Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

2024 ILCA Masters World Championships at Adelaide Sailing Club - Day 4

by Harry Fisher, Down Under Sail 8 Feb 2024 03:36 PST 24-31 January 2024
Peter Seidenberg (USA) and Peter Craig (AUS) are both 86 years old and are great mates - 2024 ILCA Masters World Championships © Harry Fisher / Down Under Sail
Racing eventually got away in a glamour 5-10 knot breeze - 2024 ILCA Masters World Championships ©Harry Fisher, Down Under Sail
Kiwi Luke Deegan leads the way in the ILCA 7 Apprentice fleet - 2024 ILCA Masters World Championships ©Harry Fisher, Down Under Sail
previous next
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

Age no barrier for ILCA Legends, hiking hard into their 80s

While sailing may not be a sport for everyone, it is without a doubt a sport for anyone.

As the 2024 ILCA Masters Worlds gets closer to completion, it was a chance to take a closer look at some of the more senior members of the fleet, more specifically the ILCA 6 Legends division made up of sailors more than 75 years old.

There are 20 Legends in Adelaide competing this week, 19 of them battling it out in the ILCA 6 division - and a sole ILCA 7 sailor bravely competing alongside the Great Grand Masters (65-74 years old) on the other course.

The two oldest Legends here are both 86 years old and will turn 87 later this year just a month either side of each other.

ILCA class veteran and multiple ILCA Masters world champion Peter Seidenberg made the trip to Adelaide from Newport, Rhode Island in the United States and said he had been to the last 40 ILCA Masters Worlds.

"I got my first (ILCA) in 1973, so that is now 51 years since I've sailed (ILCAs) pretty well exclusively, I just love the boat, it's a truly one-design boat, we're sailing man against man, not boat against boat," he said.

"I just love the Masters World Championships, it has taken me around the world, to different places that I would probably have never gone to before.

"I love sailing and I love the camaraderie, I like to meet people again, over and over again, so it's a great sport."

Australian Peter Craig, also 86 years old, took some time off from sailing but has returned the last few years and thought a Masters Worlds in his home country was a great opportunity to get back into some high-level racing.

"I hadn't sailed for 30 years and decided to take it up again," he said.

"I live in Brisbane and I sail in the river, which is really flat water and not conducive to what we're seeing here in Adelaide, but we're up to the challenge."

Paying tribute to his opponent, Craig said Seidenberg was probably one of the "best Masters sailors ever".

"I think he's won 13 Worlds and got a second in the first race - I know my capabilities, I'm here for the good fellas to have somebody to beat, so I'm where I should be and enjoying it," he said.

After eight races it's American William Symes leading the way in the ILCA 6 Legends fleet with a near-perfect scorecard of six race wins, however today's 4,2 results coming as his only blemish.

He was bested by Australian Tim Alexander who took both race wins today and sits second overall.

In the Great Grand Master fleets, Australian Steve Gunther has been dominating in the ILCA 7s with six wins from eight races, while in the ILCA 6s Australian James Mitchell has edged out a four-point lead to Great Britain's Terry Scutcher after a good day today.

In the Grand Masters, Brett Beyer (AUS) continued his strong form with two more wins today to sit well clear in top spot of the ILCA 7s, while Mark Tonner-Joyce (AUS) maintains a comfortable seven-point lead in the ILCA 6s.

In the Masters fleets, Brendan Casey (AUS) has created a fairly safe five-point buffer over Christoph Bottoni (AUS), while Simon Small (AUS) has increased his lead over Jon Emmett (GBR) in the ILCA 6s after a strong day today.

And in the Apprentice fleets, New Zealand's Luke Deegan is just about home and hosed in the ILCA 7s, while Argentina's Franco Riquelme Antonetti put two more wins on the board in the ILCA 6s to move two points clear of Adil Khalid from the United Arab Emirates.

Video by Jordan Roberts, Down Under Sail:

Tomorrow looks like more glamour sea breezes off the coast of the Adelaide Sailing Club as we head into the final two days of sailing.

For full results, and more information about the event, head to ilca2024adelaide.ilca-worlds.org

Related Articles

ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds overall
The northern wind arrives - Qingdao's final challenge Today marks the final day of the 2025 ILCA World Championships. While the champions have yet to be crowned, Qingdao's signature northern wind has already unfurled the curtain on the ultimate showdown. Posted on 17 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 5
Clearing Skies and Fresh Breezes: Racing Finally Begins in Qingdao After four consecutive days of still air and thick fog, the ILCA World Championships in Qingdao finally saw its first official races on Day 5. Posted on 16 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 4
Wind yet to arrive, fog prevails Heavy fog returned from the south, choking off what little wind remained. At 11:17 a.m., AP over H was hoisted. The fleet was towed back to shore once again, for yet another stretch of waiting. Posted on 15 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 3
The wind stays away and the day is cancelled once more For the third consecutive day, the ILCA World Championship race course remained stalled under a windless sky. A dense fog clung to the Olympic Sailing Center, muting the horizon and chilling the air to a damp 17 degrees C. Posted on 14 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 2
A Windless Day, A Test of Patience The second day of qualification at the ILCA World Championships brought stillness rather than sail. With calm seas and motionless air, the day became a test of patience, resilience, and focus for all competitors. Posted on 13 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 1
Wind drops during a period known for the strongest tidal currents The first day of the ILCA World Championship brought a dual challenge of tide and wind to the waters off Qingdao. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, today marks the 15th day of the fourth month — a period known for the strongest tidal currents. Posted on 12 May
2025 ILCA 6 Women's & ILCA 7 Men's Worlds Preview
The eyes of the sailing world will turn to Qingdao, China The eyes of the sailing world will turn to Qingdao, China, from 10-17 May 2025, as the city prepares to host the 2025 ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's World Championships. Posted on 4 May
22nd Budget Marine Antigua ILCA Open
17 sailors from Antigua, St Vincent and British Virgin Islands (BVI) compete Last Saturday and Sunday at Falmouth Harbour in Antigua was the 22nd Budget Marine Antigua ILCA Open. Organized by the Antigua Yacht Club, the event brought together 17 sailors from Antigua, St Vincent and British Virgin Islands (BVI). Posted on 28 Mar
2027 Performance Sailcraft ILCA Under-21 Worlds
Up to 200 sailors are expected to compete at Sandringham YC The International Laser Class Association has awarded the right to conduct the 2027 ILCA Under-21 World Championships to ILCAVic in Melbourne, Australia. Posted on 13 Mar
ILCA's Path to a Sustainable Future
As the world evolves, so must the Class The original innovative design and construction techniques of the ILCA dinghy have endured through the decades, with over 227,000 boats built, allowing us to race with the same boat our parents used when they were our age. Posted on 16 Feb
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast