ILCA UK Chair Blog #105

Sep 23

Back in Blog #58, I featured some posters about Masters sailing, selling it virtues. These emphasised the inclusivity and simplicity of ILCA sailing, attracting a wide range of experience and competency.

I went on to say masters or veterans sport is booming with older athletes coming back to sport or staying in it longer, whether running, cycling or a plethora of other sports. Sailing is no exception. The benefits of masters sailing whether at club level or beyond are obvious – the physical exercise, the mental stimulation of competition and trying to improve and perhaps most importantly the opportunity to socialise.

So, we have 100 entries at our Masters Nationals at Hayling Island this weekend (entries are still open) , which is a super number but slightly down on the last two years. I wonder if that is the late September date – any thoughts? That said, some of you may have also spotted this last week 2024 ILCA Master Europeans Sets New Participation Record - EurILCA. There are almost 40 GBR entries alone at the Europeans next month.

For any Masters who weren’t comfortable with the waves at Hayling – why not consider the Master Inland at Rutland on 26th/27th Oct ? Flat water, shifty and a short sail to the race area. Let me try to give you another reason. I came across some studies by Ellen Langer, a professor of psychology at Harvard whose hypothesis is that if you turn the clock back psychologically, it has a physical impact on your body. She argues that the physical limitations we encounter as we get older are largely determined by how we think about ourselves and our capabilities. So start thinking of yourself as that younger version….come and join us.

And remember if you are 50 years old, who should have three and a half decades of ILCA sailing ahead of you!

Also just to mention, there is a Women's ILCA coaching day 26 October at Queen Mary SC. Join ILCA Coach Ellie Cumpsty and Georgina Povall, fresh back from coaching ILCA 6 at the Olympics. You can even hire an ILCA at the club. It is open to all women ILCA sailors: new to ILCAs, new to racing and experienced club racers! ILCA Fleet » Queen Mary Sailing Club

Finally one of our sub-committees was a new name - ILCA Women and Girls - and following their recommendation the Inlands in November at Grafham will have separate ILCA6 starts for men and women, as a follow-up trial to the one done last year with ILCA4s.

Snippets

ILCA UK Winter Training

ILCA UK are offering many opportunities for winter training 2024/2025 - See our calendar for more

Regional Open Training for ILCA 4,ILCA6 and ILCA 7

ILCA 4

ILCA 4 Regional Open Training is a six-week programme for sailors under the age of 18yrs. Sailors are expected to have experience of club sailing , be confident in sailing in strong winds and comfortable managing full days in inclement/cold weather. Sailors are required to sign up for the six weeks to ensure continuity and getting the best from the programme.

The training programme will take place across three different regions.

Twelve places are available for each region. The ILCA 4 programme is now open for sailors to sign upon the ILCA UK calendar; a great opportunity to develop skills and meet other sailors in your region.

ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 Regional Open Training

Now open for sailors to sign up on the ILCA UK Calendar. The format will be 6 weekends running between October and March. Four of the weekends will be hosted in each region, with two joint camps when all of the regions will join together, one at WPNSA and one at Draycote SC

ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 training will be open to all ages and entry will be on a per-weekend basis. An excellent opportunity to continue to develop sailing skills in your region.

National Training

National Training will be available following the October qualifiers in WPNSA. National Training is open to sailors who come in the top 50% male and top 50% female in at least three of the following events