The Victorian Laser Association (VLA) had a successful Try Laser 4.7 Day for junior sailors of off the beach classes at Melbourne's Albert Sailing Club on a Sunday in late August. The Try Laser 4.7 Day was part of the Victorian Laser Association's 2022/23 program for sailors ranging from those in their early teens to Great Grand Masters.

The Try Laser 4.7 Day had ideal conditions with sunny skies,  5 to 10 knot northerly winds, together with the full capacity Albert Park Lake for the one hour sessions in the VLA's five Laser 4.7 boats.  VLA sailor Jack Graves provided on water coaching, with support from experienced VLA members and Hamish Gilsenan and Patrick Cummin, who had recently returned from Youth ILCA5 (Laser Radial) world championships sailed in Texas in late July. Sarah Ogilvie from Australian Sailing dropped in to checkout the activities on the Lake from Albert Sailing Club and the Australian Sailing Boatshed and for chats on club and class association participation programs.

VLA Try Laser Day

The VLA's Try Laser 4.7 Day fitted in with the second last day of the ten week VIODA Optimist class winter training program held on Sunday afternoons at Albert Sailing Club. The VLA session gave the older and more experienced Optimist sailors and juniors from a number of other classes the opportunity to experience sailing a smallest rig Laser; a class of boat which provides a good option for progression when juniors reach their early teens.

The Victorian Laser Association 2022/23 program in the coming months includes :

• weekend and midweek  training sessions with VLA coaches
• Regattas including Sail Mordi, Sail Sandy and Bendigo's Regatta on the Cup Day weekend 
• Laser Activate Days at Victorian Sailing clubs.
• Victorian Laser championships in early December.

In 2021 the VLA took delivery of five Laser 4.7's and a trailer for transporting them. The plan is to use the Laser 4.7 in programs in 2022/23, with the focus on assisting young sailors in  junior classes to transition  into the Laser class.

Go to https://www.laser2020.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/viclaser for further details on the Victorian Laser Association and their program and activities.