2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The ILCA Masters event at Parkstone Yacht Club over the weekend of 3rd and 4th May 2025 featured six closely contested races. 85 entries in the combined fleets started their campaigns for the Masters Nationals and Europeans at HISC in June. Racing in the bay, outside Poole Harbour, for the first time in many years, the varying conditions tested the fleet's tactical awareness and finesse.

In Race 1 Julien Shawyer took immediate control with a strong start, positioning ahead of a mid-line sag that saw several competitors slow to accelerate. Ross Harvey followed closely, staying in phase and minimising separation from Shawyer during the first beat.

The pivotal moment came at the bottom gate where Hywel Roberts executed a split, opting for the left-hand mark while Shawyer and Harvey took the opposite gate. The left side of the course offered better breeze and a favourable shift, allowing Roberts to overtake and lead into the second upwind leg.

The final downwind leg developed into a three-way battle for second between Neil Davies, Ross Harvey, and Julien Shawyer. While Roberts maintained first position.

One of the key insights came from Race 2, where a significant right-hand wind shift before the start required sailors to hold their lane in anticipation of the predicted left shift. Ross Harvey capitalised on this, managing the upwind phase with precision and choosing the correct side of the course to secure the win. Roberta Hartley sailed an excellent first run, finding stronger breeze on the right-hand side, but Ian Gregory's consistent speed saw him edge into second place by the finish.

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Saturday evening saw a high quality meal laid on by PYC. Key sponsors generously donated prizes. Among the winners were Po Wong from South Cherney SC and Colston Nichols from PYC. A special thank you to Ovinton Boats, Rooster and Tideway Wealth Management who provide the excellent prizes.

Sunday saw a drop in temperature but an increase in wind speed - NNE between 9 - 18knots - with a long day in prospect the competitors made their way across the harbour to the bay.

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Race 3 saw Jon Emmett return to form after a tricky first day. Emmett dominated the first beat with a confident right-hand side strategy, benefiting from a favourable wind shift and stronger pressure. He rounded the top mark with a substantial lead. Bob Cudmore followed in second, also gaining from the right, while Ross Harvey executed a well-timed approach from the left side to edge just ahead of the chasing pack.

The middle stages of the race saw compression as the fleet navigated the second beat. Both Andrew Hartley and Ross Harvey demonstrated superior tactical awareness, choosing the correct shifts and maintaining clean lanes to make significant gains on Emmett.

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The final downwind leg Emmett managed his lead conservatively, covering threats from both sides while maintaining boat speed. Harvey and Hartley continued their push, narrowing the gap further and securing second and third places respectively, but Emmett's early margin proved unassailable.

Race 4, Jon Emmett once again led from the outset, showing strong boat speed off the line and superior positioning on the first beat. Ross Harvey settled into second early on, followed by Ian Gregory and Steve Cockerill in close pursuit.

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

On the final downwind leg, the ILCA 6 fleet began to converge with the ILCA 7s, increasing tactical complexity. Steve Cockerill capitalised to overtake Ian Gregory.

Meanwhile, Ross Harvey mounted a serious challenge for the lead, closing in rapidly on Emmett as they approached the final mark.

In a tight and dramatic rounding, Jon Emmett managed to sneak around the outside of an ILCA 7, protecting his line and maintaining enough speed to defend his position from Harvey.

2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Race 5 highlighted how quickly positions could change downwind. Hywel Roberts had an excellent start, leading from the left and rounding the first mark in front. However, Ross Harvey showed superior downwind speed, passing Roberts on the first run. The lead changed again on the second upwind leg, where Jon Emmett's decision-making and clean lanes allowed him to pass both Harvey and Roberts. In the final stretch, Harvey managed to recover just enough to edge back into the lead and take the win, showing not just speed but also resilience and sharp situational awareness under pressure.

In the final race of the event, strategy around the shifting breeze became critical. At the start of a left-hand shift, Ross Harvey and Steve Cockerill tacked below the port lay line early. While Jon Emmett and Hywel Roberts opted to dig deeper into the left, the wind shifted back to the right just before the mark, benefiting Harvey and Cockerill. Their positioning allowed them to sail one more lift into the windward mark while Emmett and Roberts, already committed to the lay line, had to sail a header and lost ground.

Ross Harvey secured overall victory with a commanding and consistent performance across the series, posting three race wins and three second-place finishes.

Ross Harvey wins the 2025 ILCA Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Jon Emmett staged a strong comeback after a challenging first day. Two race wins and two second-place finishes on day two propelled him into second overall, showcasing resilience and tactical precision.

Hywel Roberts maintained solid form throughout the regatta, leveraging his early success to secure a well-earned third place overall.

First Lady was Roberta Hartley, she capped off her event with a 6th-place finish in the final race, just enough to retain 6th overall by a single point over Andrew Hartley.

Despite the cold temperatures afloat, the warm showers and excellent shore facilities at Parkstone Yacht Club were a welcome comfort for competitors. The club's hospitality, efficient race management by Stuart Childerley, and picturesque setting made it an ideal venue for high-level competition.

Prize givings for Masters events are slightly different from open regattas. As there are multiple age categories sponsors supply over 30 prizes to hand out to the victorious. With such competitive fleets the winners often change. For a full list of all the winner in the different categories see the results.

Full photo gallery here.

The continued support of our great class by our sponsors is greatly appreciated. Ovington Boats, Sailingfast, Rooster, Tideway Wealth, Noble Marine, Wildwind, Southeast sailboats and Fernhurst Books.

Overall Results: