UKLA Noble Marine ILCA4 & 6 Autumn Qualifier at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

by Gary Finkelstein 22 Oct 2020 08:20 BST 17-18 October 2020

The weekend of 17th & 18th October saw 118 sailors spread across the ILCA-4, 6 and 7 fleets. Two events were combined, the UKLA Marine ILCA7, ILCA6 & ILCA4 and the RYA Youth Nationals. (See separate write-up for the ILCA7 fleet.)

Wind conditions started with a wonderful 12 - 15knts, a fresh 12 degrees centigrade, and almost champagne conditions if not for the very grey skies, and the drop to below 10 knots during the last race of the day.

ILCA-4 fleet

This was an important event for the ILCA-4s, as, in addition to being the second UKLA qualifier event in the new season, it was the RYA's Junior (U16) Championship, which was rescheduled due to Covid-19 restrictions on the original date.

Keijiro Kikkawa, Max Steele, and Antonio Pascali took the lead on the first day, jostling for the podium places in each of the races, but with last year's champion Jack Graham Troll not far behind in fourth place. Newcomer to the fleet, Arwen Ffler was the leading girl in fifth place and 17 points.

The second day saw much lighter winds, generally 5 - 10 knots, depending on which patch of the course you were in. Jack Graham - Troll showed his skill in identifying the wind pressures and shifts, and scored two bullets to win both the qualifier event and the RYA Junior Championships.

It was very pleasing to see a growing female participation (almost 50%) in the fleet. Arwen Fflur had a very strong performance, particularly in the light winds of the second day, scoring a hat-trick of silver placings, and breaking the dominance of the boys in the middle of the top five placings on the score board. Hazell McDonnell was second placed female with Leah Fidling defeating Honor Proctor by one place to claim third placing overall, although Honor wins the bronze medal in the U16 category.

Due to Covid restrictions, there was no prize-giving, but medals are being sent to the winners.

UKLA Sailingfast Youth (U18) Qualifier ILCA 4 Boys medals:

Gold - Jack Graham Troll
Silver - Keijiro Kikkawa
Bronze - Max Steele

UKLA Sailingfast Youth (U18) Qualifier ILCA 4 Girls medals:

Gold - Arwen Fflur
Silver - Hazel Mcdonnell
Bronze - Leah Fidling

RYA ILCA-4 Junior (U16) Championship ILCA4 Boys medals:

Gold - Jack Graham Troll
Silver - Max Steele
Bronze - Antonio Pascali

RYA ILCA-4 Junior (U16) Championship ILCA4 Girls medals:

Gold - Arwen Fflur
Silver - Hazel Mcdonnell
Bronze - Honor Proctor

Jack GRAHAM-TROLL in the UKLA Noble Marine ILCA4 Autumn Qualifier - photo © Georgie Altham

ILCA-6 fleet

The ILCA-6s had already had their RYA Youth Championships, but it remained an important qualifier event to represent the UKLA at next year's international events.

Unlike the ILCA-4s, the ILCA-6 fleet was dominated by the experienced woman sailors, with Matilda Nichols scoring a bullet and two seconds on the first day, and a further two bullets on the second light wind day to claim the podium gold placing ahead of Hannah Snellgrove in second. This was Matilda's first qualifier win - congratulations. Only Fin Dickinson was able to stop an all-girls 1, 2, 3 by finishing a whisker 1 point ahead of Daisy Collingridge.

Last year's Inland Champion, Shotaro Kikkawa showed his skills in the light winds to fight back from seventh place at the end of the first day to finish second boy, ahead of Bermuda's Sebastian Kemp (QMSC) as third boy and eighth overall. Fin's brother Sam achieved second place in the U17 age group, with Tom Mitchell coming third.

It is always a step up when sailors enter a new fleet, and the highly experienced ILCA-6 fleet is no exception for ILCA-4 sailors who transition into this fleet. It is therefore very encouraging to also see Oliver Allen-Wilcox (the 2020 ILCA-4 national champion) and Freddie Howarth achieving eleventh and twelfth placings in their first qualifier event in the ILCA-6 fleet.

Coco Barrett won the girls U19 fleet ahead of Charlotte Videlo and Samantha Edwards, with Iris Singleton winning the girls U17 ahead of Lucy Davis and Dru Townsend. South East Sailboat's Max Hunt continued to impress again, winning the master category.

