International Laser Class 2008 US National Championship Sailing
August 8, 2008 -- Long Beach, CA – Racing began in great conditions today at the U.S. Laser Nationals Championship hosted by the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. There was 12 knots of breeze at the beginning of race one and it continued to build to 18 knots by the beginning of race three. 180 of the top junior, high school, collegiate, and professional sailors from around the country and Canada have traveled to Long Beach to compete in this championship event.
Leading the way in the Laser Full Rig division is Abe Torchinsky of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. He has a very strong first day with a third place and two first place finishes giving him a total of five points. Following him are Lee Parkhill with 7 points and Derick Vranizan with thirteen points.
Cameron Summers, a Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club member, switched from the Laser Radial to the Laser Full Rig for this event. He had a very strong performance in San Francisco where he finished second in the Laser Radial division. Currently, he is in 30th place out of 76 competitors in the Laser Full Rig Division.
The smallest and youngest sailors are racing in Laser 4.7’s. While this class has the least experience, the sailors are racing their hardest to win the national championship. Cameron Hall of St. Petersburg Yacht is leading this class after three races.
There are another 86 sailors competing in the Laser Radial division. This is the Olympic Class for the Women’s Single-handed sailors and is widely used as a training boat for both small men and women junior sailors. Sarah Lihan of Lauderdale Yacht Club is leading the group with 14 points. On her heels are Marco Teixidor with 16 points and Chris Barnard with 18 points.
Racing is scheduled to resume at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday. The races will continue throughout each day and conclude at approximately 4:00 P.M. on Sunday. The regatta will be sailed in Laser Full Rigs, Laser Radials, and Laser 4.7’s which are all the same one person racing hull with varying sail sizes. For more information, results and regular updates go to:
Ryan McNaboe, of Long Beach, rounds the leeward mark during race 1 of Long Beach’s Cameron Summers prepares to round the weather mark the 2008 US Laser Nationals hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. during race 2 of the US Laser Nationals hosted by Alamitos Bay
Yacht Club. He is currently in 30th place.
The Laser Full Rigs come of the starting line with speed at the beginning 18 knots of breeze proved to be too strong for some of the less
of Race 2 during the 2008 US Laser National Championship hosted by experienced sailors in the Laser Radial Division at the US Laser Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. National Championship hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.
Alamitos Bay Yacht ClubPress Officer--
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