Record turnout at Delph Sailing Club ILCA Open

Delph SC in Bolton held its ILCA Open meeting, hosting the new Northern Youth Circuit. A strong turnout of 42 competitors from clubs stretching from Yorkshire to the Lancashire coast gathered at Delph Sailing Club on Saturday 18th April for the club's annual ILCA Grand Prix open meeting, and it was the youth sailors who made the day their own — none more so than home club helm Ava Harris-Scott, whose consistent early-race form proved decisive.

The turnout meant that the fleets were split into 2 starts, with the ILCA7s starting first, followed by the ILCA6 and ILCA4 fleets sailing together.

Delph SC ILCA Open - photo © Dave Woods

The competitors were welcomed to the recently refurbished club house, which was soon filled as the 42 sailors and families arrived for the inaugural event of this year's circuit. The club has grown recently with a number of new and returning members.

The OD, Ali Wood, briefed the sailors and with a big fleet was in no mood for any messing about, as shown by her liberal use of the U flag on 9 separate occasions.

Delph SC ILCA Open - photo © Dave Woods

Harris-Scott takes the honours

Sailing an ILCA 6, Harris-Scott opened her account with a race win before backing it up with second place in race two. A fifth in the final race, counted as her discard, and was enough to claim overall victory in a competitive 42-boat fleet. It was a mature, measured performance from the Delph youngster that belied her youth category status.

Hot on her heels was Tristan Shaw of Budworth SC, also in an ILCA 6, who recovered from a difficult opener to post a race win in the middle race and fourth place in the decider to claim second. Henry Blades of Scaling Dam completed the ILCA 6 podium in third overall, with a race three win the highlight of his series.

Ava Harris-Scott during the Delph SC ILCA Open - photo © Dave Woods

ILCA 7 battle goes to the wire

The ILCA 7 class was hard fought, with Julien Rohart, representing Oxford SC and Netley SC, needing to overcome a U flag disqualification in race one — taken as his discard — to finish fourth and second in the remaining races, eventually claiming fourth overall on nett points, level with Blades on six but ranked behind on countback. His recovery was one of the stories of the day.

Lewis Bacon of Leigh & Lowton SC, racing as a youth in the ILCA 7, was another to impress, taking second in race one and finishing sixth overall. Local West Riding Sailing Club representative Tim Keighley completed a solid day's work in seventh, with third in race one his best result.

For Delph's own ILCA 7 contingent, Billy Morris took ninth overall — the best result for a home club ILCA 7 helm — while Will Taylor finished eleventh after a consistent series.

ILCA 4 class

Four ILCA 4s completed the entry, with Delph's own Molly Haslam taking the rig honours in 14th overall — a fine result against the mixed handicap fleet. Poppy Bedwell of West Lancashire Yacht Club followed in 23rd, with Lochlyn Grant and Luke Reevell of Delph rounding out the four-boat ILCA 4 group.

Molly Haslam during the Delph SC ILCA Open - photo © Dave Woods

A broad spread of clubs

The entry list underlined the event's regional reach. Leigh & Lowton SC were the most represented visiting club with five competitors, while Rudyard Lake SC brought a strong five-boat contingent of their own. Blackpool & Fleetwood Yacht Club, Budworth SC, and a number of Yorkshire clubs including Otley and West Riding Sailing Club all featured, reflecting the open meeting's established reputation in the North West and beyond.

Finley Smith during the Delph SC ILCA Open - photo © Dave Woods

Next event is across the Pennines at West Riding Sailing Club on Saturday 25th April 2026.

Overall Results: