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2025 ILCAUK Masters Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - ILCA 6 report

by Nel Davies & ILCAuk 11 Jun 15:45 BST 7-9 June 2025

The 2025 ILCA Masters Nationals were proudly hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club, drawing nearly 120 entries, including 60 ILCA 6s. Over three days of challenging conditions, competitors delivered exceptional racing in conditions that tested their mettle but were embraced with enthusiasm and resilience. It was a true showcase of the grit, courage, and skill that defines this remarkable community of sailors.

Freshly minted 30-year-olds joined the ranks of seasoned veterans—but what exactly qualifies someone as a veteran? Or, as we prefer to call them, Legends? In the case of Claude Tigier, that means sailing strong at an inspiring 90 years young!

Scattered throughout the fleets were sailors with Olympic medals and world titles to their names. But just as important were the passionate weekend warriors—those who race for the love of the ILCA (Laser) and the thrill of competition.

Welcome to the ILCA UK Masters Nationals—where experience meets enthusiasm, and every sailor belongs.

Day One

The fleet approached the first day with some trepidation, as the forecast predicted 25-30 knots from the southwest. However, the expected strong winds never materialized, and sailors were instead met with a building 15-20 knot breeze and big waves.

Two races were completed, but with the wind steadily increasing, the race officer wisely sent the fleet home early, sparing competitors from an exhausting third race.

Early pace-setters included Ross Harvey and Jon Emmett, with Steve Cockrell and Hywel Roberts close behind. Among the international sailors, Argentina's Franco Antonetti and Spain's Miguel Noguer were top performers.

The evening saw HISC host a great meal followed by a prize draw, with generous donations from key sponsors including Ovington Boats, Tideway Wealth Management and Rooster. Notable winners included Franco Antonetti, who won an ILCA boom but opted to swap it for a Rooster buoyancy aid (since it wouldn't fit in an overhead locker on his flight home), and Chris Whaley, who won a Wildwind holiday - Thanks you Simon Morgan and the team at Wildwind.

Day Two

Saturday brought warmer temperatures and a moderate 15-20 knot breeze from the southwest, with a calmer sea state. The race team efficiently completed three races, with the outgoing tide resulting in just three general recalls—impressive for an ILCA fleet.

A key talking point of the day was Race 2, when leaders Ross Harvey and Jon Emmett mistakenly sailed towards the ILCA 7 fleet's wing marks, leading much of the front runners to follow suit. Ian Gregory capitalized on their error, sailed the correct course, and comfortably won, followed by Hywel Roberts. A lesson in navigation, no doubt!

All competitors' boats had been fitted with TracTrac trackers, providing valuable insights into sailor speeds, distances sailed, and position changes. That evening, TracTrac and Ross Harvey hosted a fascinating race analysis presentation, showcasing how the best sailors gain (and lose!) positions. The tracking technology also allowed those unable to attend the event to follow the racing remotely. Hopefully, this tool will be used in future Masters events, as it offers a great learning opportunity.

Despite their Race 2 mishap, Ross, John, Hywel, and Steve continued to dominate the leaderboard. Ian Gregory's Race 2 victory and Neil Davies' second-place finish in Race 3 put pressure on the top four. Meanwhile, Spain's Josie Van de Ploeg and Franco Antonetti were also performing strongly.

Sunday Evening

Trac Trac provided all boats with gps tracking for the whole event. A fascinating debrief was put on by Brett Lewis and Ross Harvey which allowed competitors to gain a valuable insight into their decisions.

Day Three

Day three began overcast but promised conditions similar to the previous day. Hoping to complete three races, the fleet launched early on an incoming tide. However, the wind remained light and shifty, leading to a short postponement before racing began.

Once racing was under way, the turning tide and unstable wind created challenges, and after a few general recalls, the black flag was raised, forcing several competitors to sit out the first race. The delay allowed the wind to build and settle, although large shifts over the three races made life tricky for the race officers and competitors alike.

Despite the challenges, three races were completed in 15-20 knots with building waves, making the sail back over the infamous Hayling Bar on an outgoing tide particularly thrilling!

At the conclusion of the series, Jon Emmett claimed the title by 3.5 points over Ross Harvey. Hywel Roberts secured third, with Steve Cockerill in fourth place. Spain's Jos Van der Ploeg finished fifth, ranking as the top overseas visitor and Great Grand Master.

Among the female competitors, Roberta Hartley impressed with a 15th place finish, with Sarah Cockrell and Ann Keats close behind in 17th and 18th.

A huge thank you to the HISC team for organising a fantastic event - both from HISC and ILCAuk. And of course thank you sponsors Ovington, Southeast sailboats, Rooster, Wildwind, Fernhurst Books, Sailingfast, Noble Marine, TracTrac and Tideway wealth.

