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2022 Noble Marine UKLA ILCA 6 Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

by Ollie Payne 10 Nov 2022 07:11 UTC 5-6 November 2022
2022 Noble Marine UKLA ILCA 6 Inlands at Grafham Water © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Twists, turns and shifts. Classic inland sailing with Alastair Brown retaining his ILCA6 crown... but only just.

Day 1

An alternative setting from the familiar bay of Weymouth, found the ILCA fleet on the reservoir of Grafham Water, but only just! As up until a week before, the water level was frighteningly low, threatening to prevent the last event of the year. However, thanks to the recent storms, enough rainfall provided confirmation of another exciting regatta.

Due to the outstanding 190 entries, the ILCA 4's and 7's were split off onto the western course leaving the 6's on the central race area; yet due to the amount of competitors, this fleet was divided into 4 groups, each set to race each other on Saturday - in a qualifying series - before gold and silver flights were decided for Sunday's racing.

Day 1's forecast was fairly consistent with a southerly and 15-20 knots holding throughout the day, enabling oscillating and predictable shifts, typical of an inland event. With no tide, land or other major gain features to consider (at least for the 6's on the central course), establishing the pattern of the shifts and staying in phase was the key to success on Saturday with the leaders making big gains by having the freedom to tack consistently in time with the shifts and minimise time spent on headers. Although this proves more challenging when in the middle of a pack as the smaller race course resulted in closer proximity limiting your options to tack when needed and forcing you to prioritise between clean wind and sailing on the lift.

Saturday - as expected - was proving to be an 'eyes-out-of-the-boat' day making watching for the gusts sweeping down the course also an important factor due to the prerequisite of constant gear shifts in order to maintain boat speed; both upwind and downwind as the flat water made spotting the gusts even more paramount on the runs due to the lack of waves. Perhaps the most unusual thing though, was the 3-2-1 countdown, untypical from the standard 5 minutes, creating a sense of haste as the races were rapidly under way ensuring that all were completed before the darkness rolled in.

There were some great day one performances from Josh Lyttle, Edwin Cross, Ollie Payne, Henry Koe, Freddie Howarth and Terry Hacker who were among a sizeable group pushing the leaders and making it into the gold fleet.

Day 2

Scores were close and the stakes were high leading into Sunday as a result of the nature of the 'double races' on Saturday. Now split into gold and silver, the competition was even tougher with everything to lose as the Inland title was still up for grabs and it was anyone's game. Whilst a slightly lighter 10 knots was forecasted for Sunday, the strategy was predicted to be similar as the southerly would return however, as the day developed, the shifts became more persistent and the windward mark was moved further down from the shoreline (due to the light winds) further reducing the frequency of the shifts in the top section. This meant that securing a clean lane off the start was even more vital on day 2 as you would be in one phase for a lot longer so falling into dirty wind was just not an option.

The first beat of the day showed the left to be favoured as the lefty came in and lifted the fleet up to the port lay-line, stranding those out on the right. However soon after, the wind began to flick further and further right with each shift and some reaching 30° above the average. It became a game of holding your nerve to see how far right you were willing to go before taking the lift back up towards the mark - particularly on some of the second and third beats - since the grey overcast made it tricky to predict how long the shift would stay and when it was about to flick back.

The top 3 were incredibly close with first, second and third finishing on 13, 14 and 15 points however it was Alastair Brown who defended his 2021 win and took the victory, followed by Jack Graham-Troll and Jon Emmett in 2nd and 3rd. This event's special shoutout goes to the Under-17's who occupied 5 places out of the top 14: Freddie Sunderland, Josh Lyttle, Edwin Cross, Christopher Marsh and Ollie Payne.

In such a large fleet it's easy to miss those who, while not being consistent enough to make it to the top spots of the gold fleet, never-the-less tasted a podium finish. Imogen Palmer, Honor Proctor, Wai Chai Tsui, Ruairi Herrington, Hamish Collingridge, Alex Conan Sivarajan, Megan Thompson, Kai Hockley and Rhys Powell all took at least one 1st in the Silver fleet. A special cheers to Freddie Maclaverty (14) and Samson Cross (14) who were the two youngest ILCA6 competitors.

And finally a massive thank you on behalf of all the ILCA sailors from the weekend to all the helpers and volunteers who made this event possible. Especially the RO Nigel Denchfield.

Thanks also to our main weekend sponsors, Noble Marine, Ovington Boats, Vaikobi and Sailingfast who support the class so loyally.

  • Noble Marine - 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 to insure your boat. www.noblemarine.co.uk
  • Sailingfast - Duncan brings his battle buss down from Scotland for most the big events, which is so ridiculously well equipped, you could replace everything on your boat. Although based in Scotland they will get anything to you super fast. sailingfast.co.uk
  • Vaikobi - a brand born on the waters of Sydney Harbour, out of a passion for all ocean sports. Across the team, we paddle, Surfski, SUP, Wing Foil and Sail. www.vaikobi.com
  • Ovington Boats - one of the biggest and best dinghy builders in the world and are now the official UK builders of ILCAs. www.ovingtonboats.com

Overall Results:

