2026 ILCA Masters Midwinters East
After leaving behind snow and sub‑freezing temperatures in Richmond – and a car battery that objected to the early‑morning cold – the trip south to the 2026 ILCA US Masters Midwinters East began with more drama on land than on the water. A well‑timed departure allowed a clean escape from the winter storm sweeping across the Carolinas, and by the time Florida came into view, the forecast made it clear that Sunday and Monday would be better suited for shore‑side activities than training. A visit to the Kennedy Space Center and a day of errands and rest filled the gap.
Tuesday
By Tuesday, the US Sailing Center Martin County was buzzing as 77 sailors checked in for the championship with 47 in the ILCA 7 and just three competitors in the ILCA 7 Apprentice Masters sub-division.
The opening day delivered crisp, cold conditions with 8-12 knots and a chill that had sailors bundled in full winter layers. The first race served as a shake‑off‑the‑rust effort, ending with a mid‑fleet finish. The second race brought one of the day’s highlights: a near‑disastrous boat‑end start turned into a perfect one when two boats ahead tangled, leaving a clean lane. That jump off the line allowed me to hang with the leaders while I slowly drifted back to a 16th place finish.
The breeze softened and shifted for Race 3, turning the course into a pressure‑hunting exercise. Without a solid read on the pressure – especially downwind – I could only manage a mid-30’s finish.
Wednesday
With a dying forecast for day 2, the race committee attempted an early start, but the breeze never stabilized. After a brief attempt at a sequence, the wind collapsed entirely, and racing was abandoned for the day. A group of sailors, including Mike, Nabeel, Keith, and myself, made the most of the afternoon, logging a 13‑mile bike ride along North East Ocean Boulevard with a stop at Jensen Beach.
Thursday
Thursday’s schedule was moved earlier in hopes of beating approaching storms, but the weather arrived ahead of plan, forcing a long postponement until mid‑afternoon. Once on the water, the fleet started the first race in 10-12 knots and intermittent sprinkles; by the third, gusts were well into the 20s.
A standout moment came in Race 2 with a clean pin‑end start, hitting the left side on the first beat, and staying just outside of the top 10 most of the way around the course. The final race, however, was pure survival. Two capsizes and heavy upwind slogs – including an upwind finish – made for a physically punishing end to the day, though a 16th‑place finish held up well in the conditions.
Friday
Friday brought another early start and three more races in moderate breeze. Speed and strategy proved elusive, and much of the day was spent simply staying in phase with the leaders to avoid major losses. With the Apprentice title on the line, the focus shifted to covering the closest rival – a strategy that paid off with finishes ahead in two of the three races, securing the division win by a narrow margin.
Despite the weather curveballs and demanding conditions, the Midwinters delivered the February sailing fix that draws Masters sailors from across the country. And evenings at the shared house were fun with camaraderie, food and some informal “film study” sessions. I was able to extend the week by heading to Sarasota for a weekend of sailing in the Viper Winter Series.
Leave a Reply