ILCA UK Chair Blog #181
A shorter than usual blog today as I’ve been doing a yacht delivery after the East Coast Classics Regatta. Cheetah of Burnham is older (and slower) than any ILCA (or Laser) in existence today; you ILCA sailors are lucky that most of the time you don’t have to compete on handicap - at least you’re less likely than any other class of dinghy - and also than unless you’re using an original issue tiller you don’t need to do any varnishing. Who knew they were wooden? If it’s a ‘yes” then you’re definitely showing your age!
A slow plod up the North Sea from the Orwell to the Deben against the tide has eaten into blogging time but allowed a bit of reflection on why ILCAs seem to be bucking the trend in declining turnouts. Relatively cheap (emphasis on relatively), mostly one design, no need for a crew, rock up and race, easy availability of boats, a rig for most shapes, sizes and ages, women and men able to compete on a mostly level playing field……all of these seem to apply (and certainly not to Classics racing)…..but there is another unique thing. If you can sail, and can handle and fit in an ILCA, you can just turn up and join in with some incredible, well supported and well run events……and often sail against some superstars from the BST or BSS who simply dont behave like superstars in other sports. If you play Sunday league football on Hackney Marshes it’s unlikely you’ll be playing alongside a Declan, Jude or Marcus any time soon, or if they’ll give you the time of day - Declan is the exception as he was brought up “proper” with the Hammers of course.
And this brings me nicely (almost by design) to the Masters Nationals – ENTRIES CLOSE TODAY, TUESDAY. It’s not just at our National Opens that you find yourselves lining up alongside the champions of our sport (I’d try not to be directly alongside them by the way) but I’m reliably informed by Alan Davis that at Parkstone next weekend there will be one Gold medalist and at least 3 former Olympians. He’s missed the fact that buried away in the entry list I’ve found a former ISAF Youth Worlds representative, a Team Racing World Champion and even someone crazy enough to circumnavigate the UK in a £50 Laser (it most certainly wasn’t an ILCA). Add to that, racing outside in the “Bay”, Salcombe Gin have come onboard to sponsor a tasting evening – that should slow a few of them down – and there’s a free Championship dinner in the wonderful Parkstone YC clubhouse – all glass and stainless steel and looking out over the marina and across Poole Harbour. What a sunset! Plus sail number draws for bottles of the aforementioned gin and other prizes – what’s not to like? 107 entries but its not too late to join the fun TODAY! Lead Sponsor is Tideway Wealth plus all our other Class Sponsors (Noble Marine, Ovington, Rooster, Wildwind, Sailingfast and Fernhurst Books). We are as always super grateful for the support these Class Sponsor provide in many different ways. Thankyou!
Hope you get more lifts than headers in the week ahead.
Neil
Upcoming events:
Masters National Championships Parkstone YC - 3-5 July 2026
Sponsors:
Ovington Boats https://ovingtonboats.com/ilca/
Sailingfast https://sailingfast.co.uk/product-category/sailing/boat/ilca/
Rooster https://www.roostersailing.com/
Noble Marine https://www.noblemarine.co.uk/boat-insurance/ilca-dinghy-insurance
FernhurstBooks https://fernhurstbooks.com
Tideway Wealth https://tidewaywealth.co.uk
Wildwind https://wildwind.co.uk
For your support Rooster are providing a discount code for ILCA Members : ILCAUK10 for 10% off a range of Rooster products!
Social Media:
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ilca_uk/
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ILCAUK/
• Website https://ilca.uk/
👉🏼Sign up to ILCA UK Chair blog: https://portal.ilca.uk/subscriptions
See all the results here: https://ilca.uk/ilca-uk-results-2026
Skills Weeks:
ILCA Skills Week 2026 WPNSA - 15/19 August 2026
Scottish Skills week https://portal.ilca.uk/event/rya-ilca-uk-scottish-skills-week
Other Snippets:
Youth World Championships 2026 - Notice of Selection