Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December
Product Feature
ILCA Wear Protectors
ILCA Wear Protectors

Noble Marine / Vaikobi ILCA 6 Qualifier 1 at Stokes Bay Sailing Club

by Alastair Brown 18 Mar 2022 11:31 GMT 12-13 March 2022

The first qualifier of the 2022 season saw the 67-boat strong ILCA 6 fleet take to the waters of Stokes Bay Sailing Club. Located on the Solent the weekend promised wind, waves, tide and the forecast predicted the fleet would complete the 6-race schedule in a beautiful breeze.

The quality of the fleet was strong, containing World and European champions/medallists from various age categories, British Sailing Team members and Youth Squad sailors. With quality racing on the menu the first race was highly anticipated with many sailors training throughout the winter for this moment.

Saturday

The sailors woke on Saturday morning to 15 knots of wind from the south forecasted to track left throughout the day, with most of the races being completed in a south-easterly. Those who know Stokes Bay well will know that breeze from the southeast runs almost directly down the Solent between the IOW and the mainland. This leads to a relatively consistent wind meaning the influence of tide would likely play a bigger role in race strategy. However, the qualifier took place during neap tides, posing a question: how important would the neap tide's influence be?

The first race got under way and in search of his first qualifier win B.Elvin demonstrated his intent, winning a biased pin end, crossing the fleet and leading the entire race to take the win at the finish on the waters of his home club. Snellgrove and Mitchell used their boat speed to convert top 6s at the first WW mark to top 3s by the end of the race finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Perhaps one of Stokes Bay's greatest features is the location of the race area. The committee boat is anchored just off the shore, perfect for the late launchers within the fleet and the spectators. What this does mean however, is that there is often a tidal gradient as you get further away from the shore and into the channel. The influence of more favourable tide on the right increased throughout the day and, while the left was looking good in the first race, a long delay caused the right to demonstrate its worth in the second race of the day. Snellgrove took advantage of this best, often taking the biased right turn at the bottom gate before promptly tacking to make her way over to the right. Snellgrove took the race win followed by B.Elvin who had been battling for much of the race with Kempe who finished 3rd.

With the wind against the tide, line awareness was critical, fortunately there was a reasonable amount of pin bias helping to minimise the number of boats BFD'ed during Saturday's racing. Brown made the most of the pin bias in the 3rd race of the day arriving at the WW mark just ahead of C.Elvin following a lee-bow manoeuvre. Brown led for much of race 3, with the Elvin pair behind, before forgetting how to count to 2 and backing himself to hold the fleet off for one more lap than he needed too. Whilst Brown set off for an additional lap B.Elvin breezed past him taking the victory at the finish with a frustrated Brown in 2nd and C.Elvin in 3rd.

Rumour has it Brown told B.Elvin that he'd better go onto win what would be his maiden qualifier victory after Brown's mistake had cost himself victory in the 3rd race on Saturday. Sunday racing would be the decider of that and the stage was set for a titanic battle between two greats of the fleet, B.Elvin and Snellgrove.

Overnight standings were as follows: B.Elvin in 1st, Snellgrove in 2nd and Brown in 3rd. Local knowledge was of clear importance with Stokes bay sailors sitting in 1st, 3rd and 5th overnight.

Sunday

Sunday posed some new questions for the fleet with the breeze at 12 knots from the south. Today the breeze was coming off the IOW and this added big differences in pressure and shifts to the mix. The tide was also supposed to eddy and be quite different dependent on the race area. This caused a split of decision within the fleet. B.Elvin, Brown and Kempe started at the pin and worked the left side of the course while, on the other side of the course, Snellgrove and Emmett were enjoying the lifts the right had to offer. As a result of this Snellgrove led at the WW mark and took victory by a fair distance utilising her skill to navigate the shifts and pressure variations. B.Elvin was once again in the top 3, finishing 2nd, utilising the waves he knows so well to overtake boats downwind. Kempe followed in 3rd.

When the 2nd race of the day began much of the fleet had decided that they liked the right-hand side and started towards the committee boat. Local sailor C.Elvin sailed a fantastic race, cheered on by her clubmates onshore, and led for much of the race before being overtaken by Snellgrove not long before the finish. B.Elvin continued his trend of not finishing outside the top 3 by sailing through the finish line in 3rd.

So, it was time. The last race of the event would decide the winner. If Snellgrove finished inside the top 2 she would win. The last race saw lots of the fleet switch up their strategy from the 2nd race of the day, tempted by pressure on the left and some line bias, to start towards the pin end. Unfortunately, for many of these boats the wind was once again against the tide, and this combined with a starboard lift resulted in lots of the fleet getting a BFD to end their event. Over 25% of the fleet received at least one black flag across the two days and in the 6th and final race of the event Snellgrove was unfortunate enough to be one of those boats.

The result was as follows: B.Elvin, local legend and ILCA 6 supremo, won his first qualifier after years of trying. An excellent and well-deserved result for the local lad. Graham-Troll and Thurlby both had brilliant results in the 6th race of the event finishing in 1st and 3rd respectively with Kempe between them in 2nd.

The overall results looked as follows: B.Elvin in 1st, Snellgrove in 2nd and Kempe in 3rd.

Thank you to all the volunteers helping to ensure smooth running of our qualifiers and to Stokes Bay Sailing Club for having us at such a wonderful venue. Join us at one of the next two qualifiers down in Weymouth!

Overall Results:

PosSail numberHelmClub nameHelmAgeGroupR1R2R3R4R5R6PenaltiesPts
1st214268Ben ElvinStokes Bay SCAM12123‑7 9
2nd218716Hannah SnellgroveLymington Town SCA21711(BFD) 12
3rd220733Sebastian KempeRoyal Bermuda YC Royal Hospital SchoolU19‑736362 20
4th216646Alastair BrownStokes Bay SC Great Moor SCA642105(BFD) 27
5th219812Tom MitchellRoyal Tay Yacht ClubU1939‑10688 34
6th217552Ebru BolatSportul Studentesc BucurestiA854‑12116 34
7th216724Oliver Allen‑WilcoxChew Valley SC / RLymSC / Castle Cove SCU1946‑119710 36
8th190471Thommie Grit U19‑20712594 37
9th210001Chloe ElvinStokes Bay SCA983162(BFD) 38
10th220151Stephen CockerillStokes Bay Sailing ClubGM12108‑14125552
11th214560Terry HackerRutland SCU1910‑18971018 54
12th217597Boris Hirsch U191113‑1981413 59
13th204780Adriana PenruddockeRBYC/SPBCA15121323‑249 72
14th203084Freddie HowarthParkstone YCU191411‑21201314 72
15th211013James CurtisBosham Sailing ClubU1925141511‑2611 76
16th215835Tim EvansGrafham Water SCU19‑181518151512580
17th216115Jon EmmettWeir Wood SCM5(BFD)544BFD 86
18th216624Christine WoodClyde Cruising ClubA1321‑39132123 91
19th210976Richie ThurlbyHill Head SCU1921221434‑403 94
20th219366George ColquittWest Kirby SCU1717‑2522171721 94
21st214637Ewan McAnally U2122171622‑2719 96
22nd216655Edward BakerChew Valley Lake SC/Bowmoor SCU19161623‑413115 101
23rd208711Henry KoeIsland Barn Reservoir SCU19‑321920252228 114
24th214007Jack Graham‑TrollRoyal Lymington Yacht ClubU1937(BFD)2518381 119
25th217551Benjamin TylecoteRutland SCU21302330‑382017 120
26th217881Charlotte VideloFrensham Pond SCU21282424‑392916 121
27th211165Josh LyttleQueen Mary SCU173327(DSQ)191926 124
28th213524Jamie TylecoteRutland SCU1923(BFD)26282525 127
29th209056Oliver PayneStokes Bay SCU1726(BFD)29212329 128
30th219067Rory FerrierEast Lothian Yacht ClubU173433‑40261820 131
31st209425Carys AttwellRutland SCU19272028‑333224 131
32nd213537Kristian SchaferBrading Haven YCU1929(BFD)17363731 150
33rd204788Nicole Stovell U19‑413041373022 160
34th215421Willam Sunderland U1924(BFD)312416BFD 163
35th215118Keiran BrayBanbury Sailing ClubU19‑513534293434 166
36th206839Henry RedmondCovenham SCU193629324244(BFD) 183
37th206856Iris SingletonDraycote Water SCU19422837‑443942 188
38th6601Edwin CrossShoreham/Island BarnU1731(BFD)36494533 194
39th173611Oliver WoodleyRLYCU194931443535(BFD) 194
40th212573Rhys Powell U194034‑48404635 195
41st218432Honor ProcterCardiff Bay YCU1935(BFD)384348275196
42nd217179Daniel FletcherIsland Barn Reservoir SCU1938(BFD)273228BFD5198
43rd216704Finn SinclairNeyland YCU17503643‑544332 204
44th214203Alfie NoelWarsash SCU1752324745‑5330 206
45th217515James KnightDraycote Water SCU19453935‑555239 210
46th216023Freddie SunderlandDraycote WaterU1748(BFD)42483636 210
47th218860Jon Gay M43(BFD)332742BFD 213
48th210900Felix McMullanDraycote Water SCU194637503151(BFD) 215
49th213901James BarrettOxford SCU19(DNC)3845524741 223
50th212783Archie WrightStokes Bay SCU1919(BFD)DSQ3041BFD 226
51st209950Wai Chak Tsui U17‑564549474937 227
52nd213644Robin PhippsParkstone Yacht ClubU1747(BFD)465133BFD 245
53rd219090Kai HockleyGreig City AcademyU195340514657(BFD) 247
54th204539Anya MorrisRLymYC/MYCU1957425256‑5843 250
55th215283Millie LewisMedway YCU17‑594455535940 251
56th217034Yizhuo LIU U175847(DSQ)585438 255
57th183264Savva TretyakovPenarth Yacht ClubA5541545055(DNC)5260
58th200510Ian GregoryFrensham Pond SCM3926(DNC)DNCDNCDNC 269
59th189695Arran GoodmanHill Head SCU17(NSC)4958616044 272
60th217035Maddie ChildsDatchet Water SCU19(BFD)46535750BFD5279
61st190673Joe MolePapercourtU195448566056(BFD)5279
62nd217672Alex Strassberg AlonsoBosham Sailing ClubU17(NSC)NSC57626147 295
63rd201703Fred SalterGurnard Sailing Club / Brading HavenU194443(DNC)DNCDNCDNC5296
64th202448Tilly Reynolds U19(RET)NSC59636245 297
65th161755Amanda Henderson GM61(DNC)DNC59DNC46 302
66th200646Eve KennedyParkstone YCU2160(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC 332
67th211681William Tsui U21(NSC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC 340

