Photos: Laser dinghy 50th anniversary kicks off on Sydney Harbour with parade
Worldwide birthday celebrations for a little boat with a big following kicked off on a wet and wild Sydney Harbour with plenty of partygoers - and capsizes. Great photos
Wentworth Courier
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It’s a little boat which has already delivered Australia two gold medals - and hopefully a third in Tokyo via Matt Wearn.
But on Sunday it was the weekend warriors of sailing and a few older champions who were turning heads in a spectacular parade from Farm Cove to Watsons Bay to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the single-handed Laser dinghy.
Around 250 were expected to participate but the weather - including wild winds and downpours - and the Covid situation in the eastern suburbs deterred some with 150 or so braving the elements to be part of the show.
“This is a class that has bought so much pleasure to so many people over the years,’’ said organiser and Double Bay Sailing Club’s Andrew Cox of the class established in 1971 with over 200,000 boats sold worldwide.
“This was a celebration of fun, the excitement, the competitiveness and the camaraderie so many have enjoyed.’’
The conditions meant the Laser parade boats pretty much had the harbour to themselves.
“There was 10 knots to 25 knots and some pretty spectacular capsizes,’’ Cox said.
“The 50th anniversary so significant. It is a class many champions have developed in and club sailors get a great deal of enjoyment from.
“It’s a great stress release and a great social network.’’
In the fleet was Australian 13- time world champion Brett Beyer and multiple world champion Vanessa Dudley.
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