Many thanks also to Paul Jackson and his team at WPNSA for being so patient particularly with the ILCA6 fleet on Sunday.

ILCA-6 Womens overall medals:

Gold - Matilda Nicholls
Silver - Hannah Snellgrove
Bronze - Daisy Collingridge
U21 Winner - Matilda Nicholls
U19 Winner - Coco Barrett
U17 Winner - Iris Singleton

ILCA-6 Mens overall medals:

Gold - Finley Dickinson
Silver - Shotaro Kikkawa
Bronze - Sebastian Kemp
U19 Winner - Finley Dickinson
U17 Winner - Sebastian Kemp
Master Winner - Max Hunt

Matilda NICHOLLS in the UKLA Noble Marine ILCA6 Autumn Qualifier - photo © Georgie Altham

Many thanks also to the event sponsors:

Noble Marine - Ian MacManus (the man behind the name) has crafted a very competitive and excellent insurance product for all Laser/ILCA sailors. A very personal service and a extremely useful website help make this the 'go to' company.

Sailingfast - Duncan brings his battle bus down from Scotland for most the big events, which is so ridiculously well equipped, you could replace everything on your boat. Although based in Scotland they will get anything to you super fast. He also supplied many of the prizes.

Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy - The home of the British Sailing Team and one of the best racing venues in the country if not the world the WPNSA offers first class facilities with either harbour or open water racing and hosting the sailing for the 2012 Olympics.

Daisy COLLINGRIDGE in the UKLA Noble Marine ILCA6 Autumn Qualifier - photo © Georgie Altham

New podcast:

UKLA presents 'An Hour with Flower' - Ben Flower has been moving up the fleet steadily in recent years and has experienced many of the high and lows of Laser/ILCA racing. In what is to become a regular feature Ben chats to some of the sailors and volunteers from the Laser/ILCA community. Listen to episode 1 at laser.org.uk/media (Coming soon: episode 2. Ben Flower talks to Sam Whaley)

Drew Barns in the UKLA Noble Marine ILCA6 Autumn Qualifier - photo © Georgie Altham

ILCA 6 Results:

