News
At Wildwind we are serious about Laser Sailing
Each year we unwrap 12 brand new Lasers in April and kick off the season with 2 weeks of intensive Laser race training. These clinics are aimed at keen club racers who are looking to polish their technique with the help of our fantastic team and the special guest expert coaches that come in to assist them. This year one of our guest coaches was Laura Baldwin who represented team GB in Athens in 2004, on other occasions our very good friend and Team GBR head coach Chris Gowers has done the honours.
What is it about the Laser dinghy and what makes it so popular with Wildwind clients? The Laser is the world’s most popular adult racing class boat. True to box one-design standards, the Laser is a challenging boat that rewards athleticism, subtle steering and trimming techniques, as well as the tactical excellence of the sailor. The Laser is raced by young and old alike from the Club level all the way to the Olympics.
“Laser racing is arguably the most competitive and close sailboat racing in the world. Still, the real beauty of a Laser lies in its invitation to go sailing for the pure joy of it. With no standing rigging to bother with, no obstacle course of fittings to bruise and cut, no cockpit full of water, the bare essentials of tiller, mainsheet, and sailor can come together to feel the magic of the wind and water as it casts its spell.” Bruce Kirby, Former Editor of Yacht Racing Magazine.
Simon Morgan, Wildwind’s founder has always believed in giving back to the sport that he loves and Wildwind are proud to support the Laser class again by sponsoring The Laser Grand Prix Series the Laser Masters Circuit and the Laser Masters National Championships. The masters category is for anybody over the age of 35 and is further divided into smaller groups by age all the way up to the legend category for the over 75s. The Grand Prix circuit is a locally based circuit, with the UK divided up into 10 regions. Each region has a representative and organises a calendar of events from the spring to the autumn, there is an area champion for each region and area categories (youth, master etc.) with prizes. This enables sailors to have a circuit of competitions in their area, which does not involve too much expense and travelling. Wildwind have set the sponsorship in such a way that it encourages participation, for each event you attend you earn one entry in the raffle for a free sailing holiday – so the more events you go to the more chances of winning you have.
The Nationals Championships also sponsored by Wildwind are being held at Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth, on 21st to 27th July 2018.
“I just thought I would drop you a note to thank you and the team for firstly sponsoring the Laser Masters in the first place, and secondly, for an outstanding holiday. The setup in Vassiliki is first class, the accommodation was spotless, the Lasers were maintained beautifully and the food in the beach cafe was fantastic. The beach was also run in such a relaxed but safe manner.
I will pass the word around my club and the Laser fleet. Thanks once again to the Wildwind team. Warm regards, Pete. (Pete Young, lucky Laser class prizewinner following his visit to Wildwind)
Laser sailing in the cross-shore, thanks to Joe at Joyrider TV for the footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAVjohvItCw
Also part of our Wildwind fleet are 2 Lasers fitted with Glidefree foiling kits. Wildwind staff and clients have thoroughly enjoyed testing out the Laser with a foiling kit and have reached top speeds of around 20+ knots in the cross-shore winds. Wildwind has now been chosen as one of the few centres to offer RYA Foiling training courses.
Take a look at the footage of Marko breaking the 20 knot barrier on a Laser with foiling kit.