Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

WHAT IS THE ILCA UKLA MASTERS INLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS?

Strange title I know, but it's a question worth answering. The term ILCA used to stand for the International Laser Class Association and is made up of all the sailors around the globe who in the past would have said they sailed Lasers and if you have not kept up with events we don't now officially call them Lasers as that builder and the ILCA fell out. So we now have multiple builders all building what we used to call a Laser but now they and the ILCA are friends.

The UK arm of ILCA is the UKLA and this weekend we members raced in the Masters Inland Championships - basically a weekend of sailors who enjoy racing hard in their old Laser or new ILCA boats whilst they still can. The old bumper sticker "cheat the nursing home - die in your Laser" would still apply but don't get me wrong, despite the new varied age range from 30 to over 75 (the new legend category) every place is hard fought whilst respect is given for all on the water.

I would like to think of myself as a lapsed member of this group and with a call for the ILCA Masters regatta that was enticing, two new ILCA 6s (radial) from Ovington hitched on the back of the van, Sarah and I turned up at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club for the Masters Inland National Championships as Grand Masters - no that's not our ability - it just means we are over 55 and not yet 65!

Glyn Purnell in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Sailors arriving at Chew on Easter Saturday, were greeted with glorious warm spring sunshine and an even warmer welcome from the Club with coffee and bacon butties included in their entry. The club was then full of old friends chatting with new friendships being formed. Our confident race officer predicted that the wind would fill in by one, which it duly did.

Not only was his team good at wind prediction, but their slick race management turned around three smart competitive races with little time to get chilly in our summer layers.

Predictably Chew Valley has shifts that can sometimes be hard to read so a cool head was needed to minimise the points on what could be a big points scoring day. My reflection on the first day was that I had an even number of snakes and ladders but that the races finished just after a ladder so my scores looked smart, although the class acts were Jon Emmett (Master) and Ian Gregory (Master) who is the current inland national champion, whilst there were also class acts throughout the categories with some living up to their category title of legend (over 75) notably Kevin Pearson who a pulled a blinder, leading at the top mark.

Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Relaxing on the balcony overlooking perhaps the most beautiful lake in the South West, sipping our favourite tipple discussing the events of the day with like-minded sailors did feel great, only to be topped off by a 5 star evening meal at 1 star prices served by the new caterers at Chew.

The Sunday morning breeze was not as forecast, but the Race Officer was again confident that the wind would swing and build so we waited patiently for perhaps 20 mins on the shore before the wind did as it was asked. Once again the RO had been spot on and had given the sailors the least waiting around time and the most racing time possible on the water. What's not to love?!

Taking a tiny 1 point lead into the second day, I had no preconception that the overall trophy was possible. I was racing to win my category firstly but Chew Valley was the venue that I won the Laser Standard Inland Nationals in 1995 and so perhaps subconsciously I felt I had a chance.

Jon Emmett took second in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

With a big swing to the left, Bally Holme Yacht Club Sailor Howard Massie took the lead at the first mark with Mike Kinnear (Legend) in hot pursuit with many scrabbling back from the right. I was relatively in shape rounding in sixth with Ian Gregory further back and Jon deep. Two laps later and more snakes and ladders I found myself in the lead with the final downwind to the finish. It was then that I realised that it was possible to win the weekend. If I could sail two more seconds to discard my 3rd from the first day - then perhaps - just perhaps..

The second race normal service was resumed and Jon took me on the first downwind when I went right for a gust that disappeared and Jon went left for one that built. I found myself trying to secure second in conditions that slowly deteriorated as the wind became more patchy.

The wind gods did settle and we had perhaps the best wind of the weekend. Jon was at his best again downwind and took a comfortable lead. Unfortunately for Ian, I just had to ensure I beat him to take the second that sealed the championship so I ushered him around the lake ensuring that I remained between him and the next mark whilst Sarah chased the top three hard having got into her 'vang on, boom out' mode in the breeze.

Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The best bit was the tea and cake at the end - once again it was part of the entry so happy sailors had happy tummies ready for their journey home.

The thank you speech was impeccable - Tim law from the ILCA 7 gave it summing up the event as the best ever - but I should thank the sponsors - Noble Marine, Vakobi, SailingFast and SouthEast Sailboats. Although I think Max Hunt of SouthEast Sailboats was smiling more because he had his best result ever finishing fourth overall in his first event as a Great Grand Master - the older the wiser perhaps?

Gareth Edwards in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

A quick mention of our sponsors:

Sailingfast - Has been sponsoring UKLA events now for many years, provides dozens of prizes for each event and is the 'go to' provider of all the equipment you'll need for your ILCA/Laser.

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.

Noble Marine - Ian MacManus has crafted a very competitive and excellent insurance product for all Laser/ILCA sailors. A very personal service and an extremely useful website help make this the 'go to' company.

Vaikobi - a brand born on the waters of Sydney Harbour, out of a passion for all ocean sports. Sailing has been a passion within the business right from the start. Every week that goes by sees yet more great products ready for you. Vaikobi is growing.

Overall Results:

Stephen Cockerill wins the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 6 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com