UKLA Open & National Championships 2023 - One month to go
by Guy Noble 17 Jul 2023 13:56 BST
20-25 August 2023
UKLA Open & National Championships 2023 © Shaun Roster
The UKLA Open & National Championships 2023 at Hayling Island Sailing Club are just one month away. With entries now fast approaching 200 it's time to look more closely at just what the sailors, their friends and families will experience at this wonderful venue... and if you haven't entered yet read on.
On The Water
Of course this is the most hotly contested National Championships in the UK but this year many of the British Sailing Team will be on international duty. So in all fleets we could see some surprises. Six days of racing was chosen so competitors in flighted fleets would do several races to find fare groupings for gold and silver fleets. Six days of high quality racing will also provide the best chance for a range of conditions. So how you do over the week will be a great way to gauge your racing ability and gain some valuable racing experience.
With courses in the Hayling Bay Area and only two races a day the racing can be moved to the best time for wind and tide conditions. It also allows for some serious socialising.
Off The Water
This year UKLA are creating a sponsors hub. A group of Marquees and trailers will form a circle of entertainment and services. Sponsors will be there to chat, display prizes, help with boat issues and provide replacements for broken kit. We have eight great sponsors this year (we may have a surprise sponsor joining last minute!):
Each of the days will have a headline sponsor. Several are providing some really wonderful prizes. Sailingfast are supplying each competitor with an event tee shirt - as you can image 200+ tees don't come cheap and this is a great way to remember the event. Duncan has been one of UKLA's most loyal sponsors and a good friend to many in the fleet.
Rooster join us this year. Rooster, Steve Cockerill and the ILCA/Laser are inextricably connected. Where would we all be without Steve and Rooster? They are supplying dozens of prizes but for their day an extra special prize - a complete Rooster sailing outfit - head to toe.
The UK, yes it's a UK company, has a truly world beating boat builder in Ovington Boats. Of course they are a business but I know the team at Ovington are super proud of their ILCAs and want to encourage ILCA racing. They are going to give away a fully rigged boat... yes that's right, the rig of your choice, an all singing all dancing brand new boat! There's more coming from our sponsors but for these goodies you'll have to be there in person. UKLA will be making more announcements soon.
Entertainment, Race Clinics and Mentoring
Before racing each day there will be race clinics (held in the Hub). These will give advice on a range of subjects and we encourage you to ask questions!
The mentoring was such a success last year it has been expanded. The event guide will give more details of how to sign up.
Soon after racing finishes there will be daily discussions with individuals from the fleets, prize-giving and prize draws. The days will be rounded off with some fun entertainment devised by each fleet - these 'frolics' will probably be mad but always fun... more on these in the event guide but for now let's just say bongos bingo, Rockioki, jelly wrestling (that may just be a rumour).
On the opening night there will be free Pizza courtesy of out newest sponsor PropVerse.net. Some of you know David Surkov from the qualifiers and UKLA training, and his very noticeable sail. We are doing an article on him in a few days. But we should all thank this lovely Ukrainian guy for supporting the event.
On the penultimate evening - Ovington Day (Thursday) there will be a barbecue (included in you entry fee) and DJ Covell will bang out some tunes into the open air from the balcony... so a great week is planned.
Enter now at ilca.uk