Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

UKLA National Championships at the WPNSA - ILCA4 Fleet Overall

by Barney Procter 28 Aug 2020 03:54 PDT 24-26 August 2020

Weymouth provided a wonderful venue for what proved to be a baptism of epic proportions for the ILCA4 sailors. Many in the fleet were sailing the ILCA4's for the first time in a major regatta moving from Toppers or other classes.

As expected the top spots were taken by sailors who have more experience - Oliver Allen Wilcox becoming National Champion, Jack Graham Troll 2nd and Freddie Howarth 3rd - Carys Attwell 1st Girl, Honor Proctor 2nd and Harriet Sacker 3rd, but there were many who put in great performances.

The first day set the scene with Oliver Allen-Wilcox and Jack Graham-Troll claiming podium placing's in each race, but with Max Steele achieving a third place in the first race, Terry Hacker a second in the second race, and Freddie Howarth a bullet in the third.

Day 2 was blown-off, as storm Francis gusted over 50 knots! The PRO Peter Jackson had taken the decision to start the final days racing early at 1000hrs, to create the opportunity for three races with the latest start time remaining at 1300hrs, due to Covid restrictions and the start of the ILCA-6 UK National Championships. After a testing first day, all benefited from a very welcome rest day.

As it transpired, the third day was even more challenging than the first. At 0700hrs it was still gusting over 30 knots but by 0730hrs there was a dramatic drop and by 0800hrs it was definitely sailable at around 20 knots, albeit many of the ILCA-7 masters weren't smiling as they lined up on the slip!

The ILCA 4's met the breezy and gusty conditions, in true ILCA style, with big smiles, looking forward to some great off-wind surfing and a determination to get the job done... very impressive especially from the younger sailors, who were possibly unaware of the trauma they were about to put their bodies through.

There were some great stories through the fleet, such as Lauren Attwell and Amelia Hacker, both aged only 13, yet admirably completing all six races. Eva Miller, who started the final day in the silver fleet but ended up overtaking many gold fleet sailors, Anya Morris who'd burnt her foot on hair tongs and lost her contact lenses on the first day, then snapped her tiller extension on the final day but completing all six race, using crutches to launch. Personal rivalries such as the Welsh boys Llion Morris and Rhys Powell finishing 15th and 16th, Luka Franklin and Henry Koe of Island Barn Sailing Club finishing 9th & 10th and the Tylecote brothers swapping positions, with the elder showing who's boss, finishing 6th & 7th separated by a mere point. Josh Lyttle, competing in his first major regatta, had a great day finishing in the top 10 for all 3 races earning him a 12th overall - out performing his dad in the ILCA7's ! A very impressive first Lady, Carys Atwell, as an under 16, improved her standing from 12th to 8th on the final and most testing day with some very impressive and consistent sailing.

The overall podium top spot went down to the wire, when Oliver Allen-Wilcox was U-flagged in race four, but still manager to secure Gold just piping Jack Graham-Troll claiming Silver. Freddie Howarth achieved podium placing's in all three races of the third day, and secured third overall, just ahead of Terry Hacker in fourth with Max Steele in fifth.

Jack Graham-Troll retained his U-16 national champion title, with Freddie Howarth in Silver and Max Steele in Bronze, which demonstrates the strength in depth in the ILCA 4 fleet. It's a shame that more recognition is not afforded to the U15's and U14's as there were some great performances in these categories.

The Lady's National Championship gold was claimed by Carys Attwell, ahead of Honor Procter, Silver, Harriet Sacker, Bronze, followed by Megan Farrer and Annabelle Pierce Jones. The same three podium girls won the Under-16 league as well albeit they were all under 15. This bodes well for the future of GBR sailing, considering the strong wind conditions, which is reinforced by the impressive performances also of Josie Kelly, Lauren Attwell, and Amelia Hacker who are all Under 14.

Wales had a strong showing and close competition with Honor Procter winning the Welsh title overall, very closely followed by Rhys Powell and Llion Morris claiming 2nd and 3rd. Annabelle Pierce-Jones and Anya Morris placed 2nd and 3rd Welsh female sailors. It was shame that Scotland and Northern Ireland were not represented this time round.

The competitiveness of the racing throughout the fleet bodes well for the future Olympians.

A display of talent which rewarded hard work and perseverance, not just of the sailors, but their parents and sponsors; Ovington, SailingFast, Sailboats.co.uk, Southeast Sailboats and Noble Marine, as well as the UKLA class committee organisers, whose dedication to host these historic championships under pandemic conditions is truly appreciated. This was a great event typified by big smiles as they came off the water.

Full results can be found here.

Related Articles

ILCA Women's Coaching day at Parkstone
It's really rewarding to coach groups with so much energy and enjoyment of the sport George Povall brought the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme to Parkstone on Saturday where 14 ladies attended from Poole YC, East Dorset SC, Chew Valley SC as well as the home club. Posted today at 9:16 pm
Derwent Reservoir Lakeland & Borders ILCA Open
A longer walk to launch, but plenty of water for the 21 entrants Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club welcomed 21 entrants to their annual ILCA open on Saturday 6th September, forming part of the 2025 ILCA Lakeland & Borders series. Posted on 8 Sep
ILCA Thames Valley Series GP at Island Barn
39 entries made it the largest of the series so far this year Thirty nine entries made Saturday's Island Barn ILCA Open the largest of the Thames Valley Grand Prix series so far this year. The club worked hard to encourage all sailing levels to enter and the conditions made for a wonderful day's racing in Surrey. Posted on 7 Sep
P&B Northamptonshire Youth Series at Draycote
As ever the first timers received the most applause as their medals were awarded A bumper turnout of 41 sailors arrived at Draycote for round 4 of the Northampton Youth Series sponsored by Pinnell and Bax. The weather, at least at 8am in the morning was lovely - sunny, blue sky, a few clouds and 6 knots of wind. Posted on 2 Sep
Thomas Semmens victorious at the ILCA 4 Nationals
Continued success for the Paignton SC and Brixham YC sailor Paignton Sailing Club and Brixham Yacht Club sailor Thomas Semmens has just returned victorious from the ILCA 4 National Championship at Pwllheli, North Wales. Posted on 2 Sep
Broadland Youth Regatta at Rollesby Broad
8 clubs race together in a safe, enclosed, and welcoming environment On the 30th August 2025, Rollesby Broad Sailing Club hosted the 31st Broadland Youth regatta. The event brought together eight sailing clubs across Norfolk and Suffolk, providing the youth sailors with the opportunity to showcase their skills. Posted on 2 Sep
SVG Sailing 2025 Youth Nationals
Two thrilling days of racing at Coconut Grove On August 27th and 28th 2025, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association hosted two thrilling days of racing at the Sailing Association's High Performance Centre at Coconut Grove. Posted on 1 Sep
ILCA UK Nationals at Plas Heli Overall
The festival vibe at Plas Heli for the 200+ sailors When ILCA Chairman Mark Lyttle welcomed over two hundred sailors and army of supporters to Plas Heli, he stressed that this is as much a festival of sailing as a competition. Posted on 29 Aug
Seldén's ILCA Hi-Load kicker bracket upgrade
This cutting-edge development delivers a major boost in performance and reliability Seldén Masts, in collaboration with the ILCA Class Association, is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation for ILCA sailors worldwide - the Hi-Load kicker bracket upgrade pack. Posted on 13 Aug
ILCA UK Nationals at Plas Heli days 2 & 3
Two days of no wind lead to a host of other activities! Unusually for Plas Heli, on day 2 of the ILCA UK Nationals the sailing conditions were rather light with the decision made to fly AP over A. A Race Clinic led by ILCA 6 sailor Iris Singleton on boat settings drew a substantial crowd. Posted on 13 Aug
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range