ILCA UK Chair Blog # 140
Volunteers on the finish boat -come and join them
Over the last couple of years ILCA UK have focussed on turning our National Championship into a “festival of sailing”, attracting sailors of all levels, ages and regions to the event with high quality racing combined with lots of onshore activities and social events. This formula has worked well with over 250 entries coming in recent years across our three rigs of ILCA4, ILCA6 and ILCA7. We aim to provide world class racing at great venues on two separate racecourses. As well as daily briefings on local conditions, we have daily morning race clinics from top sailors ensuring every sailor feels welcome. We cover set up/rigging to boat speed down wind, from pre-race strategy to wave technique. A great opportunity to listen to our best sailors, see what they do differently, and ask them questions. We also have a mentor/ mentee scheme which is a great way to meet fellow sailors and get some sailing tips and encouragement.
Ashore we provide a sailor’s hub with sponsor tents with chillout zone including table football and table tennis. There is a daily prize draw with the support of our sponsors where sailors and volunteers win prizes. Much of this was made possible by our great sponsors (Noble Marine, Ovington, Rooster, sailingfast, Tideway Wealth, Southeast Sailboats and Fenhurst Books), with the class working closely with them to ensure we promote and encourage grass roots sailing by providing support throughout the fleet through spot prizes. After sailing each day, there is a pasta snack and this year will have a Hog roast evening with entertainment.
Our festival of sailing aims to be inclusive, typically with sailors in their teenage years through to those in their seventies. All rigs and age categories have prizes for both men and women. We want all three rigs, ILCA4, ILCA6 and ILCA7 at our events so younger sailors interact with older sailors and but allow family groups to compete in the same championship.
We also work hard to promote our championship with a dedicated website and a special logo for the event
Our volunteer base is something to be proud of. We welcome a diverse group on volunteers with no sailing experience or lots of sailing experience.
Visit our Championship dedicated website
Why not come and join us? Entries to UK Nationals
Snippets
ILCA UK Events
Entries to Masters Nationals - CLOSES ON WEDNESDAY 4th June
Scottish Championships - This weekend!
Welsh Championships - entries open
2025 Women’s Regatta at Rutland entries open
Skills Week South & North - OPENS MONDAY 9th June
You will see our calendar starting to fill up.
Other news
QM ILCA initiative has gone from zero to international in six months
2025 ILCA7 Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club
2025 ILCA6 Masters Spring Qualifier at Parkstone Yacht Club
ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough Sailing Club
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.
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