The ILCA Masters National Championships proved that the ILCA is a boat for all ages. Forty-seven masters travelled to Dun Laoghaire Harbour to race in a breezy westerly in Dublin Bay. Bringing together sailors ranging from 30 to a little north of 65, the masters circuit has been growing nationally and internationally, with three hundred boats competing at major European events.
With two days of racing planned, the exceptional Howth Yacht Club Race Office Team, led by Principal Race Officer Neil Murphy, decided to run four races on Saturday. Sunday looked marginal, and eventually, it had to be cancelled due to strong westerly winds of up to 30 knots and difficult conditions in Dublin Bay.
In the ILCA 7 there was some serious talent at the front of the fleet with Mark Lyttle Alanta Olympian and Masters World Champion in the Grand Master class and Colin Leonard Apprentice Master runner up in the Masters World Championships in Adelaide. Mark and Colin fought hard at the front, with Colin winning races one and two and Mark winning races three and four. After discarding, Mark pulled ahead by just two points to take the ILCA 7 Masters National Championship title, Colin took second, with Dan O’Connell taking third.
Mark Lyttle, ILCA 7 Masters National Champion, (left) with Paul Molloy, Commodore Royal St George (centre) and Robbie Walker Rear Commodore
In the ILCA 6 men's class, Sean Craig, multiple Masters National Champion, had to fight to retain his title. East Down Yacht Club's Patrick Hamilton won race one, and Conor Clancy won race two. Sean showed his experience by winning races three and four to pull out ahead of Patrick, who took second, and Conor, who took third.
Sean Craig, ILCA 6 Mens Masters National Champion, (centre) with Paul Molloy, Commodore Royal St George (left) and Robbie Walker Rear Commodore
In the ILCA 6 women's class, Ali Robinson had a great day on the water to carve out first place, pushing last year's winner Shirley Gilmore into second despite Shirley’s sixth-place finish in race three. Judy O’Byrne took third, marginally ahead of Rachel Crowley, with just two points in the difference after four races.
Ali Robinson - ILCA Ireland Masters National Champion with Paul Molloy, Commodore Royal St George Yacht Club
The Masters Fleet post prize giving in the Royal St. George Yacht Club, Great Grand Masters and overall winners Mark Lyttle and Sean Craig
Big thanks to Shirley Gilmore, the ILCA Ireland Leinster representative, Heather King and Lorraine O’Connor for running registration and results, Ronan Adams and Karin Ryan, and Marc Little for his safety officer role.
The next ILCA event is the Western Championships in Killaloe on June 28th
