UKLA Chair blog #38

Apr 24

We had a UKLA Masters event at Parkstone at the weekend and I thought I would provide some reflections.

First many thanks to the club for hosting what was a super event on and off the water. Conditions were not easy, especially on Saturday, but the race team got 6 good races and we had a lovely dinner on Saturday night included in the entry fee. Well done to both the host volunteers and of course our UKLA team - Alison, Guy, Alan, Paul Jackson and Ellie in particular. It was great to see almost 80 sailors spread across the ILCA6 and ILCA7 fleets with so many new faces. If it was your first UKLA (Masters) event, I would be interested in your feedback, both positive and where we can make improvements (just reply to this email).

Jo West was one of a small group of female sailors at Parkstone and she and the UKLA would love to see more. We have been working hard on female participation (blog#35) and Jo has agreed to help with the Masters element of that. Surely our female sailors also deserve a sailing weekend away?

While I wasn’t that happy with my own performance, that’s sport! On the positive side it was great to be out on the water for the weekend as a fleet of older sailors making the most of our passion. The nature of competitive sport is that only a few win and sometimes our own expectations are met and other times not. And there are personal triumphs along the way – many of us heard Guy Noble’s whoops of joy on winning the second ILCA7 race! In blog #37 I discussed improving your ILCA sailing in a more rigorous approach. My own self-analysis of the weekend is quite easy – two decent starts out of six and inability to consistently read the shift patterns. In a weekend where there are random shifts mixed in with more predictable ones, this latter point is hardly surprising – devising the right risk / reward strategy isn’t easy (or repeatable in every race) and there is some luck but with more experience (including sailing at the venue) and skill, one sailor’s luck is another sailor’s insight (see blog #34 for more on this).

Of course, these events can’t be run without volunteers from both the host club and UKLA and as you know we have been looking for more help with organising Masters sailing. Alison Stevens is retiring for the committee in the summer after much tireless work (again many thanks). To make the role manageable, we have set-up a sub-committee where the role can be shared out, but we need your help. UKLA is not a service-provider, it is community of ILCA sailors and volunteering is not just about giving something about, it is about ensuring the community survives and thrives. Without more helpers (with only a few hours a month or even help with one event), we will no longer have Masters events like Parkstone.

Finally talking of community, membership of UKLA is part of that. For £3.25 per month, ask yourself why you are not a member? Membership means you are part of a club of like-minded group of sailors. Come on join us!

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