ILCA Open at Royal Harwich Yacht Club

Royal Harwich YC ILCA Open © Bob & Amanda Portway

The Royal Harwich Yacht Club Autumn Laser/ILCA Open Meeting on Saturday 9th October was up against the double challenge of an extremely poor advance weather forecast, indicating little or no wind, and the absence of several regular club sailors due to clashing events including the Endeavour Trophy at Burnham and a popular local Yacht race, and consequently the turnout was down on expectations.

The day dawned, as forecast, with virtually no wind, and unsurprisingly a number of potential competitors decided to stay at home, including four pre-entrants who were facing a longish drive from Norfolk Broads YC and Waveney and Oulton Broad YC. Fortunately, nine other visitors bravely ignored the forecast and arrived at Woolverstone to join the depleted eight-boat home fleet, and together with 20 Solo sailors everyone congregated on the magnificent club lawn, coffee in hand, waiting for the wind!

Royal Harwich YC ILCA Open - photo © Bob & Amanda Portway

In the event only a 30 minute postponement was required before PRO Chris Brown sensed a gentle easterly sea breeze making its way up the river, and, as the fleets launched and made their way to the race area between the club and Pin Mill, the wind settled at a gentle 5-6 knots, and remained generally stable in strength and direction throughout the day's racing.

The plan was for 4 back-to-back races, and this was achieved with some slick race management and an interesting variety of courses. The light wind conditions were very much to the liking of local Laser legend Graham Ireland who put in some uncharacteristically good starts which, together with his customary fast boat speed, secured a resounding overall victory counting two firsts and a second and discarding a third! He didn't have it all his own way however, and going into the final race Jonathan Jones, visiting from Waveney and Oulton Broad, could still have clinched victory with a race 4 win, but he had to settle for the runners up spot, with the podium completed by local youth sailor Robin Dean, moving up from Radials and racing a ILCA 7 / Standard rig for the very first time.

Royal Harwich YC ILCA Open - photo © Bob & Amanda Portway

First overall in the ILCA 6 / Radials went to Harry McTiernan from Brightlingsea SC, followed by Toby Hunt, and first ILCA 4 / 4.7 rig went to Nathan Russell.

Many thanks as always to all the volunteers and helpers who enabled this event to take place, and particularly PRO Chris Brown and his team on the committee boat who didn't have the easiest of conditions but nonetheless pulled off an enjoyable event with some great racing.

Royal Harwich YC ILCA Open - photo © Bob & Amanda Portway

We plan to host two ILCA / Laser open meetings at Royal Harwich again next year, one in the Spring (early April) and one in the Autumn (early October) so please keep an eye on the RHYC website, and we hope to welcome as many, if not more, Eastern region sailors again then.

Overall Results: