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Month: September 2021

The Boat That Ian Built

Early Laser Regatta association Island NY


An interesting short movie (28min) from 1974 has come to light. It tells the Laser story of Ian Bruce and Performance Sailcraft the company which which he originally formed to produce and market it.

“The movie has fantastic footage of one of the first ever big fleet Laser regattas held at Association Island, New York on Lake Ontario across the lake from Kingston (with Ian Bruce competing!). The movie has interviews with Ian, Bruce Kirby, and Laser sail designer Hans Fogh along with shots of Lasers being produced in Ian’s factory.

You’ll also see amazing footage of Hans Fogh helming the prototype Laser in an October 1970 regatta held for boats under $1000 at the Playboy Club at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. It was called ‘The America’s Teacup Regatta’. Ian and Hans decided to call the prototype the ‘Weekender’ with sail number TGIF, the abbreviation for ‘Thank God It’s Friday’.”

The movie is from the National Film Board of Canada archive Here

COVID Restrictions for Community Sport


With the sailing season coming up you might be wondering what are the COVID restrictions applicable. The situation is fast changing and different for each state and varying between local government areas within states.

Australian Sailing has a page with information and links to the latest health orders. You can click the box on the right to get the rules for community sport in your state.

The Australian Sailing page is Here.