Andre Martinie hits lead of Standard Grand Master Division of 2012 Laser World Masters Championship
Dominican Republic’s Andre Martinie put up a marvellous sailing display at the Waterloo Bay in Brisbane, Queensland to clinch the leading podium place of Standard Grand Master Division in the 2012 Laser World Masters being held in Australia. The Dominican
Republic sailor hit a bullet and a second finish to gain the overall lead in the division.
The first day of the regatta was troubled a bit by a pre-race thunderstorm. It could have affected the proceedings bit fortunately before the Standard Grand Master Division it was replaced by moderate winds. The conditions were quite ideal for a complete
sail on the opening day so the fleet started the racing without wasting any time.
As the Grand Masters fleet launched their boats on the Waterloo Bay waters, the breeze began gusting around the race course up to 10 knots which built up to 18 knots in the middle of the second race. At the end of the first day, the average speed of the
wind was calculated up to 18 knots which was stronger than expected.
Andre Martinie was closely followed by the Great Britain sailor, Malcolm Courts who hit the second podium place while the former Finn World Champion and Laser World Masters Champion, Wolfgang Gerz of Germany claimed the third position.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Richard Bott managed to lead the Radial Apprentice Division after he earned a bullet and a second finish in both races of the day. New Zealand sailor, Scott Leith, winner of the World Championships for the past two years, is trailing
the Aussie sailors by two points while another local sailor, Danny Fuller is on third spot with one point difference from Leith.
Speaking to the local media after Day 1, Bott said, “I stayed right today and it worked but I was really concentrating on speed. I got a few good surfing runs.”
Greg Adams won the leading podium in the Laser Radial Master Division with impressive sailing on the first day.
The second day of the 2012 Laser World Masters Championship will bring more thrilling races on the Waterloo Bay waters. So far, the weather has been quite ideal for the sailors and it is expected to be the same on Day 2.
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