Clark, Neville Win First Stop of Florida Masters Week

Ninety-five sailors competed in the Laser Masters Midwinters, held February 6-8 at US Sailing Center – Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL. This was the first of three events that comprise Florida Masters Week for sailors 35 years and up.

Nine races were conducted in the Indian River Lagoon that saw conditions ranging from 5 to 8 mph on Saturday, 15 to 20, gusting into low 20s on Sunday and 8 to 12 with gusts to 16 on Monday. The westerly to northwesterly wind direction gave the sailors challenging shifty and puffy conditions.

This was the first year of separate Standard and Radial rig fleets, with 58 for Standard and 37 for Radial. The Standard fleet had eight different race winners, with Mark Jacobi the only winner of two races. Overall consistency paid off for Al Clark who did not win a race but was the only competitor with all single digit finishes to earn the championship.

In the Radial fleet, there were five different race winners, but Christine Neville showed why she is an Olympic hopeful by winning four races and all single digit results to earn the Radial fleet championship.

Complete results here.

Florida Masters Week is seven days of Laser sailing in nine days for Masters Sailors (35 & over). Masters Week continues Wednesday with two additional days of competition at USSCMC in Midweek Madness before moving to Palm Beach Sailing Club for two days of ocean sailing for the coveted Dirty Old Man of the Sea trophy and Green Jacket at the Florida Masters, the oldest Laser Masters Regatta in the US.

2016 Florida Masters Week
Masters Midwinters @ USSCMC Jensen Beach – Feb 6-8, 2016
Midweek Madness @ USSCMC Jensen Beach – Feb 10-11, 2016
Florida Masters @ Palm Beach Sailing Club – Feb 13-14, 2016