With the Olympic Laser Class, holding its World Masters Championships right here in our backyard, it was an opportunity too good to resist! So I have dragged the old boat out of storage to be a part of it!
The week long regatta gets underway this weekend (10th March) at RQYS with some 270 boats entered from all around the world. Last year they were in San Francisco – (see video link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4esDaaClTE )
Now I should mention right from the start, don’t expect big things regarding results! I’m competing in this regatta purely for the thrill of it. These boats are incredibly physical to sail, and the guys at the front of the fleet are there because they are fit and race year round. In contrast, I’ve had a couple of practise sails after work over the past couple of weeks, (having not sailed a Laser for 6 years) and I could barely make it up the front steps when I arrived home after each sail! Masters are 45 and over. Hopefully being at the younger end of this group might help, but after watching a few old fit guys out practising last week, I doubt it!
My competitive sailing started at the age of 8 in the Sabot Class. My best result was 3rd in the Nationals when I was 13 on Lake Macquarie . I then stepped into the exciting Moth Class but this was short lived as we only had a small fleet. The Laser Class however, was quickly gaining a reputation as the ultimate single handed, ‘one design’ racing boat with a growing fleet at RQ. I purchased a boat and raced a few seasons but at that age, in my late teens and early 20’s there were plenty of distractions! I sold the boat for a oneway air ticket to the UK in 1987. I purchased another Laser 6 years ago for the great comeback, but with the commitments of a young family the boat was moth balled after just one season.
So wish me luck!