UKLA Chair blog #2
Upcoming stuff
Last week the first messages I received after my blog #1 were inspiring.
First, Jon Holt from the Scaramouche Sailing Trust/Greig City Academy, which had four sailors competing at the Nationals. The trust’s role is to enable students, who would never otherwise get afloat, to reach sailing heights. Then Simon Foster from Poole Yacht Club got in touch to say their local ILCA training the previous weekend had an age spread of 56 - the oldest being 70! And the third message in was from Sam Whaley who has just joined our committee - Sam is part of the British Sailing Team and a full time ILCA sailor. While we are far from perfect it goes to show what we have to build on in terms of inclusivity. Of course it has its challenges in the need to be sensitive and aware of the diverse needs of our community.
After the Nationals, I am sure some of you are looking for sailing opportunities in August and beyond. I am afraid the UKLA Skills Week, which is back this year as ILCA Transition Week, is now fully booked with 80 bookings. We have already extended numbers twice. It’s a super initiative that is partly funded by UKLA to promote skills development in our community:
Supporting any sailor transitioning into the ILCA from another class
Supporting and developing any sailor moving between/new to ILCA rigs
Offering an opportunity to train at a world class venue with fantastic coaches to all class members, of any experience, any ability and any age!
There are open meetings in our calendar but I know many members love Poole week which has lots of racing (and fun) for ILCAs over the week. Thanks to Darren Howarth for the link www.pooleweek.org. Our training for the autumn also opens this week – I will provide a further insight to our plans in the next blog.
A quick mention of the GBR and UKLA team that competed in the ILCA6 Worlds in Houston last week -you will see more on FB - well done to all of them but in particular to Carys Attwell who finished 6th!
Finally some of you will have seen the post about our friend Tony Woods – if you would like to help by donating, here is the JustGiving link
UKLA Chair blog #1
Hi there ILCA sailors,
This is my first post as the new UKLA Chair and I would like to start by thanking Rob Cage for the sterling work he and his committee have done in transforming the UKLA over recent years. We have a thriving class and I look forward to building on that.
Talking about thriving, the UK Nationals has been a huge success with 260 entries across all three rigs. It has been a super week on and off the water and my thanks to the UKLA team and volunteers and of course Hayling Island Sailing Club for making it so great.
Just a note for those that don’t know me. I got my first Laser in 1977 (yes it had a wooden tiller), grew up sailing in Dun Laoghaire, doing events around Ireland and internationally. I sailed a Laser in 1996 Olympics and have lived in London since then. For many years after I club raced at Queen Mary and started doing Master events in UK (and two World championships) five years ago. I have three boys who all sail ILCAs now.
So, what’s the plan now? The ILCA is uniquely positioned as the most inclusive dinghy there is. We have age groups from young teenagers to sailors in their eighties up and down the country, sailing and racing at clubs, locally, nationally and all the way to the Olympics. It is a class for everyone. And we want to build on that and promote those unique benefits. I want you all to help with that by participating and volunteering.
I hope to post regularly with personal views and information about ILCA sailing in general but please continue to check our website, social media channels and your emails to get all the information and news you need. And if you have something you want to share, please let me know (no promises on using it though!)
All the best
Mark
Check our UKLA website and calendar of events