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Noble Marine & Sailingfast UKLA ILCA7 Spring Qualifier 2 at the WPNSA

by Seb Kempe 23 Mar 2023 07:15 GMT 18-19 March 2023

The UKLA Qualifiers are grouped into two; three in the spring and three in the autumn. In an attempt to avoid school exams, holidays and international fixtures these are the periods in the season that have the least clashes. 156 ILCA competitors made their way to WPNSA for the second spring qualifier.

The second ILCA7 qualifier of the year was met on the first day with light winds. It was good that the first day schedule started a bit later as this allowed the conditions to build slightly before the fleet launched. The RC did an excellent job getting 3 races completed in the ILCA7 fleet in the light conditions.

First race was light and shifty. Those who started from the right hand side of the course managed to have an easier time on the first beat. Whereas the second beat showed more promise from left hand shifts.

The second race saw more pressure from the right hand side of the race track however, the wind predominantly shifted to the left. In the end it was the right hand side of the first beat that paid off because pressure beats shift in light winds. On the downwind however it was beneficial to be on the right hand side of the fleet looking downwind.

The final race of the day saw a close finish between the top four boats with all boats near each other at the final gate mark. This was caused by light winds throughout the race with random shifts. Nick Welbourn finished the day with a near perfect 1,2,1. Jack Graham-Troll 3,3,2 and Seb Kempe 5,1,3. Terry Hacker and Angus Kemp and James Curtis (banking a 2nd in the first race) also did well.

Sunday promised more wind, and the fleet was released out into the bay to sail in a building 12-18 knot wind which was an excellent reward following the day before.

I got the day started well in the first race, whereas the overnight leader, Nick Welbourne, carded his drop race of the regatta (8th). I played the left hand side of the track on the first upwind because I believed that the pressure was more consistent from that side despite there being a massive right shift right off the start. This race ended up being a very flukey and in my opinion borderline abandon-able race. However, by staying bold to the left hand side of the course I managed to overtake a few boats and come home with the win.

The second race was a lot more stable with the wind more out of the west. This came with more pressure as well. The predominant shift in the race was a left shift however a few boats found good pressure and a big shift from the right. This caused a pretty close fleet at the top of the course. At the top of the downwind leg the left hand side did not work but the right was the way to go. However, as you moved downwind the left hand side gained more pressure and it was the obvious way to go.

The last race of the day the field was again very close however much like the second race it was all about the shift. This was more again on the left hand side of the track whereas the right experienced a lot less shifts then it did in race 2.

Congratulations to Nick Welbourn - for a clear win, Seb Kempe 2nd - for very consistent results, James Foster 3rd - for pulling it back at the last minute and Jack Graham-Troll for keeping it together in spite of the stronger wind in the last 2 races.

I would like to thank the RC, volunteers, and class members along with fellow competitors for an enjoyable weekend of racing.

Thanks to Noble Marine and Sailingfast as primary sponsors of the weekend and Rooster and Ovington Boats for sponsoring the qualifiers:

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubAge GroupR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1219907Nick WelbournHykeham SCA121‑8239
2220733Sebastian KempeRoyal Bermuda Yacht Club RHSU19‑51313513
3212907James FosterPoole YCA74‑1551118
4214007Jack Graham‑TrollRoyal Lymington Yacht ClubU1933265‑1419
5221503Terry HackerAldeburgh YCU2146426‑1722
6218435Charlie SouthEmsworth Sailing Club / Stokes Bay SailiU21814‑1834231
7218434Angus Kemp A695‑177633
8219812Tom MitchellRoyal Tay Yacht ClubU211086‑158739
9217871Mark LyttleQueen Mary SCGM127107‑13440
10204644Stuart HudsonKeyhaven YCGM1851349(DNC)49
11215421Willam SunderlandDraycote WaterU219101213‑19852
12219655Edward BakerChew Valley Lake SCU21‑1512812121155
13220821Archie WrightStokes Bay SCU19‑17161416111067
14219069Finlay TulettDalgety Bay Sailing ClubU2116(DSQ)91916969
15222540George ColquittWest Kirby SCU19131517(UFD)101570
16219665James CurtisBosham Sailing ClubU192137(DNC)DNCDNC74
17216611Adrian LynhamStokes Bay SCM(UFD)181611141978
18219660Rhys Powell U21141719‑20171279
19216767Llion MorrisLlandudno SC / Rydal Penrhos SchoolU1920‑232110181382
20214637Ewan McAnally U21111111(DNC)DNCDNC85
21216704Finn SinclairNeyland YCU19(UFD)20259212095
22216378Matthew StubbinsLlandudno SCU1921‑222214201895
23218700Andy FoxLeigh & Lowton S C.GM2221‑2421151695
24191330Robert AnsteyFrensham Pond SCGM1919202223(DNC)103
25218932Peter Washington U1923‑2423182221107

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