2025 ILCAUK Masters Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - ILCA 6 report
by Nel Davies & ILCAuk 12 Jun 02:45 NZST
7-9 June 2025
The 2025 ILCA Masters Nationals were proudly hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club, drawing nearly 120 entries, including 60 ILCA 6s. Over three days of challenging conditions, competitors delivered exceptional racing in conditions that tested their mettle but were embraced with enthusiasm and resilience. It was a true showcase of the grit, courage, and skill that defines this remarkable community of sailors.
Freshly minted 30-year-olds joined the ranks of seasoned veterans—but what exactly qualifies someone as a veteran? Or, as we prefer to call them, Legends? In the case of Claude Tigier, that means sailing strong at an inspiring 90 years young!
Scattered throughout the fleets were sailors with Olympic medals and world titles to their names. But just as important were the passionate weekend warriors—those who race for the love of the ILCA (Laser) and the thrill of competition.
Welcome to the ILCA UK Masters Nationals—where experience meets enthusiasm, and every sailor belongs.
Day One
The fleet approached the first day with some trepidation, as the forecast predicted 25-30 knots from the southwest. However, the expected strong winds never materialized, and sailors were instead met with a building 15-20 knot breeze and big waves.
Two races were completed, but with the wind steadily increasing, the race officer wisely sent the fleet home early, sparing competitors from an exhausting third race.
Early pace-setters included Ross Harvey and Jon Emmett, with Steve Cockrell and Hywel Roberts close behind. Among the international sailors, Argentina's Franco Antonetti and Spain's Miguel Noguer were top performers.
The evening saw HISC host a great meal followed by a prize draw, with generous donations from key sponsors including Ovington Boats, Tideway Wealth Management and Rooster. Notable winners included Franco Antonetti, who won an ILCA boom but opted to swap it for a Rooster buoyancy aid (since it wouldn't fit in an overhead locker on his flight home), and Chris Whaley, who won a Wildwind holiday - Thanks you Simon Morgan and the team at Wildwind.
Day Two
Saturday brought warmer temperatures and a moderate 15-20 knot breeze from the southwest, with a calmer sea state. The race team efficiently completed three races, with the outgoing tide resulting in just three general recalls—impressive for an ILCA fleet.
A key talking point of the day was Race 2, when leaders Ross Harvey and Jon Emmett mistakenly sailed towards the ILCA 7 fleet's wing marks, leading much of the front runners to follow suit. Ian Gregory capitalized on their error, sailed the correct course, and comfortably won, followed by Hywel Roberts. A lesson in navigation, no doubt!
All competitors' boats had been fitted with TracTrac trackers, providing valuable insights into sailor speeds, distances sailed, and position changes. That evening, TracTrac and Ross Harvey hosted a fascinating race analysis presentation, showcasing how the best sailors gain (and lose!) positions. The tracking technology also allowed those unable to attend the event to follow the racing remotely. Hopefully, this tool will be used in future Masters events, as it offers a great learning opportunity.
Despite their Race 2 mishap, Ross, John, Hywel, and Steve continued to dominate the leaderboard. Ian Gregory's Race 2 victory and Neil Davies' second-place finish in Race 3 put pressure on the top four. Meanwhile, Spain's Josie Van de Ploeg and Franco Antonetti were also performing strongly.
Sunday Evening
Trac Trac provided all boats with gps tracking for the whole event. A fascinating debrief was put on by Brett Lewis and Ross Harvey which allowed competitors to gain a valuable insight into their decisions.
Day Three
Day three began overcast but promised conditions similar to the previous day. Hoping to complete three races, the fleet launched early on an incoming tide. However, the wind remained light and shifty, leading to a short postponement before racing began.
Once racing was under way, the turning tide and unstable wind created challenges, and after a few general recalls, the black flag was raised, forcing several competitors to sit out the first race. The delay allowed the wind to build and settle, although large shifts over the three races made life tricky for the race officers and competitors alike.
Despite the challenges, three races were completed in 15-20 knots with building waves, making the sail back over the infamous Hayling Bar on an outgoing tide particularly thrilling!
At the conclusion of the series, Jon Emmett claimed the title by 3.5 points over Ross Harvey. Hywel Roberts secured third, with Steve Cockerill in fourth place. Spain's Jos Van der Ploeg finished fifth, ranking as the top overseas visitor and Great Grand Master.
Among the female competitors, Roberta Hartley impressed with a 15th place finish, with Sarah Cockrell and Ann Keats close behind in 17th and 18th.
A huge thank you to the HISC team for organising a fantastic event - both from HISC and ILCAuk. And of course thank you sponsors Ovington, Southeast sailboats, Rooster, Wildwind, Fernhurst Books, Sailingfast, Noble Marine, TracTrac and Tideway wealth.
