World Sailing Championships in Kingston This Summer

Cork 2015

 

Over 2000 sailors representing 60 countries are set to race from Portsmouth Olympic Harbour on Lake Ontario in 2015.   

CORK is hosting the Laser Standard Men’s World Championships (June 29-July 8), the Laser Masters World Championships (July 10-18), and the Laser Radial Youth World Championships (August 14-20).  

The 2015 CORK regatta calendar also includes the Laser Canadian Championships (June 19-21) and the CORK Annual August Series featuring numerous National Championships (August 6-21).  

The Laser Standard Men’s World Championships will draw Olympic contenders striving to qualify their country for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.   The racing will be intense, and according to Kingston’s Robert Davis “all the world’s best Laser sailors will be looking to put in a top performance”.  Davis, a top ranked Laser sailor on the Canadian Sailing Team, notes “having this regatta in Kingston will be a definite advantage for the Canadian athletes.”

Leaders of the Canadian contingent aiming for gold at the Laser Masters World Championships include Andy Roy, Ray Davies and Al Clark, who placed 2nd, 6th and 7th in their respective age divisions at the Laser Masters Worlds in 2014 held in France, where a record setting 499 sailors from 36 countries and 6 continents competed.    “Laser Masters racing has become a true sailing phenomena, with the ability for sailors from ages 35 – 75 (plus) to affordably compete at a high level in large fleets against some of the same competitors they raced against 3 or more decades ago” notes Roy.

“Kingston was the venue for the 1980 Laser World Championships that saw an incredible 350 entries, and it became a legendary event in the global sailing community”, remarks Andy Roy. Roy was 22 when he competed in the 1980 Worlds, and added, “I have great memories of that 1980 Championships, where a large number of future Olympic medalists and America’s Cup sailors competed, so it’s just fantastic to see the Worlds coming back to “K-town” 35 years later. We’re all really looking forward to this coming July and first time visitors will love the sailing conditions and the town!” 

Sailors aged 18 and under plan to make their mark on the international sailing scene at the Laser Radial Youth World Championships.  According to Sail Canada’s Executive Director Paddy Boyd, “the Laser Radial Youth World Championships will provide excellent competition for the world’s best young sailors, giving Canadians a great opportunity to measure up in a local setting.  Without a doubt, this summer Kingston will be the place to be for single-handed sailors of all ages.”

The Laser was designed by Canadian Bruce Kirby back in the early 1970’s. There are now over 210,000 Lasers in 140 countries.

Since 1969, CORK has hosted over 30 World Championships.  Kingston offers the best fresh-water sailing in the world, excellent wind and wave conditions, and is a short distance from shore to the race courses.   In 2015, expect action packed racing from sailors around the world!  

Full details may be found at http://www.cork.org/schedule.

Full event details are available via www.cork.org, www.kingstonlaserworlds2015.com,  https://twitter.com/CORKKingston and  https://www.facebook.com/CORKSailKingston

Related Articles

  • Undertakings: Thunder Bay’s Dan Turk Around the Globe on Home Built 5.8M

    Undertakings: Thunder Bay’s Dan Turk Around the Globe on Home Built 5.8M

    Oct 10, 2024 On the continuum of adventurous sailing journeys, the Mini Globe Race 2025 sits right at the end – either craziest or bravest, take your pick. On February 23, 2025, the McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) will commence, marking the beginning of a 13-month sailing adventure that challenges both the physical and psychological endurance of its… Read More…

  • Mandate Wins J105 NAs

    Mandate Wins J105 NAs

    Oct 10, 2024 Seven Canadian boats headed to Cleveland for the 2024 J105 NAs September 24-29.  Consistency proved to be the highlight, as now four-time winner Terry McLaughlin and Rod Wilmer’s Mandate came out on top at the J/105 North American Championship in Cleveland, OH. Fraser Howell, Ian Howes, Andrew Kenny and John Millen from… Read More…