#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...

#laser – Ireland's Chris Russell has won the third Laser class Europa Cup of the season in thick fog on Lake Lugano, Switzerland.

The podium for the standard rig division consisted of Russell who with 8 points was the overall winner, Cyrill Knecht (SUI), on 10 points, came in second and third place went to Dominykas Kneizys (LTU).

Based out of Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, Russell is a past Optimist, 420, Laser Radial, and later 470 class sailor.

​In a beautiful setting and light winds, Laser sailors from 13 nations competed in the Swiss leg of the 2013 Laser Europa Cup and Euromasters Series.

A total of five races were sailed with one discard. In the 4.7 fleet Tim Leuenberg (GER), on 16 points won, followed by Paolo Mavricic (CRO) on 23 points and Alexander Ebert (GER) on 26 points in third place. The first girl in the 4.7 fleet was Francesca Bergamo (ITA) who finished with 26 points in fourth place.

Laura Cosentino (ITA) reigned in the Laser Radial fleet ahead of Maximilian Kuester (ITA) and Jon Emmet (GBR).

In the Standard rig for the Masterseries, Martin Klawon (GER) won with Mauro Lentini (SUI) and Enrico Negri (ITA) completing the podium.

The Euromaster Radial title went to Jon Emmet (GBR) followed by Mauro Lentini (SUI) and Enrico Negri (ITA).

Results here.

#Laser - Fionn Lyden and Robbie Gilmore made it a strong one-two finish for Ireland in the men's Laser Radial at the Europa Cup Italy regatta on Lake Garda at the weekend.

September's sailor of the month Lyden is certainly starting the year in impressive style following his runaway victory at the Junior All-Ireland Nationals in his home port of Schull - though Gilmore of Strangford Lough was hot on his heels.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed finisher Finn Lynch of the National Yacht Club - who took the title in 2011 - was just pipped to third position by Poland's Marcin Rudawski.

Further down the field were Royal Cork Yacht Club's Seafra Guilfoyle (8th) and Cian Byrne (18th), and Kinsale Yacht Club's Darragh O'Sullivan (15th) and Ross O'Sullivan (58th).

Elsewhere in the standings at the EurILCA regatta, Howth Yacht Club's Aoife Hopkins finished an impressive sixth in the Laser 4.7 for the women's best result of the four days of sailing at Malcesine.

Hopkins' achievement came with strong showings by Kinsale's Cliodhna O'Regan (14th in the 4.7) and Conor O'Beirne of the Royal St George YC (19th in the men's 4.7).

Also placing in the women's 4.7 were Baltimore's Florence Lyden (33rd) and Royal Cork's Eva Donworth (52nd).

The women's Laser Radial saw placings by Kinsale's Sorcha Ni Shuilleabhain (48th), Ausling Keller of Lough Derg YC (59th) and Chloe Eggers of the Royal St George (85th).

In the men's 4.7, Conor O'Farrell of Carlingford Lough placed 49th while Jack Higgins of the Royal St George was 107th.

In the Standard class, Colin Leonard of Ballyholme Yacht Club finished 37th while Alan Ruigrok of Rush Sailing Club was 48th.

And completing the Irish results in the men's Laser Radial were the Royal Cork's Patrick Crosbie (61st), Dermot Lyden (100th) and Mark Bolger (109th); Kinsale's Dara O'Shea (62nd) and Andrew Levie (126th); Tralee Bay's Tadhg O Loingsigh (75th); Dougie Power of Waterford Harbour Sailing Club (98th); and the Royal St George's Nathaniel Gillet (136th) and Conor Foley (155th).

The complete rankings from the Europa Cup Italy regatta are available HERE.

#kinsale – Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy after the final race day of the ASM-Marine KYC Frostbite League.

The early calm conditions on the final day of the ASM-Marine Frostbite League at Kinsale Yacht Club last Sunday morning did not look promising. With two previous race days cancelled due to an excess of wind it was more in hope than expectation that the Race Committee lead by OD Bruce Mathews decided to take to the race area. Their positive action was soon rewarded as the predicted South-Easterly Force 2 to 3 arrived ensuring a timely start to the final day's programme.

With a top mark laid in close proximity to Kinsale boatyard, and the incoming tide early in its cycle, a windward-leeward course was offered to the four competing classes. As racing progressed, with the South-Easterly variable and backing at times thirty to forty degrees and the flood tide increasingly more affective, the usual critical decision of which side of the beat to favour was complicated by the opposing set of conditions.

Consistency was the foundation once again this year for Ronan Kenneally (MBSC) as the returning Champion retained the Laser Standard title. Never out of the top two in any race and scoring seven wins in total, Ronan's final flourish of a second and two firsts placed him in an unassailable lead at the top of this class. Finishing in second and third overall were Matthias Hellstern (KYC) and James Long (Inniscarra SC) with two seconds and a third and two thirds and a second respectively.
Already clear ahead at the top of the Radial Fleet, an off-form Darragh O'Sullivan still retained his overall title from last year, despite just two fifth places on Sunday. Successful on the day were Ewan O'Keeffe (CSC) who won the first race with Dermot Lyden (BSC/RCYC) and Aisling Keller (LDYC/KYC) sharing the next two races, each scoring a win and a second.

Having led the Laser 4.7 League throughout, Richard Thompson (RCYC/KYC) with a fifth and a third still managed to repel a late challenge from Cliodhna O'Regan (KYC) who took line honours in the last two races of the day. Unable to discard a 'maximum points' scoring, Cliodhna had to settle for second overall. Florence Lyden (BSC) had her best day to date with two seconds.
The conclusion to the 2013 Squib Class League had all the promise of a closely fought contest for the top spot, between two very well matched boats. Neither of the two crews directly involved, nor the few privileged to view the contest could have envisaged the enfolding drama. Colm Dunne and Rob Gill in Allegro (KYC), started the first race holding an advantage overall of just a single point, to Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson in Sensation (KYC). Allegro lost that one point advantage in the first race, only to regain it emphatically in the second, thus ensuring the outcome of the final race would determine the winner. With the overall points scoring always subject to the two discards rule, both crews must have been frantically doing the 'Math' at that stage. Concerned only with the relative position of their immediate opponents and with both crews sailing tactically, Allegro quickly established a winning lead only to surrender this at a top-mark 'port and starboard' incident. Accepting the required penalty, they still managed to collect a fourth place to Sensation's second. However, with Allegro's fourth in this race and Sensation's fifth in the second going to discard, Colm Dunne & Rob Gill emerged as worthy Champions by virtue of that single point. On this occasion, Marcus & Meagan Hutchinson had to settle for second place, while Paul McCarthy & Paul Cotter held onto third place also with an excellent first and a second.

Prize-Giving was hosted by Commodore Cameron Good, who on behalf of Kinsale Yacht Club congratulated the deserving winners and thanked all the sailors for their efforts. Special mention went to PRO Bruce Mathews for his continuing and enthusiastic support for this event. Appreciation was additionally expressed for the support of the various Committee members, the Sponsor and the many helpers who had assisted, both on and off the water, to make this annual and long-standing event such an enjoyable regatta. The Commodore awarded the prizes for each class which were presented by Agnes McLaverty on behalf of ASM-Marine. Ronan Kenneally received the Laser Standard Trophy, Darragh O'Sullivan – the inaugural ASM Radial Trophy, Richard Thompson – the 4.7 Destiny Trophy and Colm Dunne – the Squib Trophy.

#kinsale – With Kinsale Yacht Club racing cancelled due to a building forecast on Sunday local helmsman Rob Howe and one other Laser sailor went out for a 'burn' with the above resulting 'deck-cam' video from Brian Carlin.