A large fleet of over sixty sailors from New Zealand, NSW, Victoria, WA and the local Queenslanders were greeted with a beautiful clear sky and light breezes for the first day of South Pacific Laser Masters regatta in Brisbane today.
Many of this fleet are regulars to this mid winter regatta and prior to racing numerous competitive friendships were rekindled. A feature of the entries this year is the high proportion of Great Grand Masters (over 65yrs) racing. There are 14 GGM's racing in the Radial fleet of 34 and it's expected to be a highly competitive race within a race.
The starters got the two fleets of Radials and Standard Rigs away in a light northeasterly after a delay waiting for the breeze to build. Due to the long wait only one race was possible. As expected World Apprentice Radial Champion Scott Leith from Auckland was the one to beat in the Radials and he took the gun. Second was John Campbell of RQYS while local GGM Kerry Warraker sailed well to take third.
In the Standard rigs Kiwi Mat Blakey took the honours while Chris Dawson from RPAYC was second and Bulimba river sailor Mark John was third. The best of the woman was Lyndall Patterson ahead of Christine Bridge.
With the forecast for the next three days being for warm days and light to moderate breezes the racing is expected to remain close and competitive.
– Michael Wilson
