ILCA 7 Rooster / Noble Marine Qualifier 5 at the WPNSA

by ILCAUK 25 Oct 2024 14:06 BST 19-20 October 2024

Of the 170 entries, 41 ILCA 7s registered for the ILCA UK Qualifier 5 at WPNSA, the competitors were all set for an exciting weekend of racing. However, with Sunday's forecast predicting gusts of up to 50 knots, it was clear Saturday would likely be the only day of racing.

In response to the forecast, the Race Committee scheduled 4 races for Day 1 in Portland Harbour. Fortunately, the sailors were treated to clear skies and a lovely breeze of 8-14 knots. The wind, starting from a WNW direction, ensured this wouldn't be tour typical "smash left" day, offering plenty of opportunities and tight racing across the fleet.

Race 1 - saw Micky Beckett take the win, Ewan McMahon 2nd and Elliot Hanson 3rd.
Race 2 had Finley Dickinson and Tim Evans black flagged. Arthur Farley 1st, Ewan McMahon 2nd and Luke Anstey 3rd. Sam Grayton had his best race of the day with an 8th.
Race 3 - Elliot Hanson 1st, Sebastian Kempe 2nd and James Foster 3rd.
Race 4 - Alastair Brown 1st, Eillot Hanson 2nd and James Juhasz 3rd.

Elliot Hanson

Today we did 4 races in the harbour in a backing breeze which was really tricky. I'm struggling to remember a day in the harbour as challenging - often in the autumn, when the water is still quite warm and the air moves over, it can be deceptive, but we also had a 30 degrees left shift (which was forecast) and therefore we had to change the strategy in every race. But what we had in the ILCA7 fleet was one shift first beats - this meant that overtaking was difficult. Especially in flat water 8 to 10 knots and when boat speeds are so similar. You could argue that 270°/280°the right is good then if it goes to 250° /260° then it's the left. Sure, it certainly wasn't straightforward.

(taken from Jon Emmett's video interview)

A big thank you goes out to all ILCAuk's sponsors and a special mention to Rooster and Noble Marine who sponsored the weekend's racing.

Overall Results:

Pos	Nat	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	Pts
1st	GBR	225205	Elliot Hanson	Redesmere SC	3	‑7	1	2	6
2nd		216101	Ewan McMahon		2	2	6	‑9	10
3rd	GBR	211119	James Percival‑Cooke	Norfolk Broads YC	‑7	5	4	4	13
4th	GBR	223070	Alastair Brown	Great Moor SC	5	‑11	8	1	14
5th	BER	223238	Sebastian Kempe	Royal Bermuda YC	6	9	2	‑20	17
6th	CAN	217718	James Juhasz	Bronte Harbour Yacht Club	11	‑14	5	3	19
7th	GBR	221111	Arthur Farley	BHYC	9	1	‑14	10	20
8th	GBR	210139	Michael Beckett	Solva SC	1	12	9	(RET)	22
9th	IRL	222547	Tom Coulter	East Antrim Boat Club	‑28	4	13	5	22
10th	GBR	224700	Kai Wolgram	Llyn Brenig SC	4	13	10	‑23	27
11th		261126	Ben Flower	Paignton SC	8	‑20	11	8	27
12th	GBR	216212	Christopher Marsh	Royal Hospital School	‑14	6	12	12	30
13th	GBR	221798	Luke Anstey	Frensham Pond SC / Stokes Bay SC	‑22	3	22	7	32
14th	GBR	221582	Finley Dickinson	Royal Southern Yacht Club/ WPNSA	12	(BFD)	7	13	32
15th	GBR	212907	James Foster	Poole YC	‑18	17	3	17	37
16th	GBR	221509	Oliver Allen‑Wilcox	Chew Valley SC / Parkstone Yacht Club	16	15	‑17	6	37
17th	GBR	224740	Joe Rowe	Draycote Academy	10	‑28	18	21	49
18th	GBR	219665	James Curtis	Bosham Sailing Club	17	‑18	15	18	50
19th	IRL	223303	Fiachra Mcdonnell	RSGYC	15	16	20	‑26	51
20th	GBR	224297	Sam Grayton	Notts County SC	24	8	21	‑25	53
21st	GBR	224545	Alfie Noel	Stokes Bay SC	‑29	10	27	16	53
22nd	GBR	224548	Robin Phipps	Parkstone Yacht Club	23	22	‑29	11	56
23rd	GBR	219907	Nick Welbourn	Hykeham SC	13	21	‑23	22	56
24th	GBR	219069	Finlay Tulett	Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust	‑35	29	26	14	69
25th	GBR	220776	Freddie Howarth	Parkstone YC	‑33	26	30	15	71
26th	GBR	215835	Tim Evans	Grafham Water SC	20	(BFD)	32	19	71
27th	GBR	221580	Josh Morgan	Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club	‑31	25	16	31	72
28th	HKG	209950	Wai Chak Tsui	Hong Kong Sports Institute	30	24	19	‑33	73
29th	GBR	223460	Henry Redmond	Covenham SC	21	23	31	‑34	75
30th	GBR	220821	Archie Wright	Stokes Bay SC	27	19	‑36	30	76
31st	GBR	219655	Edward Baker	Chew Valley Lake SC	26	‑27	25	27	78
32nd	GBR	214007	Jack Graham‑Troll	Royal Lymington Yacht Club	25	‑32	24	32	81
33rd	GBR	219658	Will Dyson	Delph SC	32	‑34	34	24	90
34th	GBR	211324	Rhys Jones	Cardiff YC	‑41	36	33	28	97
35th	GBR	215421	Willam Sunderland	Draycote Water	‑38	33	28	36	97
36th	GBR	216239	Jamie Blake	Great Moor SC	‑39	31	37	29	97
37th	GBR	219660	Rhys Powell		34	30	35	‑37	99
38th		216995	Matteo Bertacchi		19	(RET)	DNC	DNC	103
39th	GBR	202316	Harry Newton	Whitstable YC	‑40	35	39	35	109
40th	GBR	221330	Jon Nuttall	Neyland Yacht Club	36	37	‑40	38	111
41st	GBR	218700	Andy Fox	Leigh & Lowton S C.	37	38	38	‑39	113