#Laser – The Kiel week regatta winner plus a host of international Laser stars are on Belfast lough this week, training at Ballyholme YC.

The friends of  Irish Laser sailor James Espey are from the world Laser circuit have come over to Ireland with two coaches in the down-time between championships.

One has a nickname "Mini". Another has just won Kiel week! Another is lying 6th in the world rankings. Ash Brunning – Aus, Philipp Buhl – Ger, Fabian Gielen – Ger, Lukas Feuerherdt – Ger, Coiln Cheng – Sin and Kristain Ruth – Nor.

#laser – Last year's ISAF Youth Silver medallist Finn Lynch opened his Laser Standard Men's U21 World & European Championship 2013 account on Lake Balaton, Hungary with a fifth place yesterday and is lying 27th overall after three qualifying races. Download results below. As we reported earlier, the Blessington Sailing Club sailor is in Hungary with Wexford's Philip Doran and Fionn Lyden from Schull. Doran is currently 39th and Lyden is 70th.

#Laser – A three-man Irish Laser youth squad compete in Balatonfured, Hungary tomorrow in the U21 Laser Standard World Championships. Wexford's Philip Doran, West Cork's Fionn Lyden and Kildare's Finn Lynch will be in action. More on www.balatonlaserworlds2013.com

#laser – Ryan Glynn in the Radials with straight firsts was the stand-out performance at last weekend's Laser Leinster Championships in Wexford Harbour Boat Club.

Conditions were 5-15 knots and shifty on Saturday then blowing stink Sunday, all in a fantastic warm, but unstable westerly breeze that reduced racing on Sunday to just one race.

Chris Penney and Mattie O'Dowd had a titanic struggle at the top of the Standard fleet and in the 4.7s, Conor O'Beirne of the Royal St. George YC came through in the last race with a nice confidence boost before he heads off this week to Hungary for the 4.7 European championships.

Results below from Wexford Harbour Boat Club

Laser Leinster Championship Std 2013

Entries: 17      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

Laser Leinster Championship Radial 2013

Entries: 32      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

Laser Leinster Championship 4.7 2013

Entries: 16      Races Sailed: 4      Discard: 1

#laser – A record entry is forecast for the 2013 Laser World Championships in Oman from November this year with interest so overwhelmingly high that places are already oversubscribed for the Master class four months ahead of the October entry cut off date.

Entries are now filling up quickly from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North, South and Central America. The line-up for the Laser Standard is expected to include renowned Olympic medalists such as Pavlos Kontides (Cyprus), silver medalist at the London 2012 Olympics Game, Andy Maloney (NZ) rising star from New Zealand, bronze medalist in the 2012 Laser World Championship in Germany and Tonći Stipanovic (Croatia), silver medalist in the 2012 Laser World Championship in Germany.

The Laser Radial Youth World Championship to be held from 28th December – 3rd January has so far attracted sailors from 19 countries and all indications are that this category may also soon be reaching triple figure.

"The overwhelming interest in the event shows that competitors, their families and friends are keen to travel to Oman from every continent. This is a direct result of how we have marketed the championship," says Oman Sail Events Director, Issa Sultan Al Ismaili.

"We expect to set a new all time entry record in the Laser Standard Men's World Championships especially since we are working closely with the International Laser Association to encourage entries from emerging sailing nations. Our goal is to have sailors from 60 nations competing and I think it is achievable considering early indications."

Competitors for the Masters championship are being encouraged to bring their partners and combine a holiday with the championship experience. Similarly friends and family accompanying young sailors to the youth Laser Radial Championships can leave winter behind to enjoy an extended festive season vacation in the sun.

Special entertainment and social programmes highlighting the culture of Oman and local themes will include a "Night with the Stars" featuring Olympic medallists, expert coaches and inspirational sailing heroes to share experiences and meet the interests of young and old especially during the New Year period.

In all over 1000 additional visitors are expected to accompany the teams, including race officials, coaches, international media and family members when the world's most popular adult and youth racing class comes to Oman.

"It will definitely have a positive impact on inbound tourism and present a very powerful way to introduce Oman to a lot of influential people. The hosting of the ISAF Annual Conference just prior to the event will also offer an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our sailing venues and facilities to the most powerful decision makers in the sport, " said Al Ismaili.