Another great Masters Nationals - if you think you'd like to have ago next year please do... we'd love to see more new faces at this great event. Contact the class association ilca.uk
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Category | Club | Gender | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 216115 | Jon Emmett | M | Castle Cove SC | Male | 3 | 2 | 1 | ‑26 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| 2nd | 218942 | Ross Harvey | AM | Stokes Bay SC | Male | 1 | 1 | 3 | ‑19 | 1 | 7.5 | 1 | 2 | 16.5 |
| 3rd | 220442 | Hywel Roberts | M | PYC | Male | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | ‑8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 4th | 224129 | Stephen Cockerill | GM | Stokes Bay SC | Male | 2 | 5 | 4 | ‑6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 31 |
| 5th | 216164 | Jose Maria Van der Ploeg | GGM | Club Nautic El Balis | Male | 19 | 6 | 6 | ‑32 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 53 |
| 6th | 220041 | Ian Gregory | M | Frensham Pond SC | Male | 7 | 8 | 8 | 1 | ‑15 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 61 |
| 7th | 225169 | Franco Riquelme Antonetti | AM | CNMP | Male | 4 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 9 | (BFD) | 3 | 3 | 66 |
| 8th | 222756 | Neil Davies | AM | Parkstone YC | Male | 12 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 15 | (UFD) | 14 | 69 |
| 9th | 224330 | Jon Gay | M | Lochaber YC | Male | 11 | 7 | 10 | ‑41 | 10 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 76 |
| 10th | 221801 | Miguel Noguer | GGM | El Masnou | Male | 6 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 5 | (BFD) | 7 | 6 | 77 |
| 11th | 222557 | Bob Cudmore | GM | Parkstone YC | Male | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | ‑22 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 79 |
| 12th | 215255 | Ulf Myrin | GM | HKKK | Male | 17 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 11 | ‑28 | 10 | 10 | 92 |
| 13th | 225637 | Phil Bevan | GM | Lyme Regis SC | Male | 22 | 17 | 22 | 4 | 7 | ‑35 | 15 | 13 | 100 |
| 14th | 199429 | Fredrik Hedlund | M | Bunchillon YC | Male | 23 | 14 | ‑33 | 13 | 23 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 106 |
| 15th | 224334 | Roberta Hartley | GM | Parkstone YC | Female | 25 | ‑32 | 21 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 112 |
| 16th | 206436 | Kim Tan | GGM | VWDTP | Male | ‑24 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 21 | 12 | 114 |
| 17th | 224130 | Sarah Cockerill | GM | Stokes bay SC | Female | 16 | 19 | ‑30 | 9 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 27 | 120 |
| 18th | 226327 | Ann Keates | GGM | Parkstone YC | Female | 14 | ‑34 | 28 | 10 | 25 | 7.5 | 20 | 19 | 123.5 |
| 19th | 221721 | JeanPhilippe Galle | GGM | Club Nautique de Saint Raphael | Male | 15 | ‑29 | 23 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 24 | 127 |
| 20th | 210435 | Pierre Nove‑Josserand | GGM | St Raphael France | Male | 8 | 26 | 16 | ‑49 | 32 | 21 | 12 | 20 | 135 |
| 21st | 213707 | Jimmy Carter | GM | Lancing SC | Male | 9 | 18 | 11 | ‑40 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 151 |
| 22nd | 212061 | Simon Hardiman | M | Bartley SC | Male | 13 | 21 | 17 | 28 | ‑30 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 152 |
| 23rd | 194130 | Thomas Nash | M | Queen Mary SC | Male | 21 | 22 | 18 | 23 | ‑46 | 17 | 31 | 21 | 153 |
| 24th | 222845 | Thomas Leukel | GGM | Kaarster Segel Club | Male | 44 | (DNC) | 36 | 11 | 18 | 6 | 26 | 17 | 158 |
| 25th | 224874 | Alexandra Behrens | M | Muehlenberger Segel Club | Female | ‑43 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 32 | 35 | 165 |
| 26th | 204368 | Thomas Gyr | GGM | Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano | Male | 34 | 36 | ‑50 | 20 | 20 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 166 |
| 27th | 221855 | Klamer Schutte | GM | WV Braassemermeer | Male | 29 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 34 | 20 | (UFD) | DNC | 189 |
| 28th | 221486 | John Elder | M | Grafham Water SC | Male | 30 | 31 | 29 | 21 | 21 | (BFD) | 37 | 26 | 195 |
