QLA have a big State Championship event coming up 29-30 April at Humpybong YC.
They are expecting a big roll-up so why not join them and enjoy some beautiful Queensland autumn weather.
All entries will go into the draw for a new sail.
Entries are on the QLA web site Here.
The first round of entry offers are out for the ILCA 4 Youth World Championships to be held at
the Nautical Club of Volos in Volos, Greece.
If you haven’t applied for entry yet and would like to compete late applications are now open at the link Here.
The Senior European Championships 10-17 March just concluded at Circolo Nautico Andora, Italy.
In the ILCA 7 there were 180 sailors competing in three fleets. In tricky and difficult conditions variable from very light to very strong Croatians Tonci Stipanovic and Filip Jurisic finished closely ahead of Matt Wearn. There was even a strike by the sailors at a point over conditions and equipment but it all ended amicably.
The full ILCA 7 results are Here.
In the 110 boat two fleet ILCA 6s Marit BOUWMEESTER Marit NED had a convincing win despite the tricky conditions. Mara Stransky was the best of the four Australians finishing 7th with consistent results until the last day.
The full ILCA 6 results are Here.
The web site with video and details of the event is Here.
Vanessa Dudley in action on Day 3 – Photo by John West
The 2023 Oceania & Australian Masters Championships 10-13 March were run from the Bay Sailing Centre Port Stephens.
There were 147 boats sailing in three fleets. There were sailors from all Australian mainland states and territories with the most travelled competitor was GGM Helio Araujo from Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club. It was pleasing to see keen competition in the ILCA 4s. We are keen to promote this rig for Masters as well as Youth age categories going forward.
Many of the sailors backed up from the ILCA World Masters Championships in Pattaya, Thailand in February.
Weather for the event varied from character building to excellent and from NE to SW.
The first days racing was tough with ENE winds 22 gusting to 29 knots. The waves were challenging, building over the 11Km fetch from the headland of Port Stephens to Soldiers Point. There were a large number of sailors who didn’t make it around the course and even more who were glad that they didn’t try. Well done to the sailors especially in the ILCA 7s most of whom made it all look easy on the day.
Day 2 saw ideal conditions from ENE. The run out tide proved a challenge with several OCSs and Black Flags. On Day 3 the breeze went around to the SW so the waves were down and presented excellent sailing conditions especially for sailors skilled in picking the shifts which were numerous. Day 4 saw a steadier 16 knot southerly and very good sailing conditions.
The fleet winners were GM Brett Beyer Woollahra SC in the ILCA 7s, GM Mark Tonner-Joyce from Royal Geelong YC in the ILCA 6 Green (Masters & GMs) and GGM Michael Pitt from Royal Queensland YS in the ILCA 6 Yellow (GGM and Legends). Sandy Kiernan from Northbridge SC won the ILCA 4s. The full final results are Here.
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There are very many fabulous action shots taken by Jon West which are linked on the Photos tab on the ILCA Nationals web site. You can view the watermarked images and buy from Jon’s web site. There are photos by Rod Barnes of the presentation which are free to download Here.
Thanks to the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) who manage the Bay Sailing Centre (BSC) for hosting this event for us. The BSC is only a small club on some of the best dinghy sailing water on the east coast so the NCYC did a great job recruiting the 30 on water volunteers needed to run this event. These folks were flat out with rescues on day one with some sailors also rescued by a few good samaritan sailors – thanks to them.
The next ILCA Australian Masters will be held 12-15 April 2024 at RQYS Brisbane.
Brett Beyer – First GM in ILCA 7s – Inaction on Day 1 – Photo by John West
The Australian ILCA Masters was run very successfully between 25-28 February at Westernport Yacht Club in Victoria. There were 106 entries with 31 ILCA 7s sailing in one fleet, 30 ILCA 6 Grand Masters in a fleet and the other ILCA 6 age divisions in a third 45 boat fleet.
The venue Balnarring on Westernport Victoria provided excellent open water and good clean winds. These combined with ocean and wind swells gave some exhilarating rides and fair racing. All ten scheduled races were completed with light breezes on day one followed by six races in 15 to 18 knots on days two and three and around 12 knots for the final two races. Tides were an issue in the second half of the series when they were pushing the fleet over the start line. On the final day the second ILCA 6 fleet managed four general recalls and three black flag starts before the final race got away minus the 25% of the fleet which were black flagged.
The Westernport Yacht Club did a fabulous job both on and off the water. Racing was run like clockwork and the logistics of launch and retrieval of the support boats from Westernport, Sommers and bay side clubs were run with military precision. Catering at the club after racing, the functions and free beer from an event sponsor Bright Brewery were all much appreciated by the sailors.
There was a two day coaching clinic lead by Brody Riley & VLA head coach Rhett Gowans held before the series. This was fully subscribed and very successful.
The winner of the ILCA 7 fleet was Master Brett Bayer WSC/DBSC. Brett won six races edging out Apprentice Matt Blakey PMYC. Sommers YC Apprentice Sean Bly was third. In the ILCA 6 GM fleet John Jager McCrae YC won by a point from Sandringham sailor James Mitchell with David Early GRSC third.
The full results with age divisions scored separately are Here.
The age division podium places are listed below.
| Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | First Women |
| ILCA 6 Apprentice | Vaimooia Ripley MHASC | Vaimooia Ripley MHASC | ||
| ILCA 6 Master | Owen Mc Mahon RBYC | Danial Blight BSS/RQYS | Gayl Robinson SYC | Gayl Robinson SYC |
| ILCA 6 GM | John Jager McCYC | James Mitchell SYC | David Early GRSC | Christine Bridge RQYS |
| ILCA 6 GGM | Jeff Loosemore GR/MHASC | Tim Alexander NSC | Michael Pitt RQYS | |
| ILCA 6 Legend | Kerry Waraker RQYS | Lew Verdon MHASC | Kevin Phillips GSC | |
| ILCA 7 Apprentice | Matt Blakey PMYC | Sean Bly SomersYC | David Newman DBSC | |
| ILCA Master | Rob Barnes DBSC | Nick Alexander MHASC/DBSC | Stuart Holdsworth RPAYC | |
| ILCA GM | Brett Beyer WSC/DBSC | Gavin Dagley PMYC | Steve Gunther PMYC | |
| ILCA GGM | Gary Martin Darwin SC | Mike Stockdale PLYC |
There are great photos by Jon West which you can view and purchase Here.
