Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

40 ILCAs made their way to Chew Valley Sailing Club to race for the 2022 Masters Inland National Championship trophies on what turned out to be a beautiful Easter weekend. The ILCA7 fleet, smaller than recent years, was however, graced with several excellent stalwarts of the ILCA7 fleet.

Day 1 started with, just as the forecast predicted, no wind. But all the signs pointed to a southerly 6 - 8 knots kicking in by 1pm. Sure enough, right on time the wind gods played ball and delivered.

Race 1 saw Tim Law (Salcombe YC) reach the top mark first, closely followed by Queen Mary's Guy Noble and Dick Soderberg. As with most inland racing it's an extreme game of snakes and ladders. So consistency will often prove vital to a successful regatta. Mr. consistent, Nick Van Tienen from Stokes Bay SC, kept in touch with the leaders just enough to bank a 4th. Law, making an uncharacteristic course cock up at the finish, left Noble to deftly jump on the error securing the win. Soderberg, the only one sure of the course, took second with Law snatching defeat from the jaws of victory to take third.

Guy Noble takes third in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson

Race 2 - Although the wind had been forecast to clock right, keeping in the pressure while playing the shifts was essential... On the other hand.. port start, cross the fleet and bang a corner can work... bring on young blood Perter Edel from King George SC. This was so effective he was seen lighting up a Woodbine and taking a drink on the down wind leg. The top 3 from R1 were scrambling around at the back... consistency... em. Tienen took second and David Binding (Weir Wood SC) third. Law managed to claw his way back to an impressive fourth.

Race 3 - the pressure across the course had now evened out but still being able to tack on the first header paid dividends. Soderberg got his nose out in front and rounded the wind ward mark first followed by Law. On the final downwind, leader Soderbeg sailed fast and low. Law stayed on starboard jibe on the rum line. Noble gybed and broad reached up to more pressure, jibing back half way down. This got him past Law to take second. Van Tienen, Mr consistent, fourth.

So day one had NVT first, Law second and Soderberg third.

David Goddard in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson

Compliments to the catering staff at Chew for a top notch meal on the Saturday evening to round off a wonderful days racing.

Day 2 - Another day of sunshine, wind and brilliantly run racing got under way with only a short delay.

Race 4 picked up where the previous days racing left off. The wind was building at 160degrees and the race turned into old dogs versus young dogs. After lots of very close racing Law and Edel pulled away from the pack to fight it out with Edel managing to take the win. Law took second and Soderberg third. David Surkov, another unfeasibly young master, put in a great performance to take fourth.

Nick Stoten in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson

Race 5 was all about the man with the green helmet. Nick Stoten (Mounts Bay SC) GM and one of the nicest masters you could meet, was on fire. Having picked up some post race tips the day before, Stoten sailed brilliantly and wriggled his way to the front of the fleet to follow Law around the first mark. Only Noble got past him by the finish to take a well deserved third.

Race 6 saw Law and Noble pulled out a comfortable lead to take first and second with Mr Consistent Tienen holding on to third and David Goddard taking his second fourth of the day.

Driving home with the chocolates was...
Tim Law GGM - Masters Inland National Champion 2022
2nd Nick Van Tienen M
3rd Guy Noble GM

This was a dream weekend with sunshine, wind and a great atmosphere of friendly camaraderie. The racing was superbly organised by the thoroughly professional team of Chew Valley SC volunteers. UKLA would like to thank John Smalley RO and all those at Chew.

With dozens of great prizes supplied by Sailingfast, Southeast Sailboats and Viakobi, UKLAs sponsors handed out to the winners everyone went home feeling like they'd been part of something special.

Gus Cameron in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson

A quick mention of our sponsors:

Sailingfast - Has been sponsoring UKLA events now for many years, provides dozens of prizes for each event and is the 'go to' provider of all the equipment you'll need for your ILCA/Laser.

SouthEast Sailboats - Max brings bespoke quality at affordable prices to the class. His passion for detail has made his products a must have for anyone who wants quality. He also supplied many great prizes for the event.

Noble Marine - Ian MacManus has crafted a very competitive and excellent insurance product for all Laser/ILCA sailors. A very personal service and an extremely useful website help make this the 'go to' company.

Vaikobi - a brand born on the waters of Sydney Harbour, out of a passion for all ocean sports. Sailing has been a passion within the business right from the start. Every week that goes by sees yet more great products ready for you. Vaikobi is growing.

Prize winners at the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson

Overall Results:

Peter Edel in the Noble Marine UKLA Masters ILCA 7 Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake - photo © Lotte Johnson