Jon Deutsch sent the following article to both Club and District 11 Laser sailors. This District covers Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. The Regatta which started on September 29 runs through October 6 and is being held on the Mediterranean coast north of Barcelona, Spain..

Entries for Laser Masters Worlds Regattas are open to any Laser sailor over 35 and attracted over 400 boats, many trailiered in from all over Europe. when the Regatta was held at the Royal Cork YC in July, 2001. This was my final appearance in a Worlds Regatta and followed Cancun in March 2000, Melbourne Australia in January 1999, and Allgorobo, Chile in October 1997. In Chile I excelled myself with two mid-fleet finishes but it was all down hill from there, but what a ride and what great memories. Chile was the first Worlds where Great Grand Masters, the over 65's, were required to race with the Radial rig in deference to their age and theoretically reduced stamina; try telling that to the youngsters who race against these wiley old birds.

Jon's item reports over 400 entries and I have heard that the next Masters Worlds in Australia is closed to new entries. But all is not lost; there is a waiting list for would be racers.

Check out the photographs in Jon's report, and follow our duo over the next thrre race days.

LASER MASTERS WORLDS

Dave Porter and Alain Vincey are both in Spain this week competing in the Laser Masters Worlds. Today’s racing (10/3) was called off due to lack of wind. The three previous days had 10-20 knots of breeze enabling 6 races to be run.

Alain and David are competing in a full rig fleet of 75 grand masters sailors. Radials and full rigs are split and each rig has separate starts for each age group. That’s 7 starts with over 400 competitors. Check out the results after 6 races here:

I wasn’t able to find any pictures of Dave, but I did find a series of 3 photos with Alain in them. They don’t appear to be under the best of circumstances, but here is the first one Alain is on the left and I believe the pictures are in reverse chronological order shortly after Alain was fouled.

The regatta runs through the 6th, so stay tuned…