ILCA UK Chair Blog # 158
I was at the World Sailing Conference in Dun Loaghaire all last week (hence no blog sorry) and catching up means I am late this week. Now we have finished our National events for 2025, I thought I would revert back to the British Nationals in August at Plas Heli. The sailing waters off the coast in Pwllheli are excellent but ILCA UK had not done a National event there for many years until September 2024 when we ran a National Open. That gave us the confidence for the British Nationals this year.
While I understand the debate about events moving around the country, the practicalities need to be managed – how to budget for the number of sailors likely to come without recent history to go on, how do we get the right resources in place to run the event and how to work with the new venue team.
Overall, the ILCA UK were delighted with the outcome of the event. We had 200 sailors, great sailing with light (and difficult) conditions and as usual as warm, friendly atmosphere ashore. My personal view, as a sailor in the event, is that race management did a great job deciding when to go afloat and when to stay ashore. But what did you think according to our survey?
You thought it was a great event too ! 86% of those who responded thought the organisation was excellent or good. Race management does indeed get strong marks although quite a few of you felt the ILCA4s were given too much leniency on the starts (i.e. more black flags needed – don’t shoot the messenger). As you would expect there were no concerns for safety at a light wind event.
You felt we need to do more on socials compared to previous years. For a variety of reasons this year we scaled back this aspect, but we will now be making a special effort in 2026. It is also clear, while many sailors are not that “pushed” about the socials, many are and we need to address those demands.
In terms of Plas Heli as a venue, the feedback was generally positive, but the score is of course a little depressed given a lot of sailors are travelling a long way from the south coast. We do need to do a better job convincing everyone to help haul ILCAs up the beach (it is hard work at 60+, thanks to those that helped me, it also to good to have a 19-year-old son and fellow competitor to help – thanks Josh!). Also some feedback on why so much time is spent hosing down each day – surely a quick spray can remove any sand?
As a committee, we are delighted to have Plas Heli back as quality venue for our big events.
Snippets
ILCA Events 2025
World Sailing Inclusion Championships - Oman (03/12 – 08/12 2025) - Personal message from Leo
You will see our 2025 calendar is almost complete!
Winter training 2025/2026
Most of our winter programme is available for booking - look through the training calendar and find something for your self in your region
Events 2026
National Opens
National Open 1 - Warsash SC - 14/15 March 2026
National Open 2 - WPNSA - 21/22 March 2026
National Open 3 - WPNSA 28/29 March 2026
Skills Week
ILCA Skills Week 2026 WPNSA - 15/20 August 2026 (Provisional - may move by one day)
National & Open Championships
Unfortunately, due to clashes with international regattas, we could not accept dates offered by the Hayling Island Sailing Club to host our nationals in 2026. We therefore confirmed that the 2026 Nationals will be held in JULY at WPNSA. He hope to go back to HISC soon!
ILCA UK Open & National Championships 2026 WPNSA - 23-29th July 2026
Masters events (over 30)
Introduction to Masters sailing - ILCA UK NEW Masters rep Gareth Humphrey
Master Series WPNSA - 23-24th May 2026
Masters National Championships Parkstone YC - 3-5 July 2026
Masters Inland Championships Draycote Water SC - 7-8 November 2026
Other news
Noble Marine ILCA Inland Championships 2025 at Draycote Water Sailing Club
Tideway ILCA Masters Inland Championships 2025 at Grafham Water Sailing Club
Ovington ILCA UK National Open 5 report
Rooster ILCA UK National Open 4 - ILCA6 report
ILCA Women's Coaching Programme Returns to Queen Mary Sailing Club
ILCA UK National open 4 2025 video
ILCA Women's Coaching day at Parkstone Yacht Club
ILCA Thames Valley Series Grand Prix at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club
ILCA Northern Championship at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
2025 ILCA UK National and Open Championships at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy
Here is Nationals video
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
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle will start in Mallorca
Excellent / Very good – 86%; last year – 94%; average last 3 years – 87%
Excellent / Very good – 86%; last year – 93%; average last 3 years – N/A
Excellent / Very good – 86%; last year – 80%; average last 3 years – 84%
Excellent / Very good – 96%; last year – 92%; average last 3 years – 84%
Excellent / Very good – 68%; last year – 87%; average last 3 years – 82%
Excellent / Very good – 69%; last year – 96%; average last 3 years – 80%