This year’s ILCA European Masters Championships were held in La Baule, Loire-Atlantique, France. It’s a great venue and was, in large part, the reason for me entering.
There were 288 sailors entered from 28 countries, including 44 from the UK, and one from King George.
Looking puzzled!
We were due to have five days of racing with two races each day, alternating between trapezoid and windward leeward courses. The ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets each had three separate starts, the largest being the ILCA 7 Grand Masters with 69 boats on the start line.
Winds were generally very light, and ILCA 7 Grand Masters only got 8 out of the scheduled 10 races completed, not helped by the fleet being General Recall queens.
I was last, as I expected, but I had a fantastic time. It’s a great place to sail, and to have a holiday. It was Yacht Club La Baule’s biggest ever event, but I think it was well run. If you see your class arranging a regatta there, I wouldn’t hesitate to enter.
