ILCA open meeting at Draycote Water Sailing Club

ILCA open meeting at Draycote © Alison Blakeway

Rob Hunt - ILCA open meeting at Draycote © Alison Blakeway

Following recent weeks disappointing wind for several large events (Masters at Rutland, Qualifiers at Weymouth, and Inlands at Graham) Saturday 16th November at Draycote Water Sailing Club seemed to be the place to be for all ILCA sailors in the Midlands. There was a reasonable entry of 44 Sailors (16 ILCA 7s, 19 ILCA 6s, 9 ILCA 4s) and everyone looking forward to stretching their legs with some close competition that you get with ILCA sailing... and they weren't disappointed.

The 12/15 knots from Westerly direction enabled the Race Officer to play to another of Draycote's strengths; long beats, which were c0.75miles enabling plenty of tactical opportunities both up and down wind for all sailors.

The event provided a great opportunity for those transitioning out of their previous boats, such as Toppers, Teras and Optimists, into the ILCA fleet along with sailors who are looking to move into the ILCA 6 rig from the ILCA 4, to experience a professionally run large event before the Qualifiers next Spring.

The Race Officer promised that all Fleets would have four races but it would be tight with light fading, as a result the U Flag was used for all starts, which resulted in all the competitors being a little cautious and not really troubling the line too much.

But the team excelled themselves and seamlessly turned the races around so that all twelve starts went as planned and all sailors back ashore before the light went.

ILCA 7 Report by Freddie Sunderland

After several weeks of light/non existent wind the contenders from across region were ready to fight it out, making for some tight racing.

In race 1, boat speed was key, as a stable wind allowed those who started cleanly to escape the fleet. Hiking hard, Freddie Sunderland (Draycote) took the honours, followed by Jamie Blake (Great Moor) and then George Sunderland (Draycote)

The wind stayed steady for race 2, but this time it was a closer battle, with Jamie Blake taking the line from Freddie, while Tom White from Olton Mere took third.

The wind peaked during the upwind of the third, allowing Tom to get away. Another consistent race from Jamie in second, with George Sunderland in third.

With just one race to go, it was all to play for. Any of Jamie, Tom or Freddie could win. A fourth clean start in a row ensured a close fight up the beat, before Freddie reached the windward first, and never lost the lead. George was second and Tom third, giving Freddie the overall win.

Special mention to Rob Hunt, where Mickey Beckett's Olympic sail allowed him to stand out in the fleet. Great to see him supporting the event out on the water (but more of that later).

ILCA 6 Report by Jess Powell

Right on time Race 1 got under way for the ILCA 6's, using the inner loop. This would see Jess Powell (Draycote) taking an early lead at the windward mark, followed by Kat Gunn (Notts County) closely behind. Jess would hold this lead until a race incident on the 2nd beat, dropped her back and enabled Kat to seize the opportunity and take the Race 1 honours, followed by Jess in 2nd and Nathan Clark (WOBYC) in 3rd. It was very close racing throughout the fleet with battles between a number of the sailors as they reached from mark 5 to the finish. Hatty Connolly (Draycote) was unlucky, capsizing on this final reach into the finish, but was very quick to right the boat and only losing one place!

The wind started to build slightly however the direction remained constant which enabled race 2 to start on schedule. A close battle ensued between Jess and Nathan, with Nathan taking the early lead and looking to defend this onto the 2ndbeat, which he duly did. It was only on the final downwind leg that Jess managed to put enough of a cover on Nathan to sneak past and take the 2nd race. Cornielle LePrince, travelling from King George Sailing Club put in very solid sail taking 3rdplace.

Race 3 would see Cornielle, building on his 3rd place in race 2, take a commanding lead. He was able to control the fleet throughout the whole race to take the win leaving Nathan, Kat and Jess to fight for who would take 2nd and 3rd which resulted in Jess just pipping Nathan for 2nd place. It couldn't be closer at the front of the fleet, with sailors putting in some very consistent results. Jess was leading overall, but Nathan and Cornielle were very close behind on joint points and with the discard to come in after the 4th and final race, the win was still to play for.

