2025 ILCA UK National Open 2 at the WPNSA - ILCA 7 fleet report
by Alfie Noel & ILCA UK 28 Mar 17:24 GMT
22-23 March 2025
The second 2025 ILCA UK National Open (formerly known as the Qualifiers) commenced last weekend at WPNSA with the Rooster/Noble Marine Open 2, attracting another impressive entry of nearly 160 boats.
The ILCA 7 fleet of 29 boats, were met with considerably warmer temperatures compared to the previous weekend. Weymouth Bay delivered a steady easterly breeze ranging between 5 and 15 knots along with some sea state. This meant boatspeed was key as well as making the most of any shifts coming down the course.
Elliot Hanson showed the rest of the fleet how it's meant to be done, scoring 3 bullets, with James Foster in second. Hamish Collingridge led the competitive U21 fleet overnight in 4th position overall.
The second day was raced in the harbour and saw a dying 15 knot breeze from the north, meaning the emphasis was now on decision making rather than speed. Elliot Hanson continued his momentum from day 1, winning the event with a race to spare. James Foster took second place with an impressive set of results. The last spot on the podium went to Alfie Noel who was also 1st U19. Mark Lyttle was first master (excluding Elliot) and Hamish Collingridge first U21, picking up a bullet in the final race.
The race committee delivered a highly professional and efficiently executed weekend of top-tier racing, despite the challenging conditions. The strong winds tested sailors' endurance and boat-handling skills, making for an exciting regatta. A huge thank you to the organisers, race committee, WPNSA, and volunteers for running such a fantastic event. With Trac Trac providing race tracking for the ILCA 4 and 7s this weekend (the ILCA 6 will have tracking next weekend), the season has started in style—offering valuable learning experiences for all competitors.
Thanks also to the event sponsors, particularly Rooster for their support and Noble Marine as both the series and class sponsor.
Series and Event Sponsors: Noble Marine, Sailingfast, Rooster, Ovington Boats, Trac Trac/Blue Sky, Tideway Wealth.
Interviews with Competitors on the ILCA UK Facebook Page
TracTrac Race Tracking
Overall Results:
| Pos | Nat | Sail No | Helm | Club | Age | Category | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR | 226639 | Elliot Hanson | Redesmere SC | 31 | AM | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | (DNC) | 7 |
| 2nd | GBR | 212907 | James Foster | | 23 | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | (DNC) | 12 |
| 3rd | GBR | 224545 | Alfie Noel | Warsash SC | 18 | U19 | 3 | 5 | ‑12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| 4th | GBR | 221631 | Hamish Collingridge | Waldringfield SC | 19 | U21 | 4 | 7 | 5 | ‑9 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| 5th | GBR | 224297 | Sam Grayton | Notts County SC | 18 | U19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 3 | ‑13 | 3 | 25 |
| 6th | GBR | 224740 | Joe Rowe | Draycote water sc | 19 | U21 | 7 | ‑9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 31 |
| 7th | GBR | 221505 | Kai Wolgram | Llyn Brenig SC | 21 | A | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | (DNC) | 32 |
| 8th | GBR | 221798 | Luke Anstey | Frensham Pond SC / Stokes Bay SC | 22 | A | 5 | 8 | 6 | ‑11 | 7 | 6 | 32 |
| 9th | GBR | 223101 | Ewan McAnally | Stokes Bay Sailing Club | 22 | A | ‑11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 44 |
| 10th | GBR | 224548 | Robin Phipps | Parkstone Yacht Club | 19 | U21 | 8 | 4 | 16 | (DNC) | 9 | 8 | 45 |
| 11th | GBR | 217871 | Mark Lyttle | Queen Mary SC | 62 | GM | ‑14 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 50 |
| 12th | GBR | 221509 | Oliver Allen‑Wilcox | Chew Valley SC / Parkstone Yacht Club | 21 | A | 9 | 14 | 2 | (UFD) | 4 | UFD | 59 |
| 13th | GBR | 219665 | James Curtis | Bosham Sailing Club | 20 | U21 | 13 | (BFD) | 11 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 60 |
| 14th | GBR | 219069 | Finlay Tulett | Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust | 22 | A | 12 | 13 | ‑17 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 62 |
| 15th | GBR | 222231 | Josh Lyttle | Queen Mary SC | 19 | U21 | ‑17 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 62 |
| 16th | HKG | 209950 | Wai Chak Tsui | Hong Kong Sports Institute | 18 | U19 | ‑19 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 67 |
| 17th | GBR | 213640 | Andy Le Grice | Warsash SC | 52 | M | 15 | 16 | ‑18 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 72 |
| 18th | GBR | 220821 | Archie Wright | Stokes Bay SC | 20 | U21 | 18 | (BFD) | 14 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 84 |
| 19th | GBR | 223061 | Neil Peters | Pevensey Bay SC | 60 | GM | 16 | 15 | 19 | 17 | ‑28 | 21 | 88 |
| 20th | GBR | 202316 | Harry Newton | Whitstable YC | 22 | A | 21 | 19 | 20 | ‑26 | 19 | 17 | 96 |
| 21st | GBR | 219658 | Will Dyson | Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club | 19 | U21 | 20 | ‑22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 99 |
| 22nd | GBR | 177453 | Simon Odling | Draycote Water SC | 45 | M | 23 | 24 | ‑25 | 21 | 23 | 15 | 106 |
| 23rd | GBR | 216543 | Marcellus Pryor | Draycote Water Sailing Club | 57 | GM | ‑28 | 26 | 28 | 18 | 22 | 14 | 108 |
| 24th | GBR | 221330 | Jon Nuttall | Neyland Yacht Club | 47 | M | 22 | 18 | 24 | 24 | ‑27 | 20 | 108 |
| 25th | GBR | 218700 | Andy Fox | Leigh & Lowton S C. | 61 | GM | ‑24 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 108 |
| 26th | UKR | 216369 | David Surkov | Queen Mary SC | 49 | M | ‑26 | 20 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 18 | 112 |
| 27th | GBR | 170264 | Colin Dengate | Pennine Sailing Club | 44 | AM | 25 | 21 | 21 | 22 | ‑26 | 23 | 112 |
| 28th | GBR | 203527 | Felipe Garcia | King George Sailing Club | 17 | U19 | ‑27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 125 |
| 29th | GBR | 215379 | Toby Richardson | Chipstead Sailing Club | 19 | U21 | ‑29 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 137 |