Top sailors set sail for Laser nationals
Local sailors eagerly await the arrival of the top competitors from every corner of South Africa and some international sailors for the SA Laser Nationals that will take place offshore of Durban from 30 April.
MAY Day weekend will see the anticipated SA Laser Nationals unfold offshore off Durban kicking off on 30 April until 3 May.
The Laser is the most popular single-handed sailing dinghy in the world and the annual event is hoping that close to 80 boats from around the country will hit the water to compete. Top South African sailors along with a handful of international competitors will take to the Indian Ocean in the hope of being crowned national champion.
Lining up at the start to defend their titles that they won last year in the Western Cape will be local lads, Rudy McNeil and Sam Lombard together with the rose of Durban’s Laser community, Frances van Breda. Van Breda recently competed in the 2014 Audi Laser Master World Championships in France, with the lessons learnt in Europe, she promises to be a feisty competitor in her home conditions.
Another heavyweight competitor is Cape Town's Stefano Marcia, the winner of the Laser's when it was last held in Durban in 2012. He has been doing loads of training in Spain and Australia in his campaign to compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Australian Grand Master, Colin Dibb confirmed that he would be travelling to his place of birth to compete. With a string of world champion titles to his name, he will be returning to his old hunting ground to show his class. Dibb came third overall in the 2012 Laser Nationals and was the recipient of the Grand Master or ‘Greybeard’ Trophy.
Top local lads, Rudy McNeil and Sam Lombard will be back to defend their titles, along with top national and international sailors. Joining them are other locals Michael McNeil who placed third in his class last year; Campbell Alexander; Trent Bingham; and Richard Bates. Doing well on the club circuit, Henri Frencken will also be hitting the water.
Campbell Alexander stated, “This is the second time in many years that we are hosting the Laser Nationals in our home waters. Durban in May is at its best with the beach, the sun, the great sea swells and good breeze – and when the breeze picks up fantastic wave riding. I am sure that everyone competing will love our “Durban, the warmest place to be” conditions.”
