ILCA UK National and Open Championships 2025 at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy - Overall
by Jonathan Stirling 30 Aug 02:15 NZST
10-15 August 2025
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: everyone who can sail a triangular course is welcome and will be treated with equal respect whether they're counting their position from the from front or the back. Newcomers to big fleet events were mentored by volunteers helping them on and off the water.
Day One delivered some great racing, albeit in light conditions, and demonstrated some serious intent in each of the fleets. In the 4s, Isla Hutchinson won the day with fourth and third after a mix of enthusiasm and tide had led to a Black Flag on the first race.
The one-hundred and nine strong ILCA 6 entry started the week in two' flights'. Thommie Gritt won the day with a 2nd and 1st in Yellow Flight; Toby Waggett, moving up from the 4s in his first senior event, opened his account with a bullet in the first race in the Red Flight; Jon Emmett demonstrated his enduring class taking the win in race 2. Amelie Hacker started her regatta with two second places to be leading girl.
This championship was graced by twenty-four visitors from fourteen countries, many at the sharp end of the action. Claudio Natale attributed his win on day one in the ILCA 7s to his fuelling strategy of 'two big pizzas'. Alfie Noel, Sam Grayton and James Curtis kept the home flag flying whilst George Pilkington of New Zealand showed ominous consistency with two sixth places.
Sunday evening's prize-giving with support from Rooster giving away hold-alls, Body Armour BAs and race-wear, drew a full crowd mindful of Fi Attwell's diktat that you have to 'be in it to win it'. Volunteers weren't left out of the action with their own draw of premium Leatherman tools from sponsor Tideway Wealth Management
The next couple of days presented Race Management with few options but to keep the fleets ashore with only the lightest of zephirs fluttering the flags. Mark's promise of a festival came to fruition with a Race Clinic on starting from James Curtis; Ovi Insights powered by Trac Trac data interpreted by James Parker-Mowbray of AS Performance gave everyone the chance to see how tactical decisions played out so that all sailors could learn from the best.
Wildwind Beach Games kept everyone in good spirits as Neil Collingridge and Simon Philbrick brought their international sailing nouse to judging sandcastle aesthetics.
Event Director James 'Heinzy' Hynes refused to believe the 'rubbish modern forecasts' and chose instead to prowl the shore, Agamemnon-like, searching for any flicker of breeze. Plas Heli came into its own, allowing two hundred boats to line up on the beach ready for Race Officer Paul Jackson's call from the start line only 20 minutes sail from the shore.
Kiwi George Pilkington came out the gates with a win in race three, chased home by Hamish Collingridge and Sam Grayton but it was Sam who backed up his third place with a bullet in the fourth to win the day.
Now in Gold Fleet, Thommie Grit proved consistent with a fifth and a second to win the day while young Toby Waggett mirrored these results in Red Fleet.
In the 4s Thomas Sedden, recovering from a Black Flag in the opening race, brought home his third win on the bounce and win the day. Fengziyi Fu of China put down a marker with a fifth and a second whilst Felix Harle scored an impressive two third places.
After a long day on the water culminating in some excellent racing, everyone was grateful to get away while an exhausted Mark Lyttle manfully navigated us through the ILCA Class Association AGM without too many diversions. The Committee and members expressed their heartfelt thanks to Lisa Anderson for her work on Training, Guy Noble for all his work on Sponsorship and Roger Hakes for his tireless efforts to make the Youth Programme such a success.
On Thursday morning, Ovington sailor Toby Waggett shared some of the downwind technique that has kept him at the front of the ILCA 4 and 6 fleets. With light conditions again, the Race Team made good use of the Plas Heli's 'short commute' to hold sailors on the beach until a course could be set and our patience was rewarded with champagne sailing conditions for the second half of the afternoon. Heading to the conclusion of the regatta, competition for podium places was tight. In the ILCA 4s, Thomas Semmens had built a buffer, but Chloe Grayton came out strong with a 3rd to put herself in contention before Fengziyi Fu matched her in the next race. In the 6s,Thommie Grit was battling with that gnarly campaigner Jon Emmett who claimed the daily prize. The ILCA 7s saw Claudio Natale return to form with two 3rd places to win the day but it was Alfie Noel, Sam Grayton and Kiwi George Pilkington controlling the top spots.
Ovington sponsored Thursday's prize-giving with generous prizes of daggerboards, rudder-blades, tillers and extensions generating a real buzz amongst the expectant crowd. The Hog Roast provided by Tideway and Noble Marine was enjoyed after a demanding day and fuelled everyone's enjoyment of local band ****.
The final day of the regatta brought the now familiar wait for the wind. Mille Lewis and Megan Thomson treated us to a stimulating Race Clinic on boat-speed but RO Paul Jackson was quick to jump on breeze filling in from a different direction setting a short-ish course to ensure we got as many races as possible.. We finished with the best sailing conditions of the week ensuring everyone went home with grins on their faces.
The success of the Championships was built on the tireless efforts of Heinzy and the Race Management team with support from Stephen Tudor and Mike Butterfield at Plas Heli. A veritable army of volunteers made it all possible. We were given technical support by Icom and Trac Trac whilst our generous sponsors supported us with investment, merchandise and presence at the event to ensure everyone could enjoy ILCA's Festival of Sailing.
Championship Results:
ILCA 4 - Open Championship
1st Thomas Semmens (Top Boy and Overall National & Open Champion, winner of the Martin Boatman Trophy, ILCA UK ILCA 4 National Champion Trophy and invited to participate in the Endeavour Trophy).
2nd Fengziyi Fu (Sailed under MNA of CHN)
3rd Chloe Grayton (Top Girl, Winner of the Dolphin Cup and Joy Falcon Trophy)
4th Felix Harle
5th Zachary Chappell
ILCA 4 - National Championship
1st Thomas Semmens
2nd Chloe Grayton
3rd Felix Harle
ILCA 6 Open & National Championship
1st Thommie Grit (Top Man and Open & National Champion, winner of the Yealm Cup and ILCA UK ILCA 6 National Champion Trophy, and invited to participate in the Endeavour Trophy). - Also Highest