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ILCA 4 South and South West Regional Junior Championships at the WPNSA

by Seb Sitton 2 Jul 2024 06:58 BST 22-23 June 2024
ILCA 4s at the South & South West Regional Junior Championship © Phil Rydin-Orwin

Eleven ILCA4 sailors entered the South and South West Regional Junior Championships, held at the iconic Weymouth venue.

Known for a great atmosphere and fun, this annual regional championship was no different. For many including myself, this event was our first ILCA4 race. I think we all studied the Sailing Instructions (SIs) and course card with like never before because we knew there would be a lot of boats around the start.

Day One

The first day presented a spectrum of wind conditions, keeping us on our toes. The morning began with gentle 8-knot breezes, but by afternoon, gusts of up to 24 knots had us sailing down some great waves. Our start followed the Topper 5.3 fleet, but the well-designed course meant we hardly noticed the other classes. We completed the four races as planned and headed in.

Amelia Gilboy led the pack by the end of the day, tying in points with Jasmine Pillon-Simpson. I secured third place, feeling a sense of progression with each race.

Day Two

Day two started with a two-hour postponement, but our patience was rewarded as we finally launched into a steady 12-knot breeze. We aimed to complete four races but managed three due to shifting wind conditions. The second race was particularly tricky, with strategic shifts in wind direction making all the difference. Unfortunately, equipment issues during the last race caused me to lose my overnight position.

Despite the challenges, Jasmine Pillon-Simpson clinched first place with three excellent wins, followed by Amelia Gilboy in second and Amelia Smith in third. I finished as the top boy, securing fourth place overall.

Looking Ahead

The event was a steep learning curve for most of us, given it was our first experience of ILCA4 racing. The sportsmanship among sailors were really noticeable and contributed to a really positive event. I'm looking forward to my first ILCA Grand Prix but know I've got to put some practice in before then.

A heartfelt thank you to WPNSA and the class associations for organising such an excellent event.

Overall Results:

PosRegionSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1S219091Jasmine Pillon‑SimpsonHayling Island SC12‑5312110
2SW221813Amelia GilboyPaignton SC/Saltash SC243135‑818
3SW210618Amelia SmithParkstone YC354‑943221
4S206428Seb SittonWarsash SC761226‑1124
5SW221852Ollie RawlingsLyme Regis SC‑872471526
6S222485Charles WoodWarsash SC41‑9684427
7SW205316Devon GreenPoole YC63‑8867333
8S190718William Le GriceWarsash SC58759‑11741
9S20097Tobias OwenWhitefriars SC9967‑108948
10SW207082Louis VossParkstone YC(DNC [12])DNC [12]DNC [12]DNC [12]59656
11S204218Daniel SadlerWhitefriars SC10101010‑11101060

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