Race 4 got under way and it would be Harry Wemyss (HBSC/SFSC/GYGSC) who would take the lead on the first beat, followed by Jess and Cornielle very close behind. Harry was able to pull ahead slightly with Jess and Cornielle battling between them. Onto the 2nd beat and the winds starting to pick up with 16 knots now being seen on the committee boat. Harry would continue to hold the lead with Cornielle just inching ahead of Jess and then nipping past Harry on the final leeward mark to take race 4 and the event win, with Jess finishing 2nd overall on equal points. Nathan Clark took the 3rd place event honours, with a very strong set of results, never outside the top 4 in any race.

Well done to all the ILCA 6 sailors for some amazingly close racing in all 4 races.

ILCA 4 Report by Oscar Rowe

We were start 3 and would be racing 2 laps on the inner loop, we watched the 7s and 6s start before us so we had the benefit of being able to see what was working for them.

Race 1 - was a clean start for us all and saw Jacob Jull (Grafham Water) using one of Draycotes club ILCAs showed great skill and broke away and kept that lead all the way around to win Race 1.

Race 2 - again was a clean start the wind had gone slightly right and the race officer had re set the pin and with a bit of port bias, Oscar Rowe (Draycote Water) picked up on this crossed the fleet cleaning on Port who were all still at the committee boat, Will Moss (Barnt Green) in a bit more wind had the boat speed to make his way to the front and took the win in race 2, the fleet was all very close with tight racing throughout, Jacob's borrowed club boat let him down in race 2 with a breakage causing him to return ashore for a repair before rejoining for race 3.

Race 3 - this time Jacob went for the port flyer and with more boats at the pin he just made it with a perfectly timed start, he crossed and went on to take his second race win, Noah Mathers (Burnham) was 3rd and starting to put a decent set of results together.

Race 4 - with a discard kicking in it was all to play for, off the start the fleet went right and Oscar Rowe after a poor start went left and a left shift on the first beat saw him go from last to first but it wasn't long before the fleet chased him down and Will Moss took the lead and the race win which secured the event win.

ILCA open meeting at Draycote - photo © Alison Blakeway

An Alternative Race Report - the essence of ILCA Sailing by Rob Hunt

I was lucky enough to win Micky Beckett's Paris Olympic sail in the recent raffle in aid of The Andrew Simpson Foundation and entered The Dracyote ILCA open hoping some of his skill would rub off on me.

I've been sailing for just over two years and I'm nudging Grand Master status. I'm not Grand and I'm definitely no Master. In a competitive fleet you'll likely find me struggling in the rear half wondering what effect my kicker actually has or tied up in my mainsheet as it attempts to wrap my feet across my head in a gybe. Needless to say I'm not talented or very capable, but I'll make this absolutely plain to anyone.

But I absolutely LOVE being on my boat.

As I sailed to the starting area I saw some confused looks on my fellow competitors faces, some called, "Nice Sail!" others, "I didn't expect to see you here!" but I suspect that most thought, "ooooh he's let himself go after Paris!" Clearly all of their powers of observation leave something to be desired, but there I was on the start line of a significant event with my genuine Paris Olympic 2024 sail and my genuine Laser 1 hull from c1972, a winning combination!

This year, four races completed and I managed to stay upright for all of it.

I hear that there were some exceptional tactical athletic battles were on show in the ILCA7 Fleet if you were close enough to see them. I managed to see a few as they were halfway up the second beat and I was wallowing down the first run.

The left side of the course had all the lifts. The right side had all the headers and chop. I know this from much experience of everything that the poor decision making right side could throw.

A year ago at my first event (Draycote Dash 2023) event I sailed ashore when things got challenging after the first race, this year I completed all four races, kept the white thing pointing to the sky and stayed dry, unlike some of my competitors!

So, I can see that I am improving or perhaps it's the skills brought by the sail from its previous owner?

Jess Powell - ILCA open meeting at Draycote - photo © Alison Blakeway

ILCA 4 Results:

ILCA 6 Results:

ILCA 7 Results: