2026 ILCA UK Ovington Boats National Open Event 3 at WPNSA

2026 ILCA UK Ovington Boats National Open Event 3 at WPNSA - ILCA 4 fleet report

by Sam Mason & ILCA UK 3 Apr 06:46 BST 28-29 March 2026

2026 ILCA UK Ovington Boats National Open Event 3 at WPNSA © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The third ILCA UK National Open event was held at WPNSA over the weekend of 28-29 March 2026. 71 ILCA 4 sailors took part. It was a very breezy weekend and huge thanks go to the race and safety teams as well as all volunteers that made this event safe and fun.

2026 ILCA UK Ovington Boats National Open Event 3 at WPNSA - photo © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

Heavy winds, low temperatures and high wind chill was the forecast for the third ILCA National Open hosted WPNSA on 28th and 29th March and when we arrived at a cloudy Weymouth early Saturday morning we found the forecast was, unfortunately, correct! A short wintery blast of heavy rain around 10am helped confirm our winter clothing choices and sharpened our minds for what promised to be an exciting day on the water.

We launched as planned at 10.15 and the fleet started filing out of the marina across Portland Harbour to the committee boat. The wind however had other plans continuing to build and about 15mins into the launch sequence gusts of 40 knots were being recorded. The race committee reacted quickly turning the fleet around and sending the boats that had already reached the course area immediately back to WPNSA. An insane reach back to the shelter of the marina followed! Unfortunately for the ILCA 4 fleet, this is where Saturday sailing ended as the strong wind meant it was unsafe to send all ILCA fleets out at the same time for the rest of the day.

The clocks going forward and a 30 minute advance on the first warning signal meant Sunday started bright and early with the race committee keen to get as many races in as possible before the wind strengthened later in the afternoon. We left the marina and sailed down to the Southeast corner of the harbour in a consistent 15 knot westerly blowing over Chisel beach, but with the forecast for the wind to build steadily throughout the day we were ready for some demanding racing!

The first race started with the fleet spread evenly across the line, the top 10 finishers coming from both the pin and committee end. Toby Turner got an excellent start on the pin and began leading the fleet out to the left. As the fleet entered the top half of the beat the anticipated left shift meant the leading group started to filter down clearly crossing boats coming from the right and fighting for clear air on the left-hand side into the windward mark. Thomas Knight led the fleet round. The second beat showed the first indication that right hand shifts were around with Toby Turner taking the left-hand gate and regaining the lead from Thamas Knight who had gone to the right-hand gate mark. These two remained locked in a battle to the finish with Toby pipping Thamas for first and second place. Third was Harry Dence holding off Thomas Semmens who made a solid recovery into a crucial 4th.

After a general recall the second race started in 30 knots, testing the fitness and boat handling skills of the fleet to the max! The fleet was again spread evenly along the line, however this time it was the right that would pay and after an excellent committee end start Philippa Knights was able to hold a long starboard tack across the fleet and lead back into the right hand shift for the final approach to the windward mark. With the wind increasing and swinging further to the right the race was shortened at the second windward mark. Thomas Semmens came through to take the win, Philippa Knights second and Charlie Mackenzie rounding out the top 3. There was then a short beat back to the marina to warm up.

Thomas Semmens took the overall win. Thomas Knight in 2nd and Philippa Knights in 3rd. She was also the first girl and U16 girl followed by Ruby Coster as a 2nd girl and Isabella Deas 3rd. Finley Rhodes was 4th overall, 3rd boy and first under 16 boy.

2026 ILCA UK Ovington Boats National Open Event 3 at WPNSA - photo © Jon Emmett

It was a great weekend with tough decisions made by an experienced race committee to keep us safe but also to squeeze in as much racing as possible. Thank you to Ovington and all the other sponsors for supporting the event and allowing it to happen and well done to all competitors and thank you to all volunteers which allow the racing to happen in challenging conditions. Big thank you also to TracTracUK, their technology is such a useful learning tool, allowing us to analyse the racing.