Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

UKLA 2021 ILCA 6 Masters Nationals at Pevensey Bay Sailing Club

by Matthew Knight 13 Jul 2021 08:56 PDT 9-11 July 2021
UKLA 2021 ILCA 6 Masters Nationals at Pevensey Bay © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com
UKLA 2021 ILCA 6 Masters Nationals at Pevensey Bay ©Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15

Friday started well, with much anticipation as the 40 ILCA 6 sailors rigged for the first day of the nationals with 3 races scheduled. However, as the fleet set out into a 12 - 15 knot breeze from the south/south east a misty fog set in over the track taking the shine off the morning.

The day would be all about clear air and boat speed, with only small oscillations and pretty constant breeze across the course. With a strong outgoing tide against the wind creating some good waves, the first race got under way, with Ben Elvin (Stokes Bay) picking up where he left off last October at the Nationals, taking the first bullet. Jon Emmett (Weirwood) followed closely in second, with these two showing the fleet how it'd done with terrific speed upwind and down.

During the second race the fog cleared and a sunny afternoon ensued. A clear pattern in the racing developed, with Jon Emmett taking wins in races two and three, with Ben Elvin in second. Ian Jones (Dovestone) was 'best of the rest' with 2 thirds and a fourth, along with Terry Scutcher (Shotley) who scored 2 fourths and a third. Ann Keates (Parkstone) turned in strong performances in the last two races of the day with an 8th and 5th, to be the first Lady, sitting in 8th overall at the end of the day.

The top four had established themselves at the top of the order, with a clear points lead over the fleet. Their ability to get off the start line well, find clear air and having good boat speed and handling in the solid conditions proved a recipe for success.

The last challenge of the day was hitting the beach and getting up the bank across the pebbles to unrig. This was all made manageable by the amazing volunteers at Pevensey Bay Sailing Club. A few post-race beers sponsored by Duncan at Sailing Fast soon had the sailors only remembering the good parts of their days and looking forward to tomorrow.

Saturday dawned with a total contrast in the weather; the sun was replaced by rain and the wind had disappeared. The race officer kept the fleet ashore and decided to abandon racing for the day early in the afternoon as the forecast wasn't promising. The sun did briefly reappear in time for the evening BBQ and competitors were treated to superb hospitality from Pevensey Bay. Nick Harrison gave a speech about the background and aims of the Andrew Simpson Foundation and there was a free raffle with sponsors prizes from South East Sailboats, Vaikobi, Ovington and Sailingfast - a Wildwind holiday was the main prize won by Naill Peelo. Neil Peters 'Stick', legend of the class led the fundraising activities and £1700 was raised for the foundation through the generosity of the competitors.

Sunday the fleet set afloat in a light southerly that completely died, before filling in and settling at 6 - 10 knots with flat water on an incoming tide (for the first 2 races), making lay lines an interesting call. The first race of the day (race four of the regatta) saw the majority of the fleet head right to better pressure, again the same three proving that they are good at sailing the ILCA in all conditions, with Jon Emmett leading the way from Ben Elvin, Ian Jones while Ian Gregory (Frensham Pond) scored a 4th - his first of two for the day. Max Hunt (Whitsable) showed his light air prowess with a 5th, lifting him up the leader board.

The top three prevailed again in race 5, with Ian Jones teaching some of the top end of the fleet a lesson in downwind sailing as he tore through the fleet to get up to third.

Race 6, the last race of the regatta saw the tide change to outgoing, and the breeze softening. There were more holes across the course which made good starts imperative - without being over on the black flag, and clear air imperative. This race saw the biggest shake up in the placings at the first mark, but the cream always rises to the top and this race was to be no exception. Ian Jones took home the win, while Jon Emmet came from well down at the first mark (by his standards) to finish second, again teaching lessons to everyone down the last run by allowing for the tide and not pointing anywhere near the mark, but sailing to it fast in a straight line). Gareth Edwards (Queen Mary) was 3rd, and Ann Keates finished 4th.

Jon Emmett won the regatta overall, with Ben Elvin in second. Ian Jones was 1st Master in third overall, Terry Scutcher was 1st Grand Master in 5th, Ann Keates was 1st Great Grandmaster and 1st Lady in 7th and Mike Kinnear was 1st Legend in 20th. Queen Mary Sailing Club won best Club and also had the most entries with 21 boats over both fleets.

Overall it was a great regatta and based on the chat in the boat park a good learning experience for all. Race officer Paul Jackson and his team put together a long weekend of superbly run races - thank you. Off the water there seemed to be a never ending stream of amazing volunteers from both UKLA and Pevensey Bay Sailing Club - thank you! Thanks also to Alison and the organising committee. Last but not least a big thank you to all our sponsors.

Sponsors of UKLA ILCA Masters:

  • Sailingfast - Duncan brings his battle buss down from Scotland for most the big events, which is so ridiculously well equipped, you could replace everything on your boat. Although based in Scotland they will get anything to you super fast. He also supplied many of the prizes for the draw on Saturday evening. Check out sailingfast.co.uk
  • SouthEast Sailboats - Max brings bespoke quality at affordable prices to the class. His passion for detail has made his products a must have for anyone who wants quality. He also supplied many great prizes for the event. southeastsailboats.co.uk
  • Ovington Boats - Chris Turner lives dinghies and has been a significance presence in the boat building world for decades. OB are now the official UK builders of ILCAs. A very smart new Ovington ILCA Dinghy was on display at the Masters event. www.ovingtonboats.com
  • Vaikobi - a brand born on the waters of Sydney Harbour, out of a passion for all ocean sports. Across the team, we paddle, Surfski, SUP, Wing Foil and Sail. Sailing has been a passion within the business right from the start. The senior management team at Vaikobi comprise more than fifty years of marine industry and sailing experience between them. www.vaikobi.com
  • Noble Marine - Ian MacManus (the man behind the name) has crafted a very competitive and excellent insurance product for all Laser/ILCA sailors. A very personal service and a extremely useful website help make this the 'go to' company. www.noblemarine.co.uk

Related Articles

Still all to play for in the NEYYSA Series
Off to Pennine SC this weekend Sailors are gearing up for the next round of the North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers Series which resumes at Pennine Sailing Club on Saturday 7 June after a short siesta over the half term period. Posted on 6 Jun
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at Weymouth
Sailors thrive in 'champagne to fruity' conditions ILCA sailors from as far away as Norwich gathered in Weymouth when The Andrew Simpson Performance Academy hosted the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme led by Georgina Povall and supported by Molly Sacker from the British Sailing Team. Posted on 3 Jun
Solo and Laser open at Middle Nene
After a more than a 15 year break, these classes are together again After a more than a 15 year-long break, Middle Nene SC has re-introduced the joint Open Meeting for the Solo and Laser (ILCA) classes, and 19 competitors from MNSC and Cransley SC made the most of the near-perfect conditions on 31st May 2025. Posted on 3 Jun
Bosham Sailing Club Junior Regatta
A gob-smacking 90+ entries tak part A gob-smacking 90+ entries for the Bosham SC Junior Regatta, aligned with a late high tide and a wedding marquee on the meadow normally used for rigging and de-rigging created a unique challenge to celebrate its newly acquired RYA Pathway Club status. Posted on 3 Jun
Salcombe Yawls and ILCAs at Salcombe
Battling the elements in a blustery bank holiday bash The late May Bank Holiday once again saw the iconic Salcombe Yawls take to the water for the Stones Boatyard Yawl Open Meeting—a fixture now synonymous with top-class racing, fierce competition, and of course, the legendary Yeti prizes. Posted on 2 Jun
2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week
Next-generation sailors and Olympians clash in international waters The 2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week concluded after three days of high-level competition, bringing together 302 boats from five countries and highlighting both Olympic-calibre talent and rising youth sailors. Posted on 1 Jun
Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May
Get your Early Bird Abersoch Dinghy Week entry in
This ever popular family week is open to all dinghy classes and fleets Entries are now over 60 boats registered, so thanks to all of you who have entered so far, but if you want to save a few bucks please enter before the early bird rate comes to an end on the 1st June. Posted on 24 May
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George SC
Sailing, skills, and sunshine - thanks to SailingFast and Wildwind King George Sailing Club played host to an ILCA Women's Coaching Programme, welcoming sixteen female sailors from as far away as Lancashire and East Anglia ranging from 14 year olds to, err, ladies of a certain age, all excited to learn together. Posted on 20 May
The Shrink in the Drink
A world first book launch, perhaps? Andrew Hill-Smith was the third person to sail around GB in a Laser dinghy. He was the oldest person to do so, totally unsupported. It took 4 half months, and in the process, he raised over £21,000 across three charities. Posted on 18 May
Mackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMSea Sure 2025