Pos	Nat	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	GBR	214906	Matilda NICHOLLS	Aldeburgh YC	1	2	2	1	‑7	1	7
2	GBR	213888	Hannah SNELLGROVE	Ltsc / RLymYC	2	4	1	‑8	2	3	12
3	GBR	209000	Finley DICKINSON	HISC	RDG	1	4	3	‑5	4	14
4	GBR	214580	Daisy COLLINGRIDGE	Waldringfield	RDG	3	3	6	1	‑11	15
5	GBR	213956	Shotaro KIKKAWA	Stokes Bay SC	6	9	‑15	7	4	2	28
6	BER	214933	Sebastian KEMPE	Rbyc / Queen Mary	7	5	12	2	3	(BFD)	29
7	GBR	201587	Sam DICKINSON	HISC	10	14	7	11	‑18	5	47
8	GBR	216387	Nathan SMITH	Staunton Harold SC	9	23	13	9	6	(BFD)	60
9	GBR	202543	Aaron EVANS	Silver Wing SC	5	13	11	19	15	‑21	63
10	GBR	209119	Tom MITCHELL	Royal TAY YC	8	12	10	‑28	16	18	64
11	GBR	216724	Oliver ALLEN‑WILCOX	Castle Cove SC / Chew Valley SC	12	19	6	12	‑25	16	65
12	GBR	203084	Freddie HOWARTH	Parkstone YC	(UFD)	15	18	10	9	14	66
13	GBR	216646	Alastair BROWN	Great Moor SC	15	11	9	23	11	(BFD)	69
14	GBR	215835	Tim EVANS	Grafham Water SC	25	‑28	22	13	8	7	75
15	GBR	213563	Joe SCURRAH	Carsington SC	‑24	10	23	14	23	8	78
16	GBR	213544	Luke ANSTEY	Frensham Pond SC	18	7	(RET)	15	24	15	79
17	GBR	213540	Coco BARRETT	Island Barn SC	‑29	20	26	5	19	10	80
18	GBR	210233	Theo GUMBLEY	WWSC	11	18	(RET)	29	17	9	84
19	GBR	206876	Oliver BLACKBURN	Leigh And Lowton	28	27	5	20	‑29	6	86
20	GBR	212906	Barty GRAY	Oxford / Trearddur Bay	14	8	25	‑39	28	13	88
21	GBR	215414	Thomas WILLIAMSON	Wwsc / RLymYC	20	26	‑48	18	13	17	94
22	GBR	214637	Ewan MCANALLY	Rutland	‑36	22	17	21	27	12	99
23	IRL	213041	Joseph KARAUZUM	CAYC	‑39	33	19	16	14	19	101
24	GBR	211013	James CURTIS	Bosham SC	16	‑43	14	22	31	26	109
25	GBR	214134	Ellie HUTCHINGS	Roadford Lake	‑31	30	16	17	22	24	109
26	GBR	211875	Mila MONAGHAN	Cardiff Bay YC	26	24	34	26	10	(BFD)	120
27	GBR	212055	Arabella SABBERTON	NBYC	19	21	24	31	‑37	32	127
28	GBR	216655	Edward BAKER	Chew Valley / Bowmoor	30	6	20	37	‑52	36	129
29	GBR	208659	Luka FRANKLIN	Ibrsc / Shoreham SC	42	‑48	35	24	12	22	135
30	GBR	214300	Max HUNT	Whitstable	22	25	28	27	35	‑40	137
31	GBR	198838	Richie THURLBY	Hill Head	38	‑42	21	25	21	35	140
32	GBR	206191	Charlotte VIDELO	Frensham Pond SC	35	34	‑43	34	20	20	143
33	GBR	212008	Samantha EDWARDS	Papercourt / Hisc	34	40	‑50	4	30	44	152
34	GBR	200646	Eve KENNEDY	Parkstone YC / Netley	21	29	29	36	39	(BFD)	154
35	GBR	204178	Dan KEENAN	Tamworth SC	27	38	27	‑48	34	30	156
36	BER	204780	Adriana PENRUDDOCKE	Rbyc / Spbc	17	17	8	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	164
37	GBR	195779	Finlay TULETT	Dalgety Bay SC	13	35	47	‑49	32	37	164
38	GBR	183117	Benedict RICHARDSON	Castle Cove SC	40	32	32	33	‑45	28	165
39	GBR	208163	George ELLIS‑MILLER	Bosham / Grafham	33	16	42	‑46	36	43	170
40	GBR	206856	Iris SINGLETON	Draycote Water SC	‑55	49	33	30	38	23	173
41	GBR	213613	Keiran BRAY	Banbury SC & Draycote Water SC	32	‑46	31	42	46	31	182
42	GBR	214960	Lucy DAVIS	Rsrnyc / Rtyc	(UFD)	52	40	32	26	33	183
43	GBR	216523	Charlie GUYETT	Cransley	‑50	37	30	47	43	34	191
44	GBR	202316	Harry NEWTON	Whitstable Y	23	47	49	44	33	(BFD)	196
45	GBR	208325	Dru TOWNSEND	Portishead / Chew Valley	‑52	41	36	38	40	41	196
46	GBR	197694	Greg CORNES	Shropshire	47	39	44	‑52	50	25	205
47	GBR	195243	Miles VIDLER	Cmyc / Wwsc	44	50	41	‑56	41	29	205
48	GBR	206471	Bruno NICHOLAS	LLSC	TAL	31	38	41	54	(DNC)	210
49	GBR	204121	Jacob ANDERSEN	RLymYC	37	36	51	‑53	42	45	211
50	GBR	170858	Xavier DUNN	Warsash	49	45	‑55	45	49	27	215
51	GBR	217515	James KNIGHT	Draycote Water SC	48	‑55	46	43	44	39	220
52	GBR	216002	Lydia BARBER	Stokes Bay SC	43	44	37	54	‑57	48	226
53	GBR	215421	William SUNDERLAND	Draycote Water	45	57	39	35	51	(BFD)	227
54	GBR	149329	Henry BAYLIS	Rudyard Lake	54	‑59	56	40	55	46	251
55	GBR	212783	Archie WRIGHT	Warsash	46	‑60	52	58	53	42	251
56	GBR	204005	Kai HOCKLEY	Greig City Academy	‑57	56	45	57	56	38	252
57	GBR	213791	William SYMONDS	Restronguet SC	51	51	(RET)	51	47	BFD	261
58	GBR	211322	Natalya WILLIAMS	Datchet Water S	56	54	53	50	‑58	50	263
59	GBR	216402	Harriet SACKER	Shoreham SC	53	58	57	‑59	48	49	265
60	GBR	213537	Kristian SCHAFER	Brading Haven YC	58	53	54	55	‑59	47	267

