HISC to Host Laser Worlds in 2010 . . .

Hayling Island will welcome sailing’s prestigious Laser World Championships in 2010, it was announced today (30 June 2009).

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has confirmed that Hayling Island Sailing Club will host two out of the four sailing regattas comprising the 2010 Laser Worlds, namely the Laser (Standard) Senior and Junior World Championships from 27 August-5 September 2010, as well as the Laser Masters Worlds from 11-19 September which welcomes sailors in four age categories from 35 years and upwards.

The Laser Standard is a class in which British sailors have enjoyed recent Olympic success, with Paul Goodison crowned Olympic Laser Champion at the Beijing 2008 Games, and Ben Ainslie before him claiming silver and gold in the class at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Games.

Hosting the event will attract more than 500 sailors from more than 50 countries to Hampshire – many with their sights set firmly on representing their country at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The Laser World Championships will be organised by the RYA with investment from UK Sport via their National Lottery-funded World Class Events Programme.

The Laser World Championship's organising authority will be the Royal Yachting Association and it will incorporate three events - the Laser Worlds (160 competitors), the Laser Junior Worlds (140 competitors) and the Laser Masters (400 competitors). They will all be held over a period of three weeks (27 Aug-19 Sept), with HISC race teams running two of the three events.

“The RYA is both delighted and excited to be staging these key events,” said RYA Racing Manager John Derbyshire. “The Laser Worlds will not only provide high quality racing opportunities so close to home for our British sailors, but also give us the opportunity to increase the profile of sailing throughout the UK during a crucial period for the development of the sport."

“Hayling Island Sailing Club offers ideal sailing conditions and shore-side facilities, regularly used by Skandia Team GBR for training and events, and is a fine example of what world class sailing venues we have throughout the UK.”

HISC Commodore John Message commented: “Hayling Island Sailing Club enjoys a high reputation for hosting major national and international events, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming the World Championships for the hugely competitive Laser class in 2010.

“The choice of sailing waters and the superb shore-side facilities we have at Hayling Island will ensure a memorable experience for all involved, and we hope will encourage Olympic hopefuls from all over the world to choose Hayling Island Sailing Club to train from in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games.”

In addition to the two regattas to be held at HISC, the further two regattas which make up the 2010 Worlds, the Laser Radial Women’s World Championships from 7 - 14 July 2010 and the Laser Radial Men’s and Youth Worlds from 18 - 25 July 2010, will be staged at Largs Sailing Club, home of the Scottish Sailing Institute.

RYA

LINK - Laser Champs - Letter from the Commodore . . .