ILCA 4 South and South West Regional Junior Championships at the WPNSA
by Seb Sitton 2 Jul 2024 17:58 NZST
22-23 June 2024
ILCA 4s at the South & South West Regional Junior Championship © Phil Rydin-Orwin
Eleven ILCA4 sailors entered the South and South West Regional Junior Championships, held at the iconic Weymouth venue.
Known for a great atmosphere and fun, this annual regional championship was no different. For many including myself, this event was our first ILCA4 race. I think we all studied the Sailing Instructions (SIs) and course card with like never before because we knew there would be a lot of boats around the start.
Day One
The first day presented a spectrum of wind conditions, keeping us on our toes. The morning began with gentle 8-knot breezes, but by afternoon, gusts of up to 24 knots had us sailing down some great waves. Our start followed the Topper 5.3 fleet, but the well-designed course meant we hardly noticed the other classes. We completed the four races as planned and headed in.
Amelia Gilboy led the pack by the end of the day, tying in points with Jasmine Pillon-Simpson. I secured third place, feeling a sense of progression with each race.
Day Two
Day two started with a two-hour postponement, but our patience was rewarded as we finally launched into a steady 12-knot breeze. We aimed to complete four races but managed three due to shifting wind conditions. The second race was particularly tricky, with strategic shifts in wind direction making all the difference. Unfortunately, equipment issues during the last race caused me to lose my overnight position.
Despite the challenges, Jasmine Pillon-Simpson clinched first place with three excellent wins, followed by Amelia Gilboy in second and Amelia Smith in third. I finished as the top boy, securing fourth place overall.
Looking Ahead
The event was a steep learning curve for most of us, given it was our first experience of ILCA4 racing. The sportsmanship among sailors were really noticeable and contributed to a really positive event. I'm looking forward to my first ILCA Grand Prix but know I've got to put some practice in before then.
A heartfelt thank you to WPNSA and the class associations for organising such an excellent event.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Region | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | S | 219091 | Jasmine Pillon‑Simpson | Hayling Island SC | 1 | 2 | ‑5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | SW | 221813 | Amelia Gilboy | Paignton SC/Saltash SC | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | ‑8 | 18 |
| 3 | SW | 210618 | Amelia Smith | Parkstone YC | 3 | 5 | 4 | ‑9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| 4 | S | 206428 | Seb Sitton | Warsash SC | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ‑11 | 24 |
| 5 | SW | 221852 | Ollie Rawlings | Lyme Regis SC | ‑8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 26 |
| 6 | S | 222485 | Charles Wood | Warsash SC | 4 | 1 | ‑9 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
| 7 | SW | 205316 | Devon Green | Poole YC | 6 | 3 | ‑8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 33 |
| 8 | S | 190718 | William Le Grice | Warsash SC | 5 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | ‑11 | 7 | 41 |
| 9 | S | 20097 | Tobias Owen | Whitefriars SC | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | ‑10 | 8 | 9 | 48 |
| 10 | SW | 207082 | Louis Voss | Parkstone YC | (DNC [12]) | DNC [12] | DNC [12] | DNC [12] | 5 | 9 | 6 | 56 |
| 11 | S | 204218 | Daniel Sadler | Whitefriars SC | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ‑11 | 10 | 10 | 60 |