ILCA UK Rooster National Open at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - ILCA 4

Rooster ILCA 4 National Open at Weymouth © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The second event of the 2026 ILCA 4 National Open, held at WPNSA, delivered an excellent weekend of highly competitive racing in classic light-wind conditions. With a strong fleet of 66 sailors and six races completed, the regatta highlighted both the depth of talent and the impressive standard developing across the ILCA 4 class.

Conditions across the weekend were light, ranging from complete glass on the water to a maximum gust of 13 knots, predominantly from the south-west. Success came down to finding pressure and securing clear air off the start line. In almost every race, the top ten were those who had a good start; the pressure difference between the front and back of the fleet was significant due to the long wind shadows created in the light winds.

I would like to congratulate the race committee, who did a superb job managing the tricky conditions, delivering a full six-race series that ensured a fair and competitive regatta. Their efforts, alongside the safety crews and mark layers, were instrumental in keeping the event running smoothly and safely. Racing on Sunday seemed unlikely, with sailors pumping all the way to the committee boat, but the team managed to find wind in the harbour and complete two races.

At the front of the fleet, the level of racing was incredibly high. Thomas Semmens delivered a great performance to take the overall victory. He maintained strong boat speed across all legs, and this was reflected in his results. His ability to stay composed and deliver across all six races set him apart and secured a well-deserved win.

Just behind, Sam Mason claimed second place overall, showing excellent pace throughout the weekend and picking up two race wins along the way. Completing the podium, Fraser Hakes sailed an impressive regatta to secure third overall, demonstrating strong consistency and composure in the challenging conditions.

An honourable mention goes to Callum Marshall, who had two podium race finishes and a strong regatta. He was narrowly pushed out of third overall in the final race, missing out by just a single point.

The male podium reflected the overall standings, while the female sailors delivered equally impressive performances. Alice Atkin claimed the position of first female; her success started in the opening race with an impressive fifth place, and she maintained her consistency across the remaining five races to hold the top spot. Meri Greenaway finished second in the women's category, with Jessica Welch rounding off the podium.

Boy's podium - Rooster ILCA 4 National Open at Weymouth - photo © Jon Emmett

Across the age categories, there was plenty to celebrate. Many strong performances underlined the strength of the development pathway, supported by a number of excellent coaches, many of whom are also active on the ILCA circuit.

Racing itself was packed with close battles and constant opportunities for gains. Upwind legs often saw the fleet spread wide across the course in search of pressure, while downwind legs brought boats back together, setting up tight mark roundings and exciting final legs. There were numerous multi-boat battles throughout the series, particularly among the top ten, where positions frequently changed right up to the finish.

The start line was often pin-end biased, with noticeable line sag in the middle, making strong positioning off the line especially important. Sailors who committed early and secured clear air at the favoured end were consistently able to establish themselves within the top group.

On the first upwind beat, pressure and shifts were key to success. During the first day, the wind showed a consistent right-hand shift of up to 30 degrees across races, making the approach to the starboard lay line almost as critical as the windward mark itself.

On the second day, however, the wind became far less predictable, rewarding sailors who stayed patient and capitalised on every lift rather than committing too early to one side of the course.

The reach leg proved relatively uneventful for those at the front of the fleet, who were able to consolidate their positions. Further back, however, small strategic errors proved costly, with sailors who sailed too low often losing places due to reduced pressure.

Downwind legs provided some of the biggest opportunities for gains throughout the fleet. The main pack often compressed on these legs, leading to tight mark roundings and setting up exciting final beats where positions could still change right to the finish. This was evident when we were treated to the TracTrac UK replay hosted by Micky Beckett where we could watch the racing back to see the gains and losses, it was great to be able to watch the racing back!

A big thank you goes to the race officer, safety teams, mark layers, and volunteers whose efforts made the event possible and ensured such high-quality racing.

Event Title Sponsor: Rooster

Supported by: Noble Marine, Sailingfast, Ovington Boats & TracTrac UK

• TracTrac replay
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• ILCA UK Chair blog

Overall Results: