UKLA warm-up regatta for UK ILCA 4 National Championships at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

UKLA UK National Championships for ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Whilst the ILCA 4 Worlds were ongoing (in Ireland) for the first two days of the Sailing Festival, WPNSA and ILCA have organised and hosted the ILCA 4 Open Event. The two day event was made up of four races total and with very different conditions across the two days, served as a good warm up for the following National Championship.

2021 is a special year. It was 50 years ago the then-named Laser was introduced to the world at the New York boat show. Since then over 219,000 boats have been built and it's likely that well over a million people have sailed one. To celebrate this UKLA organised a mass sail out to the race courses in Weymouth Bay on the first day of the 2021 ILCA National Championships.

Leading the fleet of about 270 competitors was a 50 year old boat with wooden foils and the original sail. Unfortunately as all the boats were congregating in the harbour the rather fragile sail gave way. As is the unlimited resourcefulness of the members of the fleet a fitting lash up was done on the water.

Seeing the fleet sailing out the harbour in the warm August sunshine and gentle breeze was a deeply moving sight. However it wasn't long before boats peeled off to their race courses.

Saturday - Day 1

The wind wasn't particularly consistent with it pushing 15 knots at times, but generally sitting around or under 10. The tide was on its way out which resulted in a few generals and black flag starts as many of us were pushed over, With the wind dropping towards the end of the day, our final race ended up shortened at the windward mark of our third leg. Sharing a course with the ILCA 7s we got two races in before a long sail home.

Each day, after racing, there is a breathtaking number of entertainments all organised by the incredible team of volunteers and led by Tony and Nette Woods. Table tennis, hike offs, themed dinners, daily prize-givings and magnificent prize draws. The prize draws have become hugely popular. The event sponsors have been incredible generous with dozens of prizes handed out each day. Ovington, Vaikobi, SailingFast, SouthEastSailboats and Fernhurst have all given very generously.

UKLA UK National Championships for ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Sunday - Day 2

The next day was almost opposite to the first. Due to the higher wind speeds we were in the harbour which was unsurprisingly very choppy. The wind continued to pick up across the day, coming roughly from the west it was not particularly shifty. After a tiring two races we concluded our Open event.

Having had two very different days racing results across the board where varied. Congratulations to Boris De Wilde who won by 7 points having had two thirds on day one and two firsts on day 2, winning the event overall. Second was Hazel McDonnell, third Cameron Bignold-Kyles, and fourth Freddie Sunderland.

Thank you from all the competitors for the work that's been put in to organise these social activities the race officers and all the management and organisation team for a great event.

Full results below

UKLA UK National Championships for ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Sponsors

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 for the draw on Saturday evening.

SouthEast Sailboats - Max brings bespoke quality at affordable prices to the class. His passion for detail has made his products a must have for anyone who wants quality. He also supplied many great prizes for the event.

Ovington Boats - Chris Turner lives dinghies and has been a significance presence in the boat building world for decades. OB are now the official UK builders of ILCAs. A very smart new Ovington ILCA Dinghy was on display at the Masters event.

Vaikobi - a brand born on the waters of Sydney Harbour, out of a passion for all ocean sports. Across the team, we paddle, Surfski, SUP, Wing Foil and Sail. Sailing has been a passion within the business right from the start. The senior management team at Vaikobi comprise more than fifty years of marine industry and sailing experience between them.

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.

Fernhurst Books - Jeremy Atkins has put together an incredible list of the most useful dinghy racing books. If you have books on racing you've probably got at least one Fernhurst book.

UKLA UK National Championships for ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Overall Results:

UKLA UK National Championships for ILCA 4 (formerly Laser 4.7) - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography