Larkin of Limerick wins Laser Lockdown Leap-out at Killaloe

6th July 2020

“I only do it to keep fit, y’know”. Bus-pass sailor Frank Larkin with his latest Laser at Killaloe

Senior sailor and noted offshore veteran Frank Larkin of Limerick claims he only got his latest Laser a year or so ago as a present for himself for his 73rd birthday, and for “just the occasional sail to keep in trim”.

But it looks as though the canny curmudgeon has lost none of his competitive cunning with victory in a varied fleet of 24 boats in Killaloe’s disarmingly-described “Covid-19 Training Race” this weekend. For “training”, read “Red Hot Racing”….. And In it, we note that sail numbers indicate that some Lasers were even newer than the Larkin Lovely, suggesting that the Laser is living up to expectations as the No 1 Covid Buster, something already demonstrated with their turnout "way beyond expectations” at the recent Greystones pop-up challenge and also on Dublin Bay in the DBSC dinghy league

Results from Killaloe here

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):