UKLA ILCA 7 Masters Qualifier at Pevensey Bay Sailing Club

ILCA 7 Masters Qualifier at Pevensey Bay © UKLA

As October dawned the final ILCA Masters event took place at Pevensey Bay SC with a triumphant Alan Davis taking the top spot in the ILCA7s and Ian Gregory in the ILCA6s.

With the open ILCA fleets doing their thing down in Weymouth the Masters revisited a favourite venue, Pevensey Bay. Saturday's forecasts looked like we were in for some vigorous and exciting racing which very much proved the case. 31 ILCA Masters, 15 ILCA7s - a smaller turnout than normal, were looking to get in the last Masters event of a great season.

Race 1

The tides aren't complicated at Pevensey. With a 14 -20 Knt WSW breeze and an incoming tide everyone made their way to the right. Although it paid to get out of the tide, taking the shifts was important. With flatter water and less tide those who tacked quickly and managed to get a lane kept in touch with the leaders even though they may have missed the odd shift.

New to the Masters circuit was Michael Clark from Bough Beech SC. At 31 and with a MK1 sail he was showing the fleet a clean transom but it was not long before Tim Law was reeling him back in. With an increasing wind on an old style course of Triangle sausage, a long 20 minute first beat and a small fleet, boat speed was a priority.

However even the experienced can slip up and Mr. Law decided to take a dip just before the finish line. Luckily for him so did the new boy. Race one finished Tim Law, Michael Clarke and Alan Davis.

Race 2

Blue sky, relative warmth and a good stiff breeze made for glorious sailing. With a building tide and bigger waves out to sea it was even more important to get inshore. As we moved up the course and closer inshore the shifts got bigger. Over-standing became easier and those who didn't hit the lay-line too early gained.

Mike Matan, Alan Davis and Chris Ellyatt, the 90kg+ sailors, were asserting themselves. Mike and Alan stretched out a decent lead followed by Michael Clark. Alan took the win with Mike M second and Michael C third and Chris fourth.

Alan Davis - ILCA 7 Masters Qualifier at Pevensey Bay - photo © UKLA

Race 3

The race officer observed the 'dippers' were getting their boats back up rather more slowly as the day wore on so it was decided that race 3 would be the last of the day. Now Alan was unstoppable. But with Mike M working hard downwind he wasn't having all his own way.

Tim Law was also relishing the conditions but Alan Davis was relentless and won both the race and the day. Mike Matan banged out another 2nd & Tim third.

These were challenging conditions and everyone should be proud to have completed all 3 races. Chris Ellyatt was Mr. Consistent with three fourths, Terrence O'Neill had a great last race coming fifth.

After racing all the talk was whether to go home or not. The forecasts for Saturday were universally dreadful - no wind and torrential rain... and so it was. Those who did the Saturday evening social evening enjoyed top nosh and a prize draw. It was Mac Courts who won a Minorca Sailing holiday - thank you!

UKLA and all competitors would like to thanks everyone at PBSC for making this such a great day. Especially the RO Richard Holtumn and the shore retrieval team who made getting up the steep beach seem so easy.

So three great races rounded off a really good season of UK Masters racing. If you'd like to join us next season please check out the UKLA website. UKLA ILCA/Laser Masters racing is fun but still competitive. We welcome all those over 30 and who have raced at club level and above. We have loads of prizes, good food and perfect socials.

Finally thanks to all our sponsors Minorca Sailing, Vaikobi, Ovington, Southeast Sailboats, Sailingfast and Noble Marine.

Prizewinners - ILCA 6 and 7 Masters Qualifier at Pevensey Bay - photo © UKLA

Overall Results: