big win for the Laser sailboat (or is it the ILCA dinghy?… I can’t keep track), as the Laser has been selected at the men’s and women’s dinghy for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The Laser has been approved by World Sailing’s Council as the Men’s and Women’s One Person Dinghy Equipment for @Paris2024.
this despite the RS Aero performing better during sea trials, and the Laser being out-voted by the RS Aero by the World Sailing Equipment Committee…
on Sunday, May 26th, the Michigan Sailing Club (part of the University of Michigan) is hosting their annual Dan Rice Regatta (NOR).
2017 Dan Rice Regatta (pic via Michigan Sailing Club)
The Regatta is open to all sailors and ALL Classes of sail boats up to 21′ with a US Sailing Portsmouth number.
Only Members of the Michigan Sailing Club (MSC) may sail club owned boats.
The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-2020, the rules of each participating class and the Sailing Instructions.
We will allow co-skippering.
There is no fee for this regatta; it’s free!
We will collect an optional fee ($5/person) at the skippers meeting for lunch.
Feel free to bring your own food and drinks if you prefer.Club members may reserve a boat in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. There may be a waiting list if all boats are reserved.
The regatta will be held at the club’s property on Baseline Lake, at 8010 Strawberry Lake Road in Dexter, Michigan.
sounds like a nice event if you’re in the Detroit metro area and haven’t gotten your sailboat out on the water yet this spring!
lots of drama in the Laser sailing world, resulting from major disagreements between the ILCA and the builder Laser Performance.
so much so, that the name “Laser” can longer be used, and the sailboats are now referred to as the “ILCA dinghy“.
that’s a sexy name.
with apologies to the band U2 and their excellent song “Where the Streets Have No Name“, here’s the next great sailing tune in honor of the ILCA dinghy:
I want to sail, I want to glide
I want to sail down the waves that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the [ILCA] dinghies have no nameI want to feel sunlight on my face
I sail until the clouds disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the pouring rain
Where the [ILCA] dinghies have no name, oh ohWhere the [ILCA] dinghies have no name
Where the [ILCA] dinghies have no name
We’re still sailing then gybing down waves
Gybing down waves
And when I go there, I go there with you
It’s all I can doThe lake is a flood
And our chrome turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Sailing in the dust
I’ll show you a place
High on the desert plain
Where the [ILCA] dinghies have no name, oh ohWhere the [ILCA] dinghies have no name
Where the [ILCA] dinghies have no name
We’re still sailing then gybing down waves
Gybing down waves
And when I go there, I go there with you
It’s all I can doOur chrome turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh and I see love
See our chrome turn to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh when I go there
I go there with you
It’s all I can do
this will be the 2nd annual Sunfish Adventure Raid – Laser Performance is again sponsoring a 2-day sailing event on the lower Connecticut River near Hartford this summer.
Mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual Sunfish Adventure Raid! On the weekend of June 1st 2019, join sponsors LaserPerformance and Maclaren, in Hartford, CT USA for a two-day distance sail down the Connecticut River to Essex, CT. Races on Saturday will be followed with a regatta camp out in Hurd State Park with a barbeque provided by LaserPerformance. Racing continues down the river on Sunday to Pettipaug Yacht Club for post-race festivities for sailors and friends!
and some more details from last year’s event:
Join us for a two-day fun race following the lower Connecticut River from the industrial banks of Hartford, past meadowlands and wetlands, meandering past eighteenth-century seaports, to finish at tree-covered Essex. Up to two people sail per boat, carrying on board the necessary camping gear (tents, sleeping bags), life jackets, clothing and foul-weather gear, lunch and drinks for two days. Register for two days of family fun and adventure!
sign up/registration information can be found here. additional details can be found at LP’s Facebook page for the event.
this event has been held annually for the last several years, but had been mainly initiated and organized by just a few Sunfish enthusiasts. it’s nice to see Laser Performance sponsoring the race again this year, and hopefully they will continue that sponsorship for future years.
historically, the Connecticut River race was a huge Sunfish event, with even reference to it in the Sports Illustrated article “Here She is, the True Love Boat“:
Enthusiasts have been known to enjoy offshore cruising in, and overnight camping from, Sunfish, and have used them on river trips. Every May a fleet of about 100 of the little boats participates in a three-day race down the Connecticut River from Hartford to Essex.
I’m not sure that any of the recent events have come close to that many participants, but perhaps with LP acting as a sponsor, it will help create more interest in getting this back as a Sunfish tradition.
sounds like a great opportunity to grab some Sunfish boats or Sunfish gear at the upcoming sailboat swap and sale at Zim Sailing in Rhode Island.
A local club brought in a bunch of old sunfish and parts to sell at our Boat Swap this Saturday. See details below.
Saturday April 6th from 9-3
@ Zim Sailing’s Headquarters!
33 Broadcommon Rd, Unit 1, Bristol RI, 02809Used Boat Auction:
Sell your Opti, 420, Sunfish, or Laser.
Find a great deal on a used boat.
Auction starts @ 10 AM, sharp!
Cash or check only.Other Event Specials:
New Boat Specials!
BIC SUP Specials!
Parts and Gear Specials!
Clearance Rack!
Factory tours!For more information Contact us, 401-237-6117.
RSVP Via Facebook Here
details posted on the Sunfish Forum.
here is a simple test to determine if you would enjoy sailing:
any questions?!
this is a great list by Dave Barry:
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