ILCA Laser Masters Championships

Ever wondered what it’s like to race in a Laser Masters Championship? Long-standing DBSC members and regatta regulars give us a glimpse into the Laser Masters Championships in Australia and abroad so that newbies know what to expect when attending their first regatta.

Mark Bethwaite is an active regatta competitor in State, National, and World Championships. Mark has competed in the following World Championships: Takapuna NZL 1993, Wakayama JPN 1994, Cape Town RSA 1995, Algarrobo CHI 1997, Melbourne AUS 1998, Cancun MEX 2000, Cork IRE 2001, Hyannis USA 2002, Cadiz ESP 2003, Bodrum TUR 2004, Fortelaza BRA 2005, Roses ESP 2007, Terrigal AUS 2008, Halifax CAN 2009, San Francisco USA 2011, Oman 2012, Hyeres FRA 2013, Kingston CAN 2015, Puerto Vallarta MEX 2016, Split CRO 2017, Dublin IRE 2018.

Martin White prefers the World Laser Masters Championships as he finds “the adventure of an overseas regatta to be a lot more attractive”. Martin has competed in the following World Championships: Terrigal AUS 2008, Halifax CAN 2009, San Francisco USA 2011, Brisbane AUS 2012, Hyeres FRA 2013, Puerto Vallarta MEX 2016, Split CRO 2017, Dublin IRE 2018, Port Zelande NL 2019. Martin’s favourite venues have been Croatia (the result helped!), Mexico (amazing venue), and Ireland (coldest venue but the warmest people).

Rod Barnes has endeavoured to enter every State and National Laser Masters Championship since the ripe age of 36 and has competed in the following World Championships (and plans to go to more when he is able to): Split CRO 2017, Port Zelande NL 2019.

Andrew Cox only started sailing Lasers at 42 and entered his first Masters Championship a few years later, but wishes he had started sooner. Since then, Andrew has aimed to race in every NSW/ACT State Championship, as well as the National Championships when he can.

What exactly is the Laser Masters Championships?

Rod: Masters sailing is for people over the age of 35. Sailors are categorised by age in groups of 10 years starting from the age of 35. There are annual district, regional, national and world championships.

Mark: An annual regatta of Laser geriatrics held in some great locations.

How different is it to club racing?

Rod: There are usually many more competitors at regattas with stiffer competition and the events usually run from two days for local events and up to ten days for world championships. Racing conditions are generally the same.

Mark: More boats in total but racing only against peers with separate starts for each age group in the World Championships.

How long are the races?

Martin: About the same as DBSC. Usually about 45-50 minutes. Back-to-back races and two or three races per day.

Andrew: About 45min, which is a similar length to club races.

How many sailors are there usually on the start line?

Martin: Depends on the age demographic usually. Masters and Grand Masters have the biggest fleets (50 – 70 boats). Apprentices, Great Grand Masters, and Legends have smaller fleets. In Hyeres, France there were 500 entries in total.

Andrew: Usually 50+ ILCA / Lasers compete on each start. At the State Masters Championship, there are typically two starts, one for Standard / Full rigs and one for Radial / 4.7 rigs. All age categories generally participate together in each of those fleets.

How good do you have to be to compete?

Martin: Just like DBSC, you don’t have to be good, just keen!

Andrew: Sailors of all levels compete, from ILCA / Laser world champions and former Olympians, to club level sailors. Any sailors from DBSC who can get around a race course comfortably will feel comfortable as part of a State Masters Championship fleet.

Do many women compete?

Mark: Increasingly more women are competing in their Radial age group.

Andrew: There is always a contingent of female ILCA / Laser sailors at State Masters Championship events (including some who are at the top of their fleets and/or age categories), but there is nowhere near a proportional representation. At DBSC, we always encourage our female ILCA / Laser sailors to compete at regattas.

How important are the sailing rules?

Andrew: The sailing rules are always important if for no other reason than the fact that they deliver order rather than chaos on the race course. Having said that, the level of knowledge required is no more at a regatta than it is at DBSC. In fact, with better sailors, the rules are rarely explicitly required to be discussed or invoked because, as always, one is better off tactically avoiding rules conflict situations (for example, even if that means letting a port tacker cross you while causing you a small duck), rather than trying to enforce rules-based rights. Common sense should prevail!

Martin: Just as important as club racing. Might help if you speak several languages! Most of the sailors do their best to avoid collisions.

Do you normally go for a sail the day before to get to know the course?

Mark: As soon as charter boats are allocated, which is usually the day before.

Martin: Yes, in fact many competitors begin their boat charter several days ahead of the regatta.

What preparations do you recommend leading up to the regatta?

Martin: It can be a long week of sailing so being in shape and prepared mentally is important.

Rod: The bigger the event the more preparation is generally needed but this is entirely a personal choice. Some people do regattas for fun, others like to continually improve or set goals. You would be surprised how much effort and training some people put into a Worlds event. Some people enjoy the training and preparation just as much as the event itself.

How does a charter boat arrangement work and what other equipment is required?

Martin: We charter a boat that’s generally either brand new or is into its 2nd or 3rd charter.  The mast, boom, rudder and centreboard are supplied. Anything easy to carry on a plane is provided by the competitor. This includes all the normal ropes we have on our own laser. It also includes the tiller which normally has to go on the plane as oversized baggage. I did hear of one competitor turning his tiller and its extension into a walking stick. This removed the risk of it going missing.  He hobbled onto the plane with a fake limp and his precious tiller tucked neatly under his armpit.

Rod: You pay a fee to hire a boat for an event. They provide the boat, spars and foils. You take your own sail, control lines and any other bits and pieces you need. These normally fit into a carry on bag in your luggage. There are not many classes that do this and it makes it easier to attend overseas events.

Are there any other activities aside from the racing?

Mark: Eating, drinking, camaraderie.

Andrew: At DBSC, we like to make attendance at ILCA / Laser regattas a social experience. We tend to rig and de-rig together, often under a DBSC banner that we place somewhere in the park. We typically arrange accommodation together in groups, and head out one night for dinner (or host a BBQ at one of the team houses). There is often an organised regatta dinner or sausage sizzle another night, held at the host clubhouse, which our sailors usually attend. After attending a few regattas, one makes friends with sailors from other clubs too, so the event has great camaraderie, both on- and off-water.

What's your top tip for newbies?

Martin: Just do it! It’s a wonderful experience.

Andrew: Regattas are fun, so come along even if only for that reason, whether or not you think you will be competitive