PosDivisionSail NoHelmAge GroupClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
Gold Flight
1Red216646Alastair BrownAStokes Bay SC Great Moor SC2125‑20313
2Blue214007Jack Graham‑TrollU19Royal Lymington Yacht Club2(SCP)123614
3Green216115Jon EmmettMWeir Wood SC112110‑1115
4Red216023Freddie SunderlandU17Draycote Water‑74572119
5Yellow211165Josh LyttleU17Queen Mary SC156‑245421
6Blue201703Fred SalterU19Gurnard Sailing Club / Brading Haven311‑1361223
7Yellow216656Edwin CrossU17Shoreham5101‑156830
8Green220776Freddie HowarthU19Parkstone YC433119‑1930
9Red217515James KnightU19Draycote Water SC6121244‑2638
10Green214560Terry HackerU19Rutland SC8213‑2011539
11Blue215835Tim EvansU19Grafham Water SC48‑14371239
12Red216724Oliver Allen‑WilcoxU19Chew Valley SC / Parkstone Yacht Club‑1328813940
13Red216212Christopher MarshU17Whitstable YC5869‑161543
14Red209056Oliver PayneU17Stokes Bay SC3332215‑2446
15Green216648Max SteeleU19Wembley SC; Stokes Bay SC12(UFD)111012752
16Blue214203Alfie NoelU17Stokes Bay SC1499148‑2354
17Green213524Jamie TylecoteU19Rutland SC1112812‑191356
18Red215206Roo PurvesU17East Lothian Yacht Club97419‑222261
19Green217881Charlotte VideloU21Frensham Pond SC / Stokes Bay SC106429‑341867
20Yellow209425Carys AttwellU19Rutland SC111312‑18181771
21Blue207087Archie BurtonU17Beaver & Draycote157161717‑2772
22Red214268Noah EvansU17Royal Victoria Yacht Club211910‑27141074
23Blue206839Henry RedmondU19Covenham SC951126‑312576
24Yellow215383Thomas BatesU19Ripon SC17914‑31212081
25Green220514Millie LewisU17Medway YC18101623‑301683
26Yellow206856Iris SingletonU19Draycote Water SC101672824‑3785
27Green212008Samantha EdwardsU21QMSC / Stokes Bay141592523‑3586
28Red173611Oliver WoodleyU19RLYC2011151625(BFD)87
29Green217872Tom MossU17Scaling Dam SC15161513‑323089
30Red205176Samson CrossU17Shoreham19177‑30272191
31Yellow206301James RussellU19RHYC121818‑37291491
32Yellow208711Henry KoeU19Island Barn Reservoir SC865‑38373394
33Blue171988Toby BushU19Waldringfield SC13171721‑352997
34Blue221181Reuben hudsonU17Shoreham Sailing Club61419‑322828100
35Yellow213644Robin PhippsU17Parkstone Yacht Club71417‑333331102
36Red183264Savva TretyakovAPenarth Yacht Club171518‑362636112
37Green201358Daisy FisherU19Hollingworth Lake SC16181035‑3634113
38Blue214074Samuel OsborneU17Royal Victoria yacht club16132034‑3832115
Silver Flight
1Yellow210368Matthew BottenU19Weir Wood SC4244‑12721
2Red216141Alex HorsmanU17 54662‑2023
3Green217873Alex Cogan SivarajanU19CCCDS‑1111613324
4Red219660Rhys PowellU19 212128‑2425
5Green219090Kai HockleyU19Greig City Academy421081‑1825
6Red218432Honor ProcterU19Cardiff Bay YC11433(BFD)425
7Green216513Megan ThomsonU17Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club341710‑1225
8Blue214580Hamish CollingridgeU17Waldringfield SC13414‑15931
9Green221583Freddie MaclavertyU17Llandudno SC/ Rydal school(DNC)52561331
10Blue215531Ruairi HerringtonU17 871‑1813534
11Yellow189366Tess CrooksU19Prestwick Sailing club387‑24171045
12Blue219022Georgia HughesU19Llandegfedd SC6889‑211748
13Green218036Imogen PalmerU17RSC/RCYC7101520‑23153
14Red218524Dominic AthertonU17Grafham Water Sailing Club8511‑3092255
15Yellow203312Lauren IronsU17Papercourt SC / Island Barn RSC1071416‑20855
16Yellow211681William TsuiU21 9125‑23141656
17Red210241Henry SmithU17West Riding SC131051319‑3260
18Blue209950Wai Chak TsuiU17Hong Kong Sports Institute(DNS)1DNC154261
19Yellow215377Richard MajorGGMGrafham Water SC213911‑222161
20Blue212037Aimee BrayU17Felpham Sailing Club11912‑2525663
21Green212224Alex CanhamU17Dabchicks Sailing Club12141119‑241571
22Yellow218015Arlo TurnerU17Glossop SC73329‑353173
23Red216870Finn GoodmanU17Teesdale Sailing & Watersports Club6913‑34272782
24Yellow214935Bjorn HandleyU17Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club15(DNF)DNC1071182
25Blue209413Alistair MacKinnonU17 12171517‑312384
26Yellow189200Mike HeapGGMOgston SC131582226‑2989
27Blue186677Jonathan PowellAGrafham Water Sailing Vlub1412927‑303092
28Green156188Rose JuryU19 101313‑31282892
29Yellow215416Peter GeeGMGrafham Water SC(DNC)61232182694
30Yellow205307Poppy LoweU17Royal Hospital School/Dabchicks Sailing1811163316‑3794
31Blue179812Arran GoodmanU17Hill Head SC19161626‑371996
32Blue164447Josh DonleyU19 1615728‑3634100
33Red180958Charlie Newell‑JohnsonU19Royal Hospital School917103529(DNC)100
34Blue209933Julian LloydGMNotts County SC171818‑373325111
35Red217500Emelia TinchU17Cardiff Bay YC141617‑383233112
36Yellow217035Maddie ChildsU19King George SC(DNC)DNCDNC21514118
37 214960Lucy DavisU19RSrnYC and RTYC(DNC)DNCDNC21135126
38Blue220440Max HuntGGMWhitstable YC56(DNF)DNCDNCDNC128
39Blue189138Jessye Opoku‑WareM (RET)DNF14363436159

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