ILCA UK Chair Blog #160
ILCA sailing, or indeed sailing, in general is a sport for life. I have often said this in my blogs over the years, but what does this mean? In our National Opens we have many younger sailors who are competing for a variety of reasons – some aspire to be elite athletes, perhaps competing as “pros” or making a living from the sport and this is certainly more possible now than it was for me as a young sailor. For many though, they are competing to improve their performances and skills, just wanting to get better. For others, the independence OF being on the water, making for own decisions is important. Of course, having fun and making friends transcends all of these reasons.
The journey these sailors take over time varies, with some moving into coaching or teaching sailing or acquiring skills like RIB driving or race management or team-racing, often at university. Some stay racing ILCAs perhaps at club level or move into other dinghies or keelboats. Others make a career in the marine industry or put sailing on hold while family and career take priority.
The strength of ILCA Masters sailing in UK and abroad ( the recent Worlds in Italy had 450 sailors, many over 75) indicates continued involvement or return in later years and that’s where making friends often comes full circle. I was at the annual Eurilca (European region of ILCA) annual meeting at the weekend and was talking with Alan Davis about the 2026 Master Worlds in Greece, reminiscing on both of us competing in the 1982 Europeans in Athens, many decades before. Between us was sitting a Greek ILCA6 sailor who competed in the 2012 Olympics in London. It turns out her mum competed in the same 1982 Europeans as Alan and I. A sport for life indeed.
Snippets
*Bookings now open*
Our 8th and final ILCA UK Youth Series event is now open for bookings.
📍 Draycote Water SC
🗓️ Tue 30 Dec
👉 Book here: https://draycotewater.co.uk/events/draycote-youth-open/
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