cam 0 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Anyone here going this year? In Auckland (long bay) so should be a good turnout. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rocket Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I was planning to do the laser nationals at Torbay... Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Oh yes Torbay. I might have had a quiet regatta on my own around the corner. Not that I can make it this year myself actually, no doubt the few people I managed to beat in the last year or two are breathing a huge sigh of relief They are expecting record breaking fleet sizes I see from the website (as they would being in Auckland) Fingers crossed the weather co-operates for what should be an awesome event. As a fully paid up member of the laser 'snail' racing team, I can vouch that even the back of the fleet offers excellent racing. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rocket Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Agree on the quality of the racing - if you happen to be on the pace you look back and wonder how the guys at the back get so far away - then you have a bad start one day or make a bad call and find yourself DFL - and holy smoke it is freaking hard to pass anyone - and the leaders just keep sailing away. Hope the weather holds - not much fun launching there in a big swell - can remember launching NZ Moths through the surf ast Torbay in the olden days - 4 guys per boat - skipper on and carry them out through the surf at shoulder height then chuck them off and hope they beat the next set. OK in a fleet of 30 but with a fleet of 100+ lasers it won't happen. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Agree on the quality of the racing - if you happen to be on the pace you look back and wonder how the guys at the back get so far away - then you have a bad start one day or make a bad call and find yourself DFL - and holy smoke it is freaking hard to pass anyone - and the leaders just keep sailing away. Hope the weather holds - not much fun launching there in a big swell - can remember launching NZ Moths through the surf ast Torbay in the olden days - 4 guys per boat - skipper on and carry them out through the surf at shoulder height then chuck them off and hope they beat the next set. OK in a fleet of 30 but with a fleet of 100+ lasers it won't happen. Actually, of everywhere I've raced in Auckland, Torbay is the most sheltered for launching - the swell has to come in from just the wrong angle before you get waves on the beach. You are sheltered from the South by the Reef and from the North by the Tor. Even if there are waves on the beach you can usually avoid them by taking your boat around to the North side. I have had much more difficulties at Murrays and Wakatere, where the beaches are a lot more exposed in an Easterly. Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Nothing short of a top 5 Masters spot and ahead of Mr. Thom will do Rocket. We will be watching! Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rocket Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I will be out there doing it - Looks like a pretty fine masters fleet - top 10 would be my goal. I am sure Murray will be expecting top 1. 184 entries!!! Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Largest Nationals fleet for a while.. Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Was looking at headind down today but got side tracked - saw a heap of boats out when I was heading home. Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Yes that is a good size fleet. Altho that is just 38 more than in Timaru last year I think. I wondered if it might have been even more actually. Good luck to all. Hiope the conditions offer good racing. Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Anyone know where to look for results?? Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 sailing reports and results are off this page http://www.nzlaser.org/2011-laser-national-champs Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rocket Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Umm the weather got us - but would have got anywhere in Ak. But try getting 185 boats off one ramp..... Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share Posted January 24, 2011 Yes that would be an interesting boat launching event to be part of. Hope they have a team of the usual wonderful volunteers to help, remove/fetch trollies etc... Must have been a heavy day out there today, judging by your forecast up there, and the results showing some carnage. Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share Posted January 24, 2011 I see Tamaki YC sailor, Bob Blakey GGM (ie "Great Grand Master", 65+) is currently doing blimin well at 6th in the masters fleet. Sheez hope I am still fit enough to be going hard on lasers in heavy days like this at 65+. Hopefully might learn a crafty trick or two by then as well (ie. tacking, gybing, starting, mark rounding) Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 197 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 They were out on the water till after 7pm yesterday. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Lots of boats and no breeze out there at present. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rocket Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Very tough regatta. We got to the beach yesterday at 8:30pm after 3 very tough races. Solid 25-30 when we started around 3:30pm. As tough a day as I have had on a yacht. High quality fleets with ex and current world age group champions sprinkled throughout. In the masters last years champion got 10th! 185 boats on one course is enough. Many tks to all the volunteers - who were always the last down there, pulling chase boats out till after dark. Link to post Share on other sites
cam 0 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Nice one R. Sheez that sounds pretty intense, bloody hard core actually. 3.30pm is a pretty late start, were you waiting on the water for much of the time, or kept ashore? The latter I hope. Yes the masters fleets seem to be full of very experienced, very competitive, very fit sailors. Not quite the 'social' grade class racing the uninitiated might expect (altho at my level it usually is!) agreed about those volunteers, they are often not even into sailing, but turn up to help and are very generous with their time. Huge thanks to them all. Link to post Share on other sites
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