Sebastian KEMPE in the UKLA Noble Marine ILCA6 Autumn Qualifier - photo © Georgie Altham

ILCA 4 Results:

Pos	Nat	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1	GBR	214007	Jack GRAHAM‑TROLL	RLymYC	4	‑6	1	1	1	3	10
2	GBR	201699	Keijiro KIKKAWA	SBSC	3	2	2	3	‑9	1	11
3	GBR	212109	Arwen FFLUR	Pwllheli SC	‑8	5	4	2	2	2	15
4	GBR	216648	Max STEELE	WSC / Whsc	1	3	5	8	‑13	4	21
5	GBR	216601	Antonio PASCALI	IBRSC	2	1	8	4	8	‑25	23
6	GBR	209980	Hazel MCDONNELL	Hollowell	‑18	8	6	5	7	6	32
7	GBR	211165	Josh LYTTLE	Datchet	5	10	‑12	7	5	11	38
8	GBR	207462	Ed ROLLESTONE	Nssc & Wwsc	19	4	‑20	9	3	8	43
9	GBR	173611	Oliver WOODLEY	RYLC	6	11	3	14	‑16	9	43
10	GBR	193786	Llion MORRIS	Llandudno / Rydal Penrhos	12	7	10	12	6	‑18	47
11	GBR	190781	Leah FIDLING	Leigh & Lowton	11	‑20	17	15	10	7	60
12	GBR	190996	Honor PROCTER	Cardiff Bay YC	13	9	9	17	‑27	13	61
13	GBR	195049	Daniel FLETCHER	Island Barn Reservoir SC	‑25	15	14	6	14	14	63
14	GBR	212572	Emily ELMS	CVLSC	15	12	13	16	‑18	12	68
15	GBR	205144	Ollie FREEMANTLE	Poole YC	16	18	7	11	20	‑28	72
16	GBR	210900	Felix MCMULLAN	Draycote	17	14	16	‑18	11	15	73
17	GBR	207087	Archie BURTON	Beaver	7	17	18	20	‑23	16	78
18	GBR	147059	Ffion WOOD	Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli SC	21	22	‑26	10	17	10	80
19	GBR	195154	Angus BEALE	Corinthian Otters	24	25	23	(BFD)	4	5	81
20	GBR	206917	Eva MILLER	Snettisham Beach SC	9	13	15	‑29	29	21	87
21	GBR	204539	Anya MORRIS	RLymYC / MYC	10	21	11	25	‑28	23	90
22	GBR	206839	Henry REDMOND	Covenham SC	14	16	19	21	‑26	22	92
23	GBR	198317	Jack MCCORMICK	Parkstone	‑28	27	25	13	12	17	94
24	GBR	125770	Olly PHILLIPS	RLYC	23	19	22	19	25	‑32	108
25	AUS	201529	William FEARN	Rutland SC	27	23	24	22	15	‑30	111
26	GBR	204670	Sophie TAYLOR	Emsworth Slipper SC	22	24	21	27	‑30	29	123
27	GBR	215283	Millie LEWIS	Medway YC	29	‑31	29	23	21	24	126
28	GBR	212037	Aimee BRAY	Banbury SC & Draycote Water SC	20	26	28	28	‑31	26	128
29	GBR	204013	Lauren ATTWELL	Rutland SC	‑30	29	30	24	19	27	129
30	GBR	207749	Anne FREDBORG	Papercourt SC / Ibrsc	26	28	‑31	26	24	31	135
31	GBR	202448	Tilly REYNOLDS	CBYC	33	33	32	(DNC)	22	19	139
32	GBR	172700	Mary‑anne BEACOCK	Coniston SC	(TAL)	30	27	30	32	20	139
33	GBR	195244	Josie KELLY	Felpham SC	31	32	33	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	164