Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Noble Marine & Sailingfast ILCA 7 Autumn Qualifier (Q6) at Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

by Micky Beckett 27 Oct 2023 11:57 BST 21-22 October 2023
Noble Marine & Sailingfast ILCA 7 Autumn Qualifier (Q6) at Weymouth © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

In case anyone forgot this was the final qualifier of the year, a small downpour took place just as the everyone launched and headed out into Weymouth Bay, dampening neoprene but never enthusiasm. The breeze filled in from the North, at first in a moderate fashion but later in a fairly hefty way, with a steady 20kts for races 1 and 2 to give a nice boat-handling test.

Sam Whaley was quick out the blocks, a fast start in race 1 allowed him to lead the whole way round. Micky Beckett chased...too little too late, Sam didn't break a sweat. Tom Mitchell put in a very good performance to take 8th Place.

The next race saw Dan Whitely lead, again with Micky chasing. The shifts up the second beat were hard to read so each sailor played their hand at the bottom of the beat, with Dan losing his lead at the top of the beat. Sam came in 3rd.

The final race took place in a fading breeze and dimming light, again with Sam and Micky doing their best impression of a match race, always close enough to exchange pleasantries. Norman Struthers came in third, Ben Flower's rig falling down made him a notable absence. Oliver Allen-Wilcox had a good final race to take 6th.

Day 2 was a far shorter affair, with a freight ship so selfishly parked in the middle of the harbour the RC was compelled to set short races in the top half of the harbour. The breeze was a moderate SW with clear skies, as good as any day that October can offer. The flatter water made for races much more about the shifts and good positioning.

Both races 1 and 2 took similar form, with Sam and Micky taking it in turn to lead and chase their way around the front. Unfortunately for Sam he wasn't able to hold the lead till the end of either race, after which point the gentlemen's agreement to miss the last race was deployed. With the qualifier being sandwiched between two large weeks training, excuses were made and they sailed in. Dan misunderstood the agreement and missed the entire Sunday.

A great weekend's racing was enjoyed by all, Micky finished 1st with Sam in 2nd, both Norman and Alistair Brown showed a great ability to find good shifts and do wise racing, to finish 3rd and 4th respectively whilst only separated by a point.

During the weekend there were several stand out performances from several sailors in a strong fleet. Ben Flower took the final race win, James Foster was never out the top 7 and Freddie Howarth kept things consistent to finish in the top 10. Hats off to the three masters, David Surkov, Alex Davey and Roger Hakes who took part.

A huge thank you from the ILCA 7 sailors to the team of volunteers and the RO who consistently give up their time for us to have fun.

Also we must thank UKLA's terrific sponsors for their continuing support at the qualifiers. Many have been supporting us over many years through difficult times... thank you. Noble Marine, Ovington, Sailingfast and Rooster.

Overall Results:

PosNatSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1GBR210139Michael BeckettSolva SC21111(DNC)6
2GBR223102Sam WhaleySwanage SC13242(DNC)12
3CAN166111Norman StruthersStokes Bay SC4‑6353318
4GBR223070Alastair BrownGreat Moor SC74‑824219
5GBR212907James FosterPoole YC5‑7535422
6CAN211177Ben Flower 65(DNC)712131
7GBR219907Nick WelbournHykeham SC9‑10766634
8GBR221509Oliver Allen‑WilcoxChew Valley SC / Parkstone Yacht Club1186‑179539
9GBR219812Tom MitchellRoyal Tay Yacht Club811910‑14745
10GBR220776Freddie HowarthParkstone YC14‑1510127851
11GBR219655Edward BakerChew Valley Lake SC151211911‑1858
12GBR214637Ewan McAnally 12‑171311151364
13GBR221578Daniel WhiteleyPort Dinorwic SC324(DNC)DNCDNC69
14GBR219069Finlay TulettDalgety Bay Sailing Club17‑19198101670
15GBR222227Angus KempThe Poole yacht club1091214(DNC)DNC75
16GBR211324Rhys JonesCardiff YC‑23201616131075
17GBR222548Roger HakesParkstone Yacht Club211314‑22161175
18GBR222231Josh LyttleQueen Mary SC‑2018201317977
19GBR215835Tim EvansGrafham Water SC16161518‑191479
20GBR216239Jamie BlakeGreat Moor SC‑25251715211290
21GBR215612James KnightDraycote Water SC2614181918(DNC)95
22UKR218279David SurkovQueen Mary SC1922‑23232019103
23GBR209996Alex DaveyRoyal Harwich YC‑242421202417106
24GBR216378Matthew StubbinsLlandudno SC2223‑24242220111
25GBR219665James CurtisBosham Sailing Club(DNC)DNCDNCUFD815113
26GBR213545George SunderlandDraycote Water(RET)2622212321113
27 207699Callum Wyper 132125(DNC)DNCDNC119
28GBR221503Terry HackerAldeburgh YC18(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC138
29 219895James Percival‑CookeNorfolk Broads YC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC150

Related Articles

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
RCIYC Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta
Superb conditions were the order of the day in Jersey Superb conditions were the order of the day for the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club's Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta held in St Aubin's Bay over Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May. Posted on 22 May
ILCA 7 Spanish National Championship
Marc O'Connor takes the victory in Ibiza The final day of the Spanish ILCA 7 Class Championship concluded with three more races completed in a thrilling finish, bringing the total to ten valid races over the four days of competition. Posted on 19 May
Kai Marks Dasent Sponsored Sail Fundraiser
Raising money for Hurricane-Affected Students from Union Island Secondary School Young Sailor Kai Marks Dasent Sails from St. Vincent to Mustique to Launch Fundraising Campaign for Hurricane-Affected Students from Union Island Secondary School and Vincy Sailing Team. Posted on 19 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