The event kicked off with the customary masters golf tournament on the Friday which was held at the Tuncurry Golf Course to prepare the sailors for the weekend racing.

One hundred and fifteen sailors competed in the One Design Olympic Class with the weather providing a real challenge for the sailors and officials as conditions varied from strong north easterly breezes on the Saturday followed by milder conditions on the Sunday.

GLSC commodore Bill Stokes was pleased to see the Laser masters return for a second time to Great Lakes Sailing Club.

With Lasers now forming a large part of the club’s fleet, it is great to see the association bringing events like this to our club to give our local sailors an opportunity to experience larger fleet racing and other sailors the opportunity to experience the fantastic sailing conditions on Wallis Lake.

Association chairman, Kevin Phillips said: “We could not have asked for better sailing with widely varying conditions providing very close racing across all three divisions.

“The hospitality of Great Lakes Sailing Club was fantastic and hugely appreciated by all competitors.”

After six races in all three divisions, the NSW/ACT Laser Masters State Champions for the 2016/17 season were:

4.7 fleet, Sandy Kiernan,Northbridge Sailing Club; radial fleet, Adam Beashel, South Lake Macquarie Amateurs Sailing Club; standard fleet, Brett Beyer, Woollahra Sailing Club.

Local sailors, Bruce Castrey, Julie Castle, Scott Farley and Geoff Williams revelled in the opportunity to race in such a large fleet and performed well in the conditions.

Julie Castle was the best placed of the local sailors finishing fourth in the female radial division.

After a busy regatta schedule, club sailing will resume next Sunday, February 26 with senior sailing.