ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

76 ILCA Masters rocked up to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over the weekend of 6th/ 7th July for the ILCA Masters qualifier. A fleet of 33 ILCA 6s were eager to get racing as soon as the weather would allow.

Saturday as forecast was a big wind day. We were privileged to get in two quality races. Principal Race Officer PJ sensibly decided to postpone to coincide with an expected drop from the peak of 37 knots recorded on the harbour wall. The westerly coming over Chesil Beach was still spicy when we launched after lunchtime. The various wind-foiling/ surfing/ kiting craft were having a speedy time! Some of the fleet understandably opted to sit the first races out.

ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Race 1 was in the upper wind range but directionally stable and without too many killer gusts. A boat speed day and hiking contest. Sarah Cockerill and Ann Keats made excellent starts. Jon Emmett lead off from the pin continuing left, presumably to capitalise on any wind bend influenced by Portland island- most of the fleet followed.

Opportunities for learning from Emmett's technique rapidly diminished as he opened up a sizeable lead by the windward mark, Bob Cudmore was flying too. Emmett was way ahead by the first leeward. With kickers at maximum there were a few capsizes caused by getting stuck under the boom, this doesn't seem to happen to young people!

ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

During race 2 there was starting to be holes in the wind, annoyingly at times whilst being psyched for full Force 6 battle. It seemed particularly important to spot gusts downwind or be sailed around. There was an upset when some of the fleet continued on a reaching leg after passing the committee boat which was now repositioned at the windward mark.

However a three-beat race had been signalled; hence the correct course was another run and beat. This allowed Bob Cudmore and Jon Gay to slip ahead of Emmett with the fleet following. Happily the shortened course flag appeared on the Committee Boat with Gay and Cudmore breathing a sigh of relief.

An international football match was enjoyed in the bar featuring a team from south of Hadrian's Wall. Far more importantly Tideway Wealth, ILCAUKs new sponsor, supplied three engraved presentation leatherman multitools. The lucky winners were drawn after the match: Carl Avery, David Hartgill and Nick Livingstone.

ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Out to the bay on Sunday in an amenable 15 to 20 knots, again more or less westerly. The fleet was well behaved with only one general recall in the first race. Relative to the chop in the harbour the waves were starting to be really fun, many cockpits became aquariums. Jon Emmet again dominated with a good gap opened by the first windward of every race. Steve Cockerill gave a masterclass in utilising small shifts upwind (which many of us missed), getting pretty close to Emmett especially in race 5.

It was surprising that there didn't appear to be an anticipated wind bend produced by the Nothe promentary, but we weren't very close in. Successful downwind strategy appeared to be a starboard broad reach out to larger waves then by the lee on these to work back left. It was generally a similar bunch of boats at the front with Ian Gregory, Terry Scutcher, Steve Cockerill and Jon Gay all making the top 3 behind Jon Emmett who comfortably won all three races. Sarah Cockerill finished First Lady in tenth.

ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The atmosphere at Masters events is great; it's such an experienced fleet where newer sailors sail alongside literal Masters, Legends and multiple world champions. The key thing is it's an opportunity to learn from sailors who have done their ten thousand hours and are generous with help and information. It's not too late to enter the Masters Europeans!

A smooth and well delivered prize-giving giving credit for improvement and achievements in all categories, plus celebrating the growing ILCA 4 fleet.

WPNSA as a venue is is hard to fault, it's especially helpful to have easy launching and a choice of inside or outside the harbour.

Many thanks to WPNSA, the race management team - RO Paul Jackson, sponsors and volunteers who all helped to make the event such a success.

Overall Results:

ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Weymouth - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com