UKLA Chair blog #33
Courtesy Giles Smith
In our first virtual training session this winter, Tim Hulse does a great job explaining how to rig your ILCA, mainly focussed on the control lines. For many of you, upgrading these to the latest best practice used by the British Sailing Team and the top ILCA sailors in the world is easy and relatively inexpensive. But what about other aspects of ILCA equipment – what are the myths and what makes a difference?
First, a disclaimer – I am not a boat tinkerer so please bear that in mind as you read on! For me, the number #1 priority is preventing gear failure as that is certainly a big block on performance. Over the years I have broken every spar including (once) a bottom section but happily this happens much less these days and is normally a result of corrosion around fittings on the spars. All control lines are subject to breaking through normal wear and tear. What else have I broken in recent years? Clew shackle or hook, kicker pin and tiller extension joint (breaking the extension itself after missing the toe strap is quite common). Some reasonable preparation can help ensure your race is not ruined.
What about cleaning and polishing your boat? It is great to take pride in your ILCA and preparing the hull surface might well some you some extra confidence on the racecourse, but I am sorry to say it is not going to affect your boat speed.
What about the choice of hull? Well one of the great attractions of the ILCA / Laser is that hulls can remain pretty competitive for several decades. Certainly for most racing in the UK, your technique, fitness, starting and strategy are much more likely to affect the outcome of your race than the age of your hull. As you get towards the top half of a National fleet, a hull that is no older than 10 years may make a marginal difference when it is blowing more than 15 knots and in waves. Of course, the top sailors at international events, where a couple of boat lengths over a mile long beat may be critical, will have hulls that are only a few years old at most.
As many of you will know, there are now around 8 ILCA builders across the world and you may tempted to ask whether there are performance differences between boats. Having raced ILCAs/Lasers for over four decades, I am firmly believe this isn’t the case. As new builders have come on board, the technical team at ILCA (the international class association) has been working even harder to ensure the quality and compliance of new ILCAs. Their overall objective is to ensure ILCAs are produced off the shelf as one design boats of equal performance. Even if there were differences, they are likely to be so minor as to affect no one but the top few sailors in the world. At international events, there is good representation of most builders with no correlation between builder and results. Of course, these sailors may have a preference, but this is understandable given the supreme need to be confident. I got one of the first Ovingtons, with which I am very happy especially given my role as UKLA Chair and the fact that they are a UKLA sponsor but your decisions on builder should be down to quality of build, customer service and price and certainly not performance.
Finally, perhaps the most important piece of equipment is your sail. Certainly there are performance differences between a well-used 5-year-old sail and a new one but this must be balanced with your assessment of the other factors (already mentioned) that might affect your performance and the standard of fleet you are competing in. I bought a new ILCA7 sail before the Masters Worlds in Mexico last May, but have used that sail in all sailing since then and although it looks well-used, it remains competitive. I could certainly improve my performance the most by being a bit fitter!
In a nutshell, once you have made sure nothing is about to break and that your sail is in reasonable shape, the rest is down to skill and fitness, both of which come from getting out on the water.
The great advantage of ILCA racing is the easy access to competitive boats and equipment compared to many other classes. I hope that gives you an idea but remember these are just my thoughts. Others are valid as well.
Snippets:
Check out your local Grand Prix on our calendar - everyone welcome!
Calling all masters – the first Masters event of the year will be at Parkstone on 21st/22nd April - it is a great venue both ashore and afloat with entries open and includes 2 course evening meal for £45! You will need to be a member of UKLA but that’s what allows us to provide such good value. Come and give it a go - remember Masters sailing is open and accessible to all competent club sailors over the age of 30.
Has your club bid for free UKLA training? Deadline is end of March
Final entries for Qualifier 3 next weekend at WPNSA close tonight - no late entries I am afraid. There are also a couple of places in the UKLA Regional training the follwing weekend
Finally a note of thanks for all the volunteers at WPNSA this last weekend. We were able to sail in Weymouth Bay on Sunday when conditions allowed - yes that’s 156 ILCAs in the middle of the bay! Thanks to the Safety team and the Race Committee and of course all those that helped ashore. Your support at these events makes all the difference.