FSC Sailors outperformed their competitors to win seven National Championship titles, five second places and three third places at the 2016 Australian Laser National Championships (held 29 December 2015 – 4 January 2016) hosted by Belmont 16’s Sailing Club, Sydney NSW.
FSC had 26 laser sailors compete in the three Laser classes, with eight sailors in the Laser 4.7s, 11 Laser radial sailors and seven laser standard sailors competing against the best in the country for their classes National title.
Laser 4.7
The Laser 4.7 Class was a hotly contested class, with eight FSC sailors in the 52 boat fleet competing in four divisions: Open (all), Youth (under18), Junior (Under 16) and Female.
FSC Sailor Rome Featherstone won the Open and Youth (U18) 2016 Laser National Champion Title after leading the whole Regatta. Rome only took to the Laser 4.7 at the beginning of 2015 after a successful career in the optimist boat, and winning the 2014 Optimist Nationals. Closely following Rome, was fellow FSC Sailor Hayden Coote to take out second place in the laser 4.7 Open and first place for the Laser 4.7 Junior (Under 16). FSC Sailor Finn O’Dea earned a second place in the Laser 4.7 Junior (Under 16) Division. The Laser 4.7 Female Dvision was an all girls battle between FSC Sailors Hailey Johnson and Bee Allison. The Laser 4.7 Female 2016 Laser National Champion going to Hailey Johnson and a third place to Bee Allison.
Laser Radial
The Laser Radial Class saw 11 FSC Sailors take on the best in the country in a fleet of 92, which was then divided in gold and silver to compete for the 2016 Laser Radial National title.
FSC Sailor and 2015 Youth World Laser Radial Champion Conor Nicholas had two race wins on the final day of racing to come from behind to claim the Laser Radial 2016 Laser National Champion Title by one point.
The 2016 Laser Radial Female Champion Title was a race between number one Australian Laser Radial Female Sailor Ashely Stoddart and FSC sailor Manami Doi. Doi out performed Stoddart to claim victory over Stoddart by one point. The Laser Radial Female Youth Championship went to FSC sailor Zoe Thompson, leading the way with a 25 point gap ahead of the next female youth competitor.
In the Laser Radial Junior Division, FSC Sailors Zac Littlewood and Campbell Stewart took second and third respectively, after a tough overall regatta in shifty conditions.
Laser Standard
FSC had seven sailors compete in the 49 boat fleet. FSC Laser Standard Sailor and World Number Two Matthew Wearn claimed a well earned second place after a solid performance in shifty and tricky conditions throughout the regatta. Third place went to FSC sailor Luke Elliott sailing his best in Sydney’s unpredictable conditions. The 2016 Australian Laser Standard Title went to World number one ranked Laser sailor Tom Burton. The Laser Standard Youth 2016 Australian Champion title went to FSC Sailor Lachy Gilham.
Final FSC Sailor Open Division Results
Laser 4.7 Open
Romë Featherstone 1st
Hayden Coote 2nd
Finn O’Dea 5th
Hailey Johnson 9th
Bee Allison 15th
Djarrah Audet 18th
Daniel Brown 23rd
Isabelle Kenny 52nd
Laser Radial Open and Youth
Conor Nicholas 1st
Manami Doi 4th
Zac Littlewood 12th
Caelin Winchcombe 14th
Richard Maher 15th
Zoe Thomson 22nd
Campbell Stewart 28th
James Stewart 30th
Elyse Ainsworth 34th
Ethan McAullay 35th
Ken Fujimoto 45th
Laser Standard Open
Matthew Wearn 2nd
Luke Elliott 3rd
Mark Spearman 5th
Ryan Lo 14th
Mark Wong 18th
Lachy Gilham 24th
Harmon McAullay 35th
– Jaylee Carter FSC
All of the Division results can be found via the below links.
Laser 4.7 Results: http://lasernationals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016_Laser_Nats_4pt7_to_r11.htm
Laser Radial Results Gold fleet: http://lasernationals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016_Laser_Nats_radial_gold_to_F5.htm
Laser Radial Results Silver fleet: http://lasernationals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016_Laser_Nats_radial_silver_to_F5.htm
Laser Standard Results: http://lasernationals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016_Laser_Nats_Standard_to_r11.htm
