ILCA UK Chair blog #143
Many thanks to Ellie for last week’s blog - it was a great read - if you have not heard about Karen, you can find it here.
So what happens when you run a sailing event in warm, sunny weather and lovely sea breezes at a super sailing venue? Well, you get quotes like “best event I have been to for a long time”, “fantastic advertisement for the class”, “brilliant sponsors”, “privilege to be part of it” and “reaffirmed my belief and reignited my passion for sailing”. Of course the weather helps, but we waited ashore everyday until the sea breeze built and then arrived at the course with everything ready to go. No hanging around on the water. Overall super race management.
Ashore, Hayling Island Sailing Club hosted us superlatively. But it was also fun meeting old friends and new in a friendly atmosphere. As expected in a fleet with three Olympic gold medalists and multiple champions from through the years, competition was fierce but for the most part, masters have learnt to temper their competitive zeal with some “give and take” and friendly banter which ensures that all sailors, no matter their level of experience, can compete together.
Although this was an EurILCA and Hayling Island event, ILCA UK played no small part in ensuring its success. With Alan Davis and the author working closely with the club on the original bid, through to the work Alan, Guy Noble and Ellie did in particular in supporting the club both before and during the event, it was a tremendous team effort.
Well done to all the volunteers and the staff at Hayling and of course to all the sailors.
Meanwhile, our younger part of the fleet, ILCA 4 sailors, continue racing at the ILCA 4 Youth European Championships in Poland - read here
Our next big event is the ILCA UK National Championships and while there is no guarantee of warm, sunny weather in Pwllheli, we do know we will be racing on a world class race track and of course ILCA UK will be doing our best to put on our usual “festival of sailing” where all are welcome. Two weeks to enter before the late entry fee kicks in. See our dedicated website here.
Finally, I wanted to mention our Youth Series which is in full flight now with three regional events done with strong fleet numbers. Next one is part of the Welsh Championships (40 entries already) followed by the East region at Royal Harwich. Check out our calendar.
Snippets
ILCA UK Events
Visit our National Championship dedicated website Why not come and join us? Entries to UK Nationals
Volunteer at the Nationals - HERE
Welsh Championships - Enter or volunteer through the entry page
2025 Women’s Regatta at Rutland entries closed
Skills Week South (SOLD OUT) & North - entries open
You will see our calendar starting to fill up.
Other news
2025 Suzuki Master European Championship
2025 ILCA UK Masters Nationals video
2025 ILCAUK Masters Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - ILCA 6 report
2025 ILCAUK Masters Nationals at Hayling Island Sailing Club - ILCA 7 report
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