| 29th | 218155 | Matthew Fletcher | GM | Queen Mary SC | Male | 20 | 24 | 26 | 43 | 37 | (BFD) | 30 | 23 | 203 |
| 30th | 223536 | Jacques Fiquemont | GGM | Club Nautique de Saint Raphael | Male | 26 | 23 | 34 | 24 | ‑40 | 40 | 17 | 40 | 204 |
| 31st | 147669 | Alain Renaud | M | Welsh Harp SC | Male | 31 | 30 | 35 | 31 | 33 | ‑38 | 22 | 22 | 204 |
| 32nd | 174236 | Jacques Kerrest | L | Sailfish Point YC | Male | 37 | ‑42 | 38 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 34 | 29 | 216 |
| 33rd | 224155 | Simon Beckett | GM | Waveney & Oulton Broad YC | Male | 32 | 28 | ‑42 | 33 | 42 | 33 | 29 | 31 | 228 |
| 34th | 220826 | Gordon Riddell | M | Delph SC | Male | 35 | 35 | 40 | 16 | ‑43 | 32 | 35 | 39 | 232 |
| 35th | 221314 | Paul Heath | GM | Leigh & Lowton SC | Male | 28 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 35 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 235 |
| 36th | 223870 | Ian Rawet | L | Grafham Water SC | Male | 45 | (DNC) | 51 | 42 | 29 | 16 | 27 | 33 | 243 |
| 37th | 222549 | Peter Taylor | GM | Parkstone YC | Male | 46 | 43 | 37 | 34 | 19 | (BFD) | 28 | 41 | 248 |
| 38th | 220441 | Rafael Matarazzo | AM | Queen Mary SC | Male | 33 | 39 | 31 | 38 | 44 | 31 | (UFD) | 37.5 | 253.5 |
| 39th | 197693 | Sergio Messina | GM | Bough Beech SC | Male | (DNC) | DNC | 24 | 3 | 26 | 11 | DNF | DNC | 256 |
| 40th | 222220 | Simon Cavey | GM | Queen Mary SC | Male | 27 | 33 | 25 | 22 | 31 | (BFD) | DNC | DNC | 266 |
| 41st | 215377 | Richard Major | GGM | Grafham Water SC | Male | 49 | (DNC) | 43 | 35 | 36 | 26 | 44 | 34 | 267 |
| 42nd | 213542 | Jonathan Jones | GGM | Waveney & Oulton Broad YC | Male | 38 | 37 | 45 | 46 | 41 | 25 | 36 | (DNC) | 268 |
| 43rd | 215416 | Peter Gee | GGM | Grafham Water SC | Male | 40 | 41 | 48 | 47 | 38 | (BFD) | 23 | 36 | 273 |
| 44th | 218940 | Christopher Kilshaw | M | Reading SC | Male | 41 | 44 | 32 | 37 | ‑53 | 41.5 | 40 | 37.5 | 273 |
| 45th | 205147 | Vittorio Boccolini | M | Seafarers SC | Male | (DNC) | DNC | 44 | 30 | 27 | BFD | 33 | 18 | 280 |
| 46th | 186162 | Andrew Jones | GM | Weston SC | Male | 36 | 38 | 47 | ‑53 | 52 | 39 | 39 | 32 | 283 |
| 47th | 219390 | Niall Peelo | M | Queen Mary SC | Male | 18 | 15 | 20 | 44 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | 289 |
| 48th | 213641 | Rob Cage | GGM | Thames SC | Male | 39 | 27 | 39 | 27 | 39 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 299 |
| 49th | 184769 | Stefan Laeger | M | Lyme Regis SC | Male | 42 | 40 | 54 | 51 | 45 | (BFD) | 38 | 42 | 312 |
| 50th | 203323 | Kevin Pearson | L | Thames SC | Male | 47 | 46 | 52 | 48 | 49 | 27 | 45 | (DNC) | 314 |
| 51st | 226317 | Stuart Bromidge | L | Parkstone YC | Male | 50 | 45 | 49 | 55 | 50 | 34 | 43 | (DNC) | 326 |
| 52nd | 211973 | Ann Loren | GGM | MKS‑HKK | Female | (DNC) | DNC | 55 | 50 | 51 | 36 | 46 | 44 | 346 |
| 53rd | 205337 | Mike Steele | GGM | St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Associ | Male | 52 | (DNC) | 46 | 52 | 48 | 43 | 42 | DNC | 347 |
| 54th | 219061 | Bob Draper | GGM | Stokes Bay SC | Male | (DNC) | DNC | 41 | 45 | 47 | 41.5 | 48 | DNC | 350.5 |
| 55th | 219663 | Tom Flintham | L | Frensham Pond SC | Male | 51 | (DNC) | 57 | 54 | 54 | 45 | 50 | 43 | 354 |
| 56th | 221584 | Jonathan Stirling | GM | Queen Mary SC | Male | 48 | (DNF) | 53 | 57 | BFD | 46 | 47 | DNC | 379 |
| 57th | 218576 | Clause Tigier | L | | Male | 53 | (DNF) | 56 | 56 | 57 | 37 | DNF | DNC | 387 |
| 58th | 206502 | Hilary Thomas | L | Locks SC | Female | (DNC) | DNC | 58 | 58 | 55 | 47 | 49 | DNC | 395 |
| 59th | 218170 | Tatibouet Claudine | GM | C N Schoelcher | Female | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 44 | 41 | DNC | 405 |
| 60th | 207710 | Monica Julie Bodmer | GGM | CVL | Female | (DNC) | DNC | 59 | 59 | 56 | 48 | DNC | DNC | 414 |
| 61st | 223447 | Robert Beere | GM | Burghfield SC | Male | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 448 |
| 61st | 215231 | Keith Crebbin | GGM | Blackpool And Fleetwood SC | Male | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 448 |
| 61st | 168986 | John Goldsbrough | GGM | Weston SC | Male | (DNC) | DNC | DNS | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 448 |