Hosting the Laser World Championships is also integral to the highly successful Oman Sail national sailing initiative in Oman that is reviving the country's centuries old sailing heritage.

Since it was launched in 2008, 11,000 young Omani's have been through sail training programmes at grass roots level, a comprehensive youth development programme is in place and the country's elite sailing squad is competing worldwide at international events.

"Hosting the Laser World Championships will both attract professional expertise and instil national pride by giving our national squad the chance to compete against the best in the world in home waters.

"It will also help develop the knowledge and skills of those Omanis who will be involved in the sailing, race management and event organisation and give a broader basic understanding of the sport of sailing."

Steady winds and typically 24 degree weather in November combined with state of the art infrastructure and facilities for sailors, media, race and event management, a 54 berth marina, refuelling station, dive school and workshop facilities complemented by upmarket accommodation and retail amenities all within walking distance is what sets Mussanah Sport City apart.

"We have proven experience and expertise in running extremely successful large scale local and international championships from the 2010 Asian Beach Games to the recent RC44 Oman Cup and three editions of the Extreme 40 Series. Everything is ready and in place." said Al Ismaili.

#Sailors competing in the European Laser Championships in Dun Laoghaire later this summer are looking to charter Laser dinghies.

The National Yacht Club hosts the European Laser Standard and Radial European Championships from the 30th August - 6th September.

If you have a Laser five years or younger in good condition and would be in a position to charter it please contact Cathy Mac Aleavey at [email protected]

#laser – Thomas Chaix of Kinsale Yacht Club is the overall winner of the Irish Laser Masters Championship held at Ballyholme Yacht Club at the weekend. Second was Chris Boyd who also won the Grand Master division and the final race in 20 knots.  Third was Ballyholme local Gareth Flannigan. Full results are downloadable as a jpeg file below.

Irish Laser Masters Championship

1st Thomas Chaix
2. Chris Boyd
3 Gareth Flannigan
4. Nick Walsh
5. David Fletcher

#Laser - The designer of the iconic Laser is putting pressure on the boat's manufacturer for the UK, Europe and North America to halt all production of the vessel, as Marine Business World reports.

Bruce Kirby has previously filed a complaint in the US Federal Court District of Connecticut alleging the unauthorised production of his design and non-payment of royalties by LaserPerformance, the company licensed to build Laser class boats for the western market.

It's now being reported that yesterday (17 May), Kirby's company Kirby Inc has sought a court order to issue a prejudgement remedy against LaserPerformance, which would prevent that or any associated company from building Lasers while the court assesses the case.

The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) are also named in Kirby's lawsuit for allegedly assisting LaserPerformance by supplying ISAF plaques despite being given formal notice to cease by Kirby.

In April, Kirby took the sailing world by surprise with the news that he had relaunched his classic single-handed one design under a new brand, the Kirby Torch.

The new company's website cited "supply of the Kirby sailboat and parts to sailors worldwide" as the issue for its terminating of previous manufacturing deals at the end of last year.

Multiple Irish National Champion Gareth Flannigan is one of the leading contenders for the Laser Masters title when it is sailed on his home waters of Ballyholme Yacht Club in three weeks time (25/26th May).

Visitors from Scotland and England are swelling the fleet at Ballyholme to over 50 entries.

Four entries leave for warm weather training in Lake Garda this weekend, a sign of how competitive Laser sailing is in Ireland right now.

#Laser - The sailing world has been taken by surprise with the news that the designer of the Laser has launched his iconic design under a whole new brand amid allegations over royalty payments.

Bruce Kirby - whose single-handed one-design has become a staple at the Olympic Games - has apparently signed all new builder agreements to manufacture his rechristened Kirby Torch design, after terminating his previous deals at the end the last year.

"The issue is supply of the Kirby sailboat and parts to sailors worldwide," according to the Kirby Torch website. "After numerous attempts, Bruce Kirby felt he had no choice but to withdraw Laser brand building rights in North America and Europe."

It's alleged that lack of royalty payments for the design by at least one top manufacturer prompted the move by Kirby to strike out on own, but nothing has been confirmed as of this time.

It is also not known exactly what the consequences will be for currently sailed Lasers and for the International Laser Class Association (ILCA), although the Kirby Torch website states that all ISAF-plaqued Lasers are class legal under the renamed fleet.

More on this story as it develops...