ILCA UK Chair Blog #132
Photo @Lotte Johnson
I hope many of you were able to enjoy the spring weather over the weekend with some good club racing. We had two races at Queen Mary on Sunday in lovely conditions, although the water is still quite cold. It was great to see some sailors start to emerge from “winter hibernation”, with the highest turnout of the year so far. I am sure it was the same in other clubs – why not let me know?
As you know this is a blog for only promoting individual performances exceptionally, but I think the results from the British Sailing Team at Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Palma merit that. Micky Beckett and Elliot Hanson were first and second and Daisy Collingridge also on the podium in third with three BST women qualified for the Medal Race. It is a great start to the LA cycle for the BST (with some other super performances as well) and they head to China for the Seniors Worlds in May. It is worth reflecting that all these sailors were competing in the National Opens in March – how lucky for us to have the opportunity to compete alongside these professional sailors – one of the unique aspects of our sport. Check ilca-uk and ilca_sailing on Instagram.
As mentioned last week, the masters season is starting to hot up. The first ILCA Masters Series of the year is at Parkstone Yacht Club on 3-4 May 2025. We were at Parkstone a couple of years ago but this year will be a little special as we are going to race in Bournemouth Bay! Come and join – you are all welcome (if you are over 30).
For Masters sailors, the 2025 SUZUKI ILCA MASTER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS at Hayling Island in June is now open. This is a great chance for GBR sailors to sail a European Championship on home waters. If you are a competent club sailor, why not come along? Or maybe you have been out of sailing for a while, well its not too late to come to this! We have the ILCA UK Masters Nationals the weekend before (Entries will open on Monday 7th April 2025 at 2000hrs BST). We have just agreed to have tracking for the first time at a Masters event in the UK!
Snippets
The next ILCA Women’s Coaching session, led by Ellie Cumpsty, is at King George SC on 17th May. Further dates at Parkstone YC, Stokes Bay SC and Draycote Water are being finalised. Keep an eye on the ILCA Calendar for details as these sessions sell out quickly.
Our sponsor Wildwind are hosting a Women's ILCA Clinic led by NED sailor Maartje van Dam from May 4th.
You will see our calendar starting to fill up.
2025 ILCA Handbook is now available online.
ILCA UK Events
2025 ILCA UK National Open 2 at the WPNSA - ILCA 4 fleet report
2025 ILCA UK National Open 2 at the WPNSA - ILCA 6 fleet report
2025 ILCA UK National Open 2 at the WPNSA - ILCA 7 fleet report
Video of National Open 2
Also we also had three really good write-ups from that first weekend:
2025 ILCA UK National Open 1 at the WPNSA - ILCA 7 fleet report
2025 ILCA UK National Open 1 at the WPNSA - ILCA 4 fleet report
2025 ILCA UK National Open 1 at the WPNSA- ILCA 6 fleet report
National Open 1 video Here it is.
Finally have you seen the tracking? Here are the links - ILCA UK National Open 1 ILCA UK National Open 2 James Foster did a nice debriefing of the racing using the tracking data, see here. ILCA7 briefing. ILCA4 briefing.
Entries to Masters Series at Parkstone
You can now renew your membership for 2025. Not a member yet? JOIN NOW
See our calendar - last winter training is available to book.
ILCA UK training - all remaining training for winter/spring is now open. BOOK here
Entries for the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships are now open
ILCA UK have two National Opens at WPNSA on 11/12 Oct and 18/19 Oct - the latter clashes with the U21s Europeans so discretionary points may apply for the qualification ladder but not for the first weekend (we moved from 25/26 Oct to 11/12 Oct to avoid a double clash). Masters Inlands date is confimred for 25/26 Oct.
Other news
ILCA UK Youth Winter Trophy at Datchet Water Sailing Club - ILCA 4 fleet report
ILCA UK Youth Winter Trophy at Datchet Water Sailing Club - ILCA 6 fleet report
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle will start in Mallorca