Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

2025 ILCA UK National Open 2 at the WPNSA - ILCA 6 fleet report

by Archie Munro-Price & ILCA UK 28 Mar 18:58 GMT 22-23 March 2025

The second National Open of 2025 for the ILCA 6 fleet took place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), drawing sailors from across the UK, including competitors from as far as Scotland.

The event saw a wide variety of sailors, from beginners testing their skills to athletes from the British Sailing Team. The fleet was an impressive 80 boats, which also led to a very long start line, as visible on the online tracking system.

Day 1

Day 1 greeted competitors with blue skies and a south-easterly gradient breeze of around 8 knots, the race committee opted to race in the bay, where the breeze remained consistent, though there was a small underlying swell.

Race 1: The race got off to a rocky start with several recalls due to the committee bias start line, which made it easier for sailors to be OCS (On Course Side). Once under way, the right-hand side of the course emerged as the favoured side, with more pressure and a small bend on approach. Molly Sacker dominated the race, breaking away from the tightly packed group at the first mark and maintaining the lead throughout. Daisy Collingridge followed in second, with Matilda Nicholls securing third.

Race 2: The second race mirrored the first, with the right-hand side again providing the best advantage. However, it was Matilda Nicholls who led the charge this time, with Archie Munro-Price in close pursuit. After a thrilling final downwind leg, Molly Sacker finished in third, showing great speed and determination.

Race 3: Pre-start conditions saw an unexpected left shift, which prompted many sailors to try starting at the pin end. Unfortunately, this tactic backfired, as the wind quickly returned to the right, leaving those on the left side struggling. The race was largely dominated by youth sailors, with Archie Munro-Price breaking away to take the win. Freddie Sunderland finished in second, followed by Thomas Bates in third.

Day 2

Day 2 brought completely different weather conditions, with a strong, cold northerly breeze filling in. Racing in the harbour was tricky, as the breeze remained unstable and dropped in strength throughout the day.

Race 1: A heavily biased port start line defined the first race of the day. Big shifts on the second upwind leg helped Jon Emmett rocket back into contention, but after a strong downwind leg, it was Matilda Nicholls who took the lead, followed by Jon Emmett in second and Leo Yates in third. Top ten performances in this race also came from Nathan Russell, Poppy Luxton, Lewis Bacon and Samson Cross.

Race 2: Race two proved to be just as shifty, with two distinct bands of pressure - one on the left and a more central right band. The fleet split early, but as the left band moved in at the top, it allowed the left group to cross ahead. Matilda Nicholls took her second victory of the day, followed by Toby Waggett in second and Archie Munro-Price in third.

Race 3: The final race of the day was marked by a significant wind hole in the middle of the course, trapping several sailors. Leo Yates led the race from the start, with Freddie Sunderland and Matilda Nicholls hot on his heels.

The 2025 ILCA 6 National Open 2 proved to be an event with two very different conditions, from the stable breezes of Day 1 to the unpredictable shifts of Day 2. Sailors needed to adapt to the different conditions and show consistency to success in this regatta.

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:

PosNatSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6PenPts
1stGBR225217Matilda NichollsAldeburgh Yacht Club31‑6113 9
2ndGBR226628Archie Munro‑PriceCastle Cove Sailing Club421‑1336 16
3rdGBR216115Jon EmmettCastle Cove Sailing Club64526‑18 23
4thGBR221318Toby WaggettDerwent Reservoir Sailing Club561052‑28 28
5thGBR224969Freddie SunderlandDraycote Water‑1511214102 39
6thGBR221490Leo YatesIsland Barn SC95‑274221 41
7thGBR224954Olly MayoYarmouth SC7‑171631312 51
8thGBR223957Poppy LuxtonRestronguet SC1099718(BFD) 53
9thGBR221327Tom RawlingsLyme Regis Sailing Club12157(BFD)516 55
10thGBR225346Coco BarrettIsland Barn Reservoir SC13108‑231119 61
11thGBR212405Tom HakesParkstone Yacht Club‑25132410911 67
12thGBR221854Charlotte VideloFrensham Pond SC / Stokes Bay SC1121‑282745 68
13thGBR222541Ralph MustoCorinthian Otters / Royal Hospital Schoo167‑25201610 69
14thGBR214134Amelie HackerAldeburgh YC2620‑331177 71
15thGBR223088Iris SingletonDraycote Water SC824‑3412821 73
16thGBR224336Nathan RussellRHYC2214‑2961517 74
17thGBR224685Lewis BaconLeigh and Lowton‑3123228274 84
18thGBR222775Samson CrossShoreham(BFD)181792125 90
19thHKG221934Samuel Tan‑HardyRoyal Hospital School202826‑35148 96
20thGBR223072Cameron McDaidLargs Sailing Club212211‑302022 96
21stGBR224541Megan ThomsonIsland Barn Reservoir Sailing Club231919‑332415 100
22ndGBR215383Thomas BatesYorkshire Dales SC14323(BFD)1944 112
23rdGBR218860Jon GayLochaber Yacht Club3227143230‑47 135
24thGBR213140Katherine GunnNotts County SC / Draycote Academy‑423718223326 136
25thGBR217000Gretel HainesGurnard Sailing Club2933‑51153232 141
26thGBR220097Oscar BartlettHayling Island34254617‑4820 142
27thGBR219391Ruairi HerringtonLargs Sailing Club45(BFD)4024259 143
28thGBR226633Freddie MaclavertyRWBSWC(BFD)16BFD161224 149
29thCHI199268Maria Jose Poncell MaurinCNPR3629‑393717273149
30thGBR225211Billy MorrisDelph Sailing Club3038‑45292923 149
31stGBR223085Felicity AngellDraycote Water Sailing Club40‑4213254037 155
32ndGBR225216Carys AttwellRutland SC1712(DNC)1934DNC 163
33rdGBR224699Lauren AttwellRutland SC3730‑48283538 168
34thGBR219358Dan PowellCardiff Bay YC‑604812403831 169
35thGBR151111Molly SackerBOSSC134(DNC)DNCDNC 170
36thGBR222555Max HuntWhitstable YC2436551839(DNC) 172
37thGBR212233Amelia NuttallNeyland Yacht Club52‑5738215714 182
38thGBR211078Jessica PowellDraycote Water Sailing Club‑463936413729 182
39thGBR212943Monty DesforgesGuernsey Yacht Club‑444415444339 185
40thGBR224683Finlay CochraneYorkshire Dales434343(BFD)2333 185
41stGBR219090Corneille LeprinceKing George Sailing Club33DNE2336‑4713 186
42ndGBR176848Nathan ClarkWaveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club4135‑53483135 190
43rdGBR223826Sara GoujonHunts Sailing Club1849(BFD)346130 192
44thGBR221584Daisy CollingridgeWaldringfield SC2821(DNC)DNCDNC 193
45thGBR201872Hugh AndrewsBlackwater SC1926‑47DNE2641 193
46thGBR218986William BrownIsland Barn Reservoir Sailing Club35472043‑5453 198
47thGBR223089Jessica WatsonGuernsey Yacht Club2734(BFD)424950 202
48thGBR221319Edward Roberts‑StrawCBYC‑575332514434 214
49thGBR221793Ellie ThwaitesNorwich School4751523828(BFD) 216
50thGBR213540Lucas SymonsIsland Barn Reservoir Sailing Club50‑5537533640 216
51stGBR225661Flo ToveyMumbles YC / TATA3840492665(BFD) 218
52ndGBR213052Isla ToddIsland Barn Reservoir SC535244‑554245 236
53rdGBR221789Tate KumpItchenor283141DNE(BFD)56 237
54thGBR226295Ethan WildRipon Sailing Club‑635659394143 238
55thGBR218865Maia DelinWPNSA5141653153(BFD) 241
56thGBR221800Theo WhiterStarcross YC58‑7231574651 243
57thGBR216298Steffan WilliamsNew Quay Yacht Club54465056‑5942 248
58thGBR221813Amelia GilboyPaignton sailing club59613045(BFD)54 249
59thGBR218940Christopher KilshawReading Sailing Club39(DNC)58495061 257
60thGBR185702Eva FarnellLargs Sailing Club(BFD)6666464536 259
61stGBR184840Lottie EyrePoole YC485442‑656459 267
62ndGBR223452Kieran VanhoutteEly Sailing Club55‑6362505548 270
63rdGBR167590Keali RhodesDraycote sailing club‑717057475146 271
64thGBR206428Sebastian SittonWarsash Sailing Club61593554‑7063 272
65thGBR210220Mortimer Mastindabchicks67455658‑7155 281
66thGBR210232William Le GriceWarsash SC686064(BFD)5249 293
67thGBR204005Max Guiguet‑BelcherKGSC6558(BFD)525860 293
68thGBR207082Louis VossParkstone YC‑645061646358 296
69thCAY221575Lyndon PickeringRoyal Hospital School56645460‑7369 303
70thGBR213611Tristan SomervilleHelensburgh‑706260636862 315
71stGBR198531Louie CornellFelpham sailing club49‑7669617664 319
72ndGBR204535Natasha BakerTata Steel sailing club‑756870626752 319
73rdGBR199777Nicholas O'Doherty‑VeruBough Beech sailing club‑777563675668 329
74thGBR219798Will TaylorDelph SC6974(DNC)596070 332
75thGBR222765Wilf ToveyMumbles / TATA‑746972686957 335
76thGBR185722Finlay ToddIsland Barn Reservoir SC66677369‑7565 340
77thGBR85271Harry BaldwinKing George SC‑737167716666 341
78thGBR221801Mathilde PhillippsSnettisham Beach626571(BFD)62BFD3344
79thGBR216373Jack WrightLlandegfedd72736870‑7467 350
80thGBR219908Joseph SamuelKing George Sailing Club76‑7774667271 359

Related Articles

ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George SC
Sailing, skills, and sunshine - thanks to SailingFast and Wildwind King George Sailing Club played host to an ILCA Women's Coaching Programme, welcoming sixteen female sailors from as far away as Lancashire and East Anglia ranging from 14 year olds to, err, ladies of a certain age, all excited to learn together. Posted on 20 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
ILCA Women's Coaching Programme goes international
Sailors aged age 14 - 60 enjoyed a great week in Greece Maartje van Dam, Chief Instructor at Wildwind explained, "We have sponsored the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme in the UK from the beginning and saw the opportunity to offer a whole week of coaching with our first Women's ILCA Clinic at Wildwind. Posted on 16 May
Canada at Women ILCA 6 & Men ILCA 7 Worlds Day 4
No race again today, for the fourth day in a row No race again today, for the fourth day in a row . Posted on 15 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 4
Wind yet to arrive, fog prevails Heavy fog returned from the south, choking off what little wind remained. At 11:17 a.m., AP over H was hoisted. The fleet was towed back to shore once again, for yet another stretch of waiting. Posted on 15 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May