UKLA ILCA 6 Masters Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club

The first Masters Qualifier of the year was held at the fantastic Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole Harbour.

Light winds welcomed the ILCA 6s Masters on Saturday, a short delay to allow the forecast 6-8 knots to materialise and 3 good races were sailed in shifty puffy conditions that put a premium on keeping your head out of the boat and keeping off the lay lines, with a slightly adverse tide the starboard lay line was a particularly ugly place to find yourself. The leaders seemed to come in from the right side of the course but the penalty for getting out of phase with the shifts was severe

UKLA ILCA Masters Qualifier at Parkstone - photo © Georgie Altham

The first race saw Jon Emmet and Ian Gregory slowly but surely pull away from the 30 boat fleet, with Rob Cage 3rd. Race 2 was Jon and Ian again this time with Sergio Messina taking 3rd. Last race of the day saw a repeat at the very front but with John Gay taking 3rd

Overnight Leaders: Jon Emmet with 3 bullets, Ian Gregory with 3 2nds, John Gay with 12 points.

UKLA ILCA Masters Qualifier at Parkstone - photo © Georgie Altham

Performances of the day was Keith McQuillin with a 5th in the first race, Max Hunt with a 4th, Bob Draper with a 12th and Amanda Henderson with a 14th.

Parkstone put on an excellent meal included in the entry which the fleet enjoyed in the Yacht Club restaurant.

UKLA ILCA Masters Qualifier at Parkstone - photo © Georgie Altham

Sunday had been forecast to be sub 5 Knots and rain, but the PRO knew better and we went afloat and in time the breeze filled in just enough to get race 4, in what became very light and patchy conditions. The top 2 where Jon and Ian in that order - again, but this time Ann Keates grabbed 3rd on the last lap.

The breeze came in for race 5 in what became at 10knts the strongest wind of the weekend, Jon Emmet to a predictable 1st with Ann Keates taking 2nd with Ian Gregory 3rd

UKLA ILCA Masters Qualifier at Parkstone - photo © Georgie Altham

Overall, Jon Emment had a perfect score even discarding a better result than anybody else had on the score sheet. Ian Gregory scored a full set of seconds for second overall, perhaps the top of the podium was no surprise as they had just come back from the Master Worlds in Thailand where they had been first and second in the Master (45- 55 years) category. 3rd overall was Sergio Messina, 1 point ahead of John Gay and Rob Cage who finished 4th and 5th, with Ann Keates in 6th.

Performances of the day were Ann Keats with a 3rd and 2nd, Michael Bagge with a 11th and John Goldsbrough with a 13th.

1st Lady Ann Keates, 2nd Jo West

In the age categories:

• Apprentice Masters (30-45) 1ST James Kilburn, 2nd Jo West
• Master (45-55) 1st Jon Emmet, 2nd Ian Gregory
• Grand Mater (55-65) 1st Sergio Messina, 2nd Rob Cage
• Great Grand Master (65-75) 1st Anne Keates, 2nd Andrew Chapman
• Legend (75+) 1st Ian Rawet, 2nd Roger Williams

UKLA ILCA Masters Qualifier at Parkstone - photo © Georgie Altham

It was great to see so many ILCA sailors racing in their first Master's Regatta, whilst the racing is at a good level throughout the fleet it is always fun, and nobody takes themselves to seriously, if you club race an ILCA you will find the standard of racing at a Master's Regatta perfect

An excellent weekend at a superb venue made possible only by the army of volunteers from Parkstone and UKLA. A big thanks you to the on-the-water team headed by RO Graham Davies and the on shore team at PYC.

The prize-giving was made very special by the incredible generosity of the sponsors: Ovington Boats, Rooster, Sailingfast, Southeast Sailboats and Fernhurst Books - these all contributed to the terrific prizes handed out to the winners. And to Noble Marine for their annual sponsorship.

Overall Results: