master age 45 and over; Grand-Master age 55 and over; Great Grand-master age 65 and over; Legend age 75 and over.

Racing will be held from September 9th to 15th with a layday on the 12th.

Source: David G. Kelly