Another great Masters Nationals - if you think you'd like to have ago next year please do... we'd love to see more new faces at this great event. Contact the class association ilca.uk

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCategoryClubGenderR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
1st216115Jon EmmettMCastle Cove SCMale321‑26312113
2nd218942Ross HarveyAMStokes Bay SCMale113‑1917.51216.5
3rd220442Hywel RobertsMPYCMale5422‑844425
4th224129Stephen CockerillGMStokes Bay SCMale254‑6636531
5th216164Jose Maria Van der PloegGGMClub Nautic El BalisMale1966‑324251153
6th220041Ian GregoryMFrensham Pond SCMale7881‑151391561
7th225169Franco Riquelme AntonettiAMCNMPMale435399(BFD)3366
8th222756Neil DaviesAMParkstone YCMale121295215(UFD)1469
9th224330Jon GayMLochaber YCMale11710‑4110238776
10th221801Miguel NoguerGGMEl MasnouMale6107365(BFD)7677
11th222557Bob CudmoreGMParkstone YCMale1091314‑221411879
12th215255Ulf MyrinGMHKKKMale1711151811‑28101092
13th225637Phil BevanGMLyme Regis SCMale22172247‑351513100
14th199429Fredrik HedlundMBunchillon YCMale2314‑33132310149106
15th224334Roberta HartleyGMParkstone YCFemale25‑3221713121816112
16th206436Kim TanGGMVWDTPMale‑2416121714222112114
17th224130Sarah CockerillGMStokes bay SCFemale1619‑30917191327120
18th226327Ann KeatesGGMParkstone YCFemale14‑342810257.52019123.5
19th221721JeanPhilippe GalleGGMClub Nautique de Saint RaphaelMale15‑29231516181624127
20th210435Pierre Nove‑JosserandGGMSt Raphael FranceMale82616‑4932211220135
21st213707Jimmy CarterGMLancing SCMale91811‑4028302530151
22nd212061Simon HardimanMBartley SCMale13211728‑30242425152
23rd194130Thomas NashMQueen Mary SCMale21221823‑46173121153
24th222845Thomas LeukelGGMKaarster Segel ClubMale44(DNC)36111862617158
25th224874Alexandra BehrensMMuehlenberger Segel ClubFemale‑432527291253235165
26th204368Thomas GyrGGMCircolo Velico Lago di LuganoMale3436‑50202091928166
27th221855Klamer SchutteGMWV BraassemermeerMale29201483420(UFD)DNC189
28th221486John ElderMGrafham Water SCMale3031292121(BFD)3726195
29th218155Matthew FletcherGMQueen Mary SCMale2024264337(BFD)3023203
30th223536Jacques FiquemontGGMClub Nautique de Saint RaphaelMale26233424‑40401740204
31st147669Alain RenaudMWelsh Harp SCMale3130353133‑382222204
32nd174236Jacques KerrestLSailfish Point YCMale37‑42382524293429216
33rd224155Simon BeckettGMWaveney & Oulton Broad YCMale3228‑423342332931228
34th220826Gordon RiddellMDelph SCMale35354016‑43323539232
35th221314Paul HeathGMLeigh & Lowton SCMale2813191235(DNC)DNCDNC235
36th223870Ian RawetLGrafham Water SCMale45(DNC)514229162733243
37th222549Peter TaylorGMParkstone YCMale4643373419(BFD)2841248
38th220441Rafael MatarazzoAMQueen Mary SCMale333931384431(UFD)37.5253.5
39th197693Sergio MessinaGMBough Beech SCMale(DNC)DNC2432611DNFDNC256
40th222220Simon CaveyGMQueen Mary SCMale2733252231(BFD)DNCDNC266
41st215377Richard MajorGGMGrafham Water SCMale49(DNC)433536264434267
42nd213542Jonathan JonesGGMWaveney & Oulton Broad YCMale38374546412536(DNC)268
43rd215416Peter GeeGGMGrafham Water SCMale4041484738(BFD)2336273
44th218940Christopher KilshawMReading SCMale41443237‑5341.54037.5273
45th205147Vittorio BoccoliniMSeafarers SCMale(DNC)DNC443027BFD3318280
46th186162Andrew JonesGMWeston SCMale363847‑5352393932283
47th219390Niall PeeloMQueen Mary SCMale18152044(DNC)DNCDNCDNC289
48th213641Rob CageGGMThames SCMale3927392739(DNC)DNCDNC299
49th184769Stefan LaegerMLyme Regis SCMale4240545145(BFD)3842312
50th203323Kevin PearsonLThames SCMale47465248492745(DNC)314
51st226317Stuart BromidgeLParkstone YCMale50454955503443(DNC)326
52nd211973Ann LorenGGMMKS‑HKKFemale(DNC)DNC555051364644346
53rd205337Mike SteeleGGMSt Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing AssociMale52(DNC)4652484342DNC347
54th219061Bob DraperGGMStokes Bay SCMale(DNC)DNC41454741.548DNC350.5
55th219663Tom FlinthamLFrensham Pond SCMale51(DNC)575454455043354
56th221584Jonathan StirlingGMQueen Mary SCMale48(DNF)5357BFD4647DNC379
57th218576Clause TigierL Male53(DNF)56565737DNFDNC387
58th206502Hilary ThomasLLocks SCFemale(DNC)DNC5858554749DNC395
59th218170Tatibouet ClaudineGMC N SchoelcherFemale(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC4441DNC405
60th207710Monica Julie BodmerGGMCVLFemale(DNC)DNC59595648DNCDNC414
61st223447Robert BeereGMBurghfield SCMale(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC448
61st215231Keith CrebbinGGMBlackpool And Fleetwood SCMale(DNF)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC448
61st168986John GoldsbroughGGMWeston SCMale(DNC)DNCDNSDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC448

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