Thanks to all those who support the ILCA fleets:

  • Noble Marine - has crafted a very competitive and excellent insurance product for all Laser/ILCA sailors. A very personal service and an extremely useful website help make this the 'go to' company. www.noblemarine.co.uk
  • 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. Check out his website: sailingfast.co.uk
  • 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. Visit www.vaikobi.com
  • 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. Visit www.ovingtonboats.com

Related Articles

2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week
Next-generation sailors and Olympians clash in international waters The 2025 Lypo-C Enoshima Olympic Week concluded after three days of high-level competition, bringing together 302 boats from five countries and highlighting both Olympic-calibre talent and rising youth sailors. Posted on 1 Jun
Poole Week Revitalised For 2025
New race teams and new courses for the summer's big event How do you make a great sailing week even better, without losing the elements that have always made it a great sailing week? Posted on 24 May
Get your Early Bird Abersoch Dinghy Week entry in
This ever popular family week is open to all dinghy classes and fleets Entries are now over 60 boats registered, so thanks to all of you who have entered so far, but if you want to save a few bucks please enter before the early bird rate comes to an end on the 1st June. Posted on 24 May
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George SC
Sailing, skills, and sunshine - thanks to SailingFast and Wildwind King George Sailing Club played host to an ILCA Women's Coaching Programme, welcoming sixteen female sailors from as far away as Lancashire and East Anglia ranging from 14 year olds to, err, ladies of a certain age, all excited to learn together. Posted on 20 May
The Shrink in the Drink
A world first book launch, perhaps? Andrew Hill-Smith was the third person to sail around GB in a Laser dinghy. He was the oldest person to do so, totally unsupported. It took 4 half months, and in the process, he raised over £21,000 across three charities. Posted on 18 May
Littlewood claims bronze in ILCA7 Worlds
It was a tale of two winds that decided the World Champions Zac Littlewood has claimed a bronze medal at the ILCA 7 World Championships in Qingdao, China, after an intense and unpredictable week of racing. Posted on 17 May
Juhasz earns best result at Men's ILCA 7 Worlds
Clara Gravely comes up with a personal best at the Women's ILCA 6 World Championship. James Juhasz from Oakville, ON, was the top Canadian at the 2025 Men's ILCA 7 & Women's ILCA 6 World Championships held May 12-17 in Qingdao, China, as he came in 37th in ILCA 7 and therefore earned the best Canadian result at the event since 2016. Posted on 17 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds overall
The northern wind arrives - Qingdao's final challenge Today marks the final day of the 2025 ILCA World Championships. While the champions have yet to be crowned, Qingdao's signature northern wind has already unfurled the curtain on the ultimate showdown. Posted on 17 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 5
Clearing Skies and Fresh Breezes: Racing Finally Begins in Qingdao After four consecutive days of still air and thick fog, the ILCA World Championships in Qingdao finally saw its first official races on Day 5. Posted on 16 May
ILCA Women's Coaching Programme goes international
Sailors aged age 14 - 60 enjoyed a great week in Greece Maartje van Dam, Chief Instructor at Wildwind explained, "We have sponsored the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme in the UK from the beginning and saw the opportunity to offer a whole week of coaching with our first Women's ILCA Clinic at Wildwind. Posted on 16 May