Australia’s Laser dinghy 50th celebration postponed
A Sydney Harbour spectacular featuring more than 200 Laser dinghies is bumped to a later dateA bid to get more than 200 one-make sailboats on Sydney Harbour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Laser dinghy sailing class has been postponed to June 20.
Bad weather and the threat of COVID-19 restrictions have forced the event’s organisers, the Double Bay Sailing Club, to postpone the event until Sunday, June 20.
Double Bay commodore Andrew Cox said the event would create a “spectacular” sight on Sydney Harbour.
“We are privileged to showcase our incredible harbour to the world in the kick-off to a series of global celebrations of this important milestone for one of the most popular sailing boat classes ever,” he said.
The rescheduled event will set off from Farm Cove at 10am on Sunday, with 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games Laser sailor and multiple Laser class Masters World Champion Mark Bethwaite officiating from the start boat.
Joining him will be Rob Mundle, who introduced the Laser class to Australia after meeting with class founder, Bruce Kirby, in New York in 1971.
The International Laser Class Association aims to celebrate the iconic club-level sailboat – originally designed as a car-topper – globally this year in a series of events that will culminate in a worldwide day of sailing on September 11.
Australian 2012 Olympic Games Laser class gold medallist Tom Slingsby, who is unable to make the event due to overseas commitments with the SailGP race series, said the Laser dinghy was a “very special boat”.
“It is enjoyed by so many people, whether sailing for fun or competing on the world stage,” he said.
For more information, visit www.dbsc.com.au/laser-50th.
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