2024 ILCA UK Open & National Championships at the WPNSA - Overall
by ILCAUK 21 Aug 10:00 PDT
12-17 August 2024
Summing up, the big winners were:
ILCA 4
Toby Waggett - National Champion 2024
Ben Anderson
Jessica Powell
ILCA 6
Matilda Nicholls - National Champion 2024
Archie Munro-Price
Leo Yates
ILCA 7
Fin Dickinson - National Champion 2024
James Foster
Arthur Farley
For a full list of all results please see the ILCAUK website, ilca.uk/nationals-results
It was a remarkable week marked by varied conditions, thrilling moments, and a few sore muscles. The final two days saw the ILCA7s and Gold fleet ILCA6s heading out into the bay, while the ILCA4s and Silver fleet ILCA6s raced in the harbour, establishing the pecking order for 2024. There were standout performances across the fleets, but overall, the standard of racing was exceptional, and participation was extremely encouraging—yet another Nationals event with over 250 competitors.
The UK ILCA class has a long history of nurturing generations of talented racing sailors. Continuing this tradition has been central to ILCAUK's commitment to inclusion and excellence. However, it's equally important that the competitors have fun—and this past week has proven that serious racing can indeed be great fun.
Over 100 volunteers helped bring this event to life, and a special thank you goes to Tideway Wealth for sponsoring Day 1, which was dedicated to Volunteers. Often taken for granted, these volunteers are the backbone of the event, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Whether it was providing repairs for broken equipment, charters, or new parts for boats, Sailingfast was there to help. Duncan's dedication goes beyond any commercial reward, so a big thank you to Duncan—and for the fantastic event T-shirts!
Noble Marine has been a steady supporter of the class for many years, offering reliable and consistent support—just what you'd expect from an insurance company. On the other hand, Southeast Sailboats, a relatively new name, has quickly made its mark. Max Hunt has elevated the ILCA's control lines to new levels of perfection, equipping not only Micky and hannah's Olympic boats but also Matilda's National Championship winning boat and many of the top ILCA boats world wide.
Then there's Ovington Boats. When ILCAUK picks up the phone to call John or Chris, we know they'll do everything in their power to assist. For the second year running, they generously provided a boat to be given away at the Nationals. This year, the lucky recipients were Ballyholme Yacht Club.
It's easy to be sceptical about sponsor support, but this support isn't just about flashy new gear - it's fundamental. It makes participation more affordable for everyone and allows us to plan with confidence. Rooster, and by that, we mean Steve Cockerill, has been a part of the Laser/ILCA world for almost as long as the boat has existed. With Steve now spending more time sailing, Luke Morrison has taken over the reins and is equally supportive of the class. Just one example of Luke's positive influence: the astroturf - that's thanks to Rooster.
WPNSA, yet again, provided a terrific venue for us and we thank them for their help. A massive team effort - well done to all.
Thanks for the video and photos Giles Smith, Lotte Johnson and Jon Emmett.
Interviews with the winners