12AUG07, Colchester, Vermont— 150
of the World’s best sailors came to the Malletts Bay Boat Club to
compete in the 2007 Laser National Championships. The three day
event crowned new National champions for the Laser Full, Radial, and
4.7 rigs.
The Laser class full rig boat is
the men’s single-handed Olympic class boat. Sailed by one person,
the Laser is one of the most popular boats in the country. Only
fourteen feet long, and relatively inexpensive, the Laser is sailed
by all, from Olympians right on down to the casual day sailors.
There are three different configurations of the laser, the full rig,
the radial rig, and the 4.7 rig. The Radial rig is the woman’s
single-handed Olympic boat, and the Full is the men’s.
Set on the scenic Outer Malletts
Bay, competitors race against a backdrop of the Green Mountains to
the east, and the Adirondacks to the west. “It’s nice being able to
sail in fresh water,” said Paige Railey, 2006 Rolex Female Sailor of
the Year and World Champion Radial sailor regarding sailing on Lake
Champlain, “and I love the scenery, in Florida we don’t have trees
with so much green, we just have palm trees.”
Racing kicked off on Friday with
strong breeze and high winds. After four races, David Wright of
Toronto, Canada, led the full rig fleet with eight points, Cameron
Hall sat atop the 4.7 fleet with five points, and Paige Railey
dominated the radial fleet with four 1st places in four
races.
It is fitting that a National
Championship test all the skills of the sailors, and Saturday
brought the direct opposite of Friday’s conditions, with very light
and shifty breeze. Such wind provided a glance into what the
Olympics might be like in Qingdao, China, in 2008. In between
periods of sailable wind, competitors sat for several hours before
getting a race off. An overanxious full rig fleet caused several
restarts, but after several attempts, they managed to get over the
line without mishap.
Saturday’s racing created a bit of
change in the Full rig fleet as a 3rd for Vermonter
Trevor Moore moved him into 3rd place overall after Chris
Dold of Ontario, Canada, was over the line early in the one and only
race. Cameron Hall took another 1st to stay on top of
the 4.7 fleet, and Paige Railey showed why she is a world class
athlete, taking another 1st despite a becalming of the
fleet right before the finish.
Day 3 rounded out the weekend
nicely, with a consistent 11-13 knot wind from the SW. This
medium-heavy air was a good balance between the intense heavy air of
Friday, and the drifter of Saturday, testing all the skills of each
racer. It is unusual that in a three day event, all three different
wind conditions are exhibited.
With two races on the final day
for the Full rigs, David Wright held onto his lead with a 7th
(his discard), and 3th, to finish with 15 points
over all, enough to win the regatta comfortably. Second place Kyle
Rogachenko made his move, jumping into second with , 2nd
and 4th place finishes. He was 5 points in front
of third place, Vermonter Trevor Moore, who had two 1st
and an 8th on the final day. Moore’s third place finish
will qualify him to compete in the Laser Olympic Trials this October
in Newport, RI.
The Radial fleet sailed three
races on the final day. Paige Railey survived a late charge by Mateo
Vargas to win the Radial fleet with finishes of 1st, 2nd
and 10th in the final three races. Vargas won the last
two races, but was unable to surmount the early lead Railey had
built, finishing second overall for the regatta. Rounding out the
top 3 was John Wallace with finishes of five, three and two for the
final day.
The 4.7 fleet completed 9 races
in the three days to crown their National champion. Cameron Hall
continued to dominate with three 1st places and a 2nd
(discard), taking the 4.7s with 9 points. OJ O’Connell rebounded
after a DNF in the 8th race to win the final race. He
finished second for the weekend with 16 points overall. Coming in 3rd
was Teal Strammer with 21 points overall.
Along with new National
Champions, there are a couple of competitors that deserve special
mention. Andrew Cremer competed in the 4.7 division and appeared to
have a huge smile permanently attached to his face. He thanked the
Race Committee very enthusiastically after every one of his
finishes. One of the people on the finish boat commented that his
parent’s should be very proud.
The race held on Saturday saw
very light conditions, which allowed the Laser Full rig sailors to
catch the end of the Laser 4.7 fleet. While on his way to his best
finish of the regatta (2nd), Fred Strammer caught up with
the final 4.7 competitor, who was struggling to finish within the
time limit. Many words of encouragement from Fred helped the 4.7
sailor reach the finish line before the time limit expired.
Day Three
Live Updates from the Water
16:35 - Final results posted
15:00 - Full and Radial races
abandoned - heading in
14:28 - Radials have started - all
clear
14:23 - Radials starting a sequence
for race 9. Wind is 5 knots
12:29 - Laser Full rigs have started
race 7 - all clear
12:13 - 4.7 and Radial results
updated
12:12 - Full rigs are finishing race
6. Provisional top 5: Moore, Rogachenko, Sterett,
Strammer, Grierson. The throw out race is now in play.
12:11 - 4.7s are starting race 8
11:50 - 4.7s are finishing race 7
11:46 - 4.7s are approaching the
finish
11:44 - Radials have started with an
individual recall. The boat end was a very popular place for
this start
11:39 - Radials are in a start
sequence
11:31 - Radials are finishing.
Provisional top 10: Railey, Vargas, Gowell, Merry, Wallace,
Michas, Vittery, Albela, Abels, Nickerson.
11:14 - 4.7s are racing
11:09 - Full rigs are racing with an
individual recall. 4.7s in a start sequence
11:04 - Full rigs in a start sequence
11:02 - Updated 4.7 results posted
11:00 - 4.7s have finished.
Provisional results: Hall, Strammer, O'Connell, Cremer,
Stubbs, Tryhane, Dunn
10:42 - Radials are completing their
first weather leg. 4.7s are approaching the finish.
10:30 - Radials have started with an
individual recall. Laser Full rig has been abandoned due to a
course problem with the outside leg of trapezoid.
10:25 - Radials in a new start
10:22 - It is the Radials turn to
have a general recall.
10:17 - Radials have an I flag up for
their first race
10:16 - Radials are in a start
sequence
10:10 - 4.7s are racing with a clear
start
10:05 - Clean start for the Lasers.
4.7s in sequence
10:01 - RC went right to the I flag
this morning
10:00 - Laser full rigs in a start
sequence
09:45 - Wind is around 12 from 205
with approximately 10 degree oscillations. We are intending to
get four races in today. There are going to be some tired
Laser sailors tonight.
09:20 - Out at the course. Wind
is 8-10 out of the south, slightly overcast. First race
scheduled for 10am
08:45 - Weather for today: Weak
surface high pressure continues across the mid Atlantic states into
our area this morning. An approaching disturbance aloft
combined with a surface front located over the central Great Lakes
will feed clouds into the area along with the slight threat for rain
or thunderstorms later this afternoon. Wind is currently 5 out
of the south and is expected to build to 10-15 out of the south.
We should be off the water long before the rain
08:00 - Race Committee has left the
dock.
Light Air for
Day Two of the 2007 Laser Nationals
150 Sailors Compete on
Lake Champlain for the 2007 Laser US National Championship
11AUG07—Light and shifty winds today may have
provided a window into what the Olympians will face in China at next
year’s games.
With the first gun scheduled for 1100 hours, a
dying northwest wind prompted a delay in racing for several hours
for all classes. After four grueling hours on the water, the wind
filled in from the north east, allowing the race committee to get
off a race. Over anxious racers in the full rig division, along
with an oscillating breeze made for several more restarts before
they could actually get off the line.
Charlie Buckingham picked up his second first
place finish of the regatta. Fred Strammer finished second and
local Vermonter Trevor Moore rounded out the top three. Moore sits
in 3rd, thirty points behind first place David Wright of
Toronto, Canada.
Paige Railey continued her dominance, taking
another 1st today to retain her lead on the fleet by
seven points. Cameron Hall sits in the lead of the 4.7 fleet with
another first. He is four points in front of second place OJ
O’Connell
This event is a World Championship qualifier for the men’s full rig
division. The top five racers will qualify for the Championships,
and the competition is tight for those coveted spots. Currently the
top 5 are as follows: David Wright, John Pearce, Trevor Moore, Kyle
Rogachenko, and Charlie Buckingham. With 5th and 8th
places only separated by seven points and a possible throw out
coming into play, tomorrow’s races will be a test for all.
Racing finishes up tomorrow, with three races
scheduled. Awards will directly follow the last race. Wind is
forecasted at 5-8 knots from the SSW, although as the past two days
have proved, anything is possible.
Video from Day One
Day Two
Live Updates from the Water
19:25 - Updated results posted
17:40 - Provisional Results for all
fleets posted
17:30 - Racing done for the day.
Provisional results for Radials and 4.7s posted
17:00 - Provisional top 5 for Full
rigs: Buckingham, Dold, Strammer, Moore, Wright
15:59 - Radials are racing.
Individual recall
15:54 - Radials are in a start
sequence
15:33 - 4.7s have started.
15:27 - Individual recall for Full
rigs, 4.7s are in a start sequence
15:25 - After several General recalls
the Laser Full Rigs are racing.
14:54 - General Recall after a
postponement due to a 20 degree right wind shift.
14:34 - Full Rig Sequence Warning
14:30 - Racing soon - wind is 8 knots
from 030. Starting Full rigs in about 5 minutes
13:15 - Repositioning the course in
anticipation of the wind filling from the north
12:30 - Still waiting
12:00 - Clouds building from the
west. Expecting wind to fill from the northwest
11:39 - All races have been
abandoned. Average wind was below minimum. Waiting on
the water for the wind to fill
11:34 - Individual Recall for
Radials, 4.7s in sequence
11:30 - Radials in sequence
11:29 - Laser Full Rigs have started
11:20 - Postpone
11:18 - New sequence
11:15 - General Recall
11:09 - Postpone down. Five
knots out of the south
11:05 - Postpone
11:00 - Start sequence for Laser Full
rigs
10:45 - Course is set. Wind
holding steady at 8 from 220
10:15 - Wind is about 8-10 at 220.
First start is scheduled for 11am.
09:30 - Conditions permitting the RC
is looking to get in 4 races today
09:00 - Race Committee has left the
dock. Wind still out of the south.
07:30 - Beautiful morning. Crystal clear blue skies and
10-15 knots out of the south. A weak disturbance will be
moving through the area today, which should swing the wind around to
the Northwest. The wind typically will shut off and then fill
in from the new direction. Could make for an interesting day
on the water.
Wright, Railey, and Hall Lead 2007 Laser Nationals
150 Sailors to
Compete on Lake Champlain for the 2007 Laser US National Championship
10AUG07 Colchester, Vermont. Day One
of the 2007 US Laser National Championships verified the adage “if
you don’t like the weather in Vermont, wait five minutes”. Calm
conditions quickly turned into 15 knots, allowing four races to be
completed in Outer Malletts Bay.
The first gun sounded
at 12:28, after a brief postponement to adjust the course to the 30
degree wind shift. An 85 boat Full rig fleet started first with the
59 boat Radial fleet following in the second start. The six boat
4.7 rig fleet completed the first start.
A trapezoidal course
was set, with the Full rigs and Radials sailing an additional
windward-leeward leg, and the 4.7’s sailing once around.
After Friday’s races,
David Wright, of Toronto, Ontario, was in first with 12 points and
John Pearce of Ithaca, NY, second with 14. Paige Railey of
Clearwater, FL, is first in the Radials with four points followed by
Mateo Vargas of Treasure Island, FL, in second with fourteen
points. In the 4.7 class, Cameron Hall of St. Petersburg, FL, sits
in first with five points on four races. OJ O’Connell of Niantic, CT
is second, four points behind Cameron.
Racing continues on
Saturday with a ‘forecast’ of a 10 knot breeze from the NW, with
temperatures in the high 70s.
Day One
Live Updates from the Water
17:35 - Provisional Results posted
17:05 - Racing done for the day. Four races completed.
16:45 - 4.7 and Full rigs are finished race four. Wind is
still 10-15 at 210.
16:30 - Provisional results for the first three races are posted.
Race four finishing.
15:30 - Race three finishing up - race four getting underway
14:40 - Race three sequence under way, Full, 4.7, followed by
Radials. Steady 15 knot breeze at 210
14:35 - Race Two Provisional top 5 for Radial - Railey, Wallace,
Vargas, Michas, Matt Gowell
14:24 - Race two Provisional top 5 for Full Rig - Wright, Dold,
Wager, Pearce, Rogachenko
13:58 - Provisional Radial results posted for first race
13:39 - Full rig race two is underway. 4.7s starting next
followed by the Radials
13:35 - Average wind 17, gusting to 20. Race two getting under
way
13:29 - Provisional top 5 for Radials: Railey, Vargas, Wallace,
Abels, Vittery
13:13 - Laser full rigs finishing: Provisional top 5:
Buckingham, Pearce, Wright, Richardson, Crane
13:10 - Full rigs are approaching the finish
12:48 - 4.7s have started
12:43 - 4.7 Sequence under way
12:42 - Radials have started - all clear
12:38 - Radials have started their sequence
12:33 - Wind is up to 14 knots from 215 with about 10 degree
oscillations
12:30 - All OCS boats restarted
12:28 - Laser full rigs are off with an individual recall
12:22 - General recall down
12:12 - General recall for the Laser Full start
12:06 - Postpone down
12:00 - Postpone to adjust weather mark
11:45 - Course is set - Laser Full rigs starting at noon. We
have about 10 knots out of the south
Malletts Bay Boat Club and Laser Fleet #71 are pleased to invite you
to the 2007 US National Championships. This regatta will be open to
all sailors with starts for Full, Radial, and 4.7 fleets. This
Regatta will be a qualifier for the US Olympic trials for the Full
rig. The top five US Men, (not previously qualified) will qualify to
go on and compete in the 2007 US Olympic trials in Newport, RI in
October.
All
fleets are open to both male and female sailors of any Nationality.
Membership in your countries National Laser Organization will be
required. Please see US Sailing for details of the US Trials
qualification.
Racing will be in the Outer Malletts Bay, site of many National level
events, including the Lightning North Americans, and will be the
site of the Lightning Worlds in 2009. Warm, fresh, clean and tide
free waters in one of America’s least crowded racing venues.
Please see Local Conditions for
more information. The Secondary sailing site is the Inner Malletts
Bay, and fleets may be split between Inner and Outer, depending on
the PRO’s decision only.
Many
sailors will travel on to CORK, which starts 3 days after the US
Nationals. MBBC will provide storage and practice facilities for any
entrant who either arrives early, or wishes to stay for a day or two
after.
Colchester is Vermont's third largest
town, just north of Burlington, VT. Colchester and Burlington are a great places to come in the
summer. There lots of great restaurants, bars, movie theaters,
outdoor events and performances downtown. Burlington a college town, with
a great waterfront that overlooks Lake Champlain and the Adirondack
Mountains. It is about a 15 minute drive from the club.
The Malletts Bay Boat Club is a family oriented club
run by the members, the only staff at the club are the junior
sailing instructors, and the launch drivers. It is in beautiful spot
tucked into the corner of the inner part of Malletts Bay next to
Coates Island. It is very well protected.
Our club has no bar or restaurant. We will be serving some great
catered meals for this event. The club has a casual, welcoming
atmosphere, your sailing attire is appropriate for all events.
Parking during the Regatta will be
off site - just a short walk down the road. We'll let you drop off
sailors and gear in the mornings, but you'll need to park in our
designated "off-site" parking area.
The boats will be dry sailed on the
front lawn of the club. Our parking facilities are somewhat limited
so all of our trailers will be stored at a nearby marina. We'll have
plenty of lawn to park your boat during the regatta and a nice
clubhouse to keep us dry if it rains.
There are lots of things for non
sailors to do. Bring family members with you. We will have spectator
boats as well.
(pdf)
August 10 - 12, 2007 Malletts Bay Boat
Club, Colchester Vermont
