ILCA Masters at Skamania Coves Invitational

[david lapier]

ILCA Masters at the Skamania Coves Invitational

Bay Area expat and StFYC sailor Andrew Holdsworth won every race at 2025 ILCA Masters Skamania Coves Invitational Regatta in Stevenson, WA; also winning the Grand Masters (55-64) division.    Bill Symes of Portland was first overall, winning on age-group handicap from the Legend age group (75+).   Andrew and Bill are both defending world champions.   

It was windy!   Saturday and Sunday both saw consistent 25 to 30 MPH winds blowing upriver against the moderate current.    At Skamania, we race about 1.5 miles further east than at the familiar CGRA site.   So more of the racecourse fits what the locals refer to as “a death zone”, the inescapable home of big sets of standing waves 3 feet high.  Close to shore, patches of stringy green seaweed added more to the challenge, since it was really too windy to clear one’s rudder by heeling way-over and sculling to shake the weed free.    Your correspondent learned to sail on the New Jersey shore, where there is more seaweed than water, so I was unphased.  With the breeze north of 25, boat handling and speed were everything.    In four races, I only gybed once, tacking around the other 3 required times and passed capsized boats each time.    There were some pileups at the windward mark when quick-tacks resulted in capsizes.    One race, when Richmond YC’s Chris Simenstad and I escaped the melee onto the run, Chris flashed me a big smile as we surfed away with me singing the theme to “Hawaii 5-0.”    Alas, 5 minutes later the spirit of Eddie Aikau left me and I spun out of control.  

The Scott Lonsway and the Skamania Coves Resort hosts this wonderful event.  We have a beautiful warm green grass to rig and socialize, with large comfortable spaces for sharing generous catered meals each evening.    There are lots of camping options on site as well as condos, with plenty of additional housing options in Stevenson.  

At the heart of ILCA sailing culture is a growth mindset. To help us improve, the CGRA sponsors two optional clinics.  World champion and developmental coach Al Clark taught a three-day clinic for all ages.   The following week, Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe led 4-days of classes for masters.   Lots of sailors spend time practicing here in small groups throughout the summer.  Everyone is supportive.  Afterall, when one sails a single-handed boat, gets on shore then “looks-to-the-left and looks-to-the-right” for an excuse, it’s pretty obvious you are the only one who can take responsibility for your results.

We only raced Saturday, as winds above 30 were predicted Sunday, which exceeds the class wind maximum for the Tasar class, which also competes at this regatta.

Completing the standings: 

Mark Ross of Seattle was 3^rd overall and First Great Grand Master (65-74);

John Groege from Vancouver, WA 4th overall and 2^nd Grand Master;

David LaPier representing Alameda Community Sailing 5^th overall and 2^nd GGM;

David Anthes of Bend, OR was first Master (45-54), and

Colin Brochard, Richmond YC, first Apprentice (30-44)

For complete results, see https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/29908#_newsroom+results

 

[Philip Krug]

Thanks for the great write up David! We appreciate everyone who made the trip to our neck of the woods to enjoy a weekend on the water in the Gorge. We hope everyone enjoyed the Q&A with George about our work to bring ILCA production back to the US as well. On behalf of everyone at West Coast Sailing and Zim Sailing (that's 50+ hard working staff), thank you for the opportunity to sponsor and support the Skamania Coves Invitational. Supporting the Columbia Gorge Racing Association and one design racing in the Gorge year in and year out is among the highlights of the great things we get to do as an organization. Hope to see you all next year. 

Take care,
Philip Krug
West Coast Sailing

[Al Sargent]

Thanks for the writeup Dave! 

If anyone has a link to photos please let me know so that I can include some of them in the next edition of The ILCA Sailor. The Gorge often delivers some great photos... 

Best regards,
 
Al

asar...@stanfordalumni.org | +1 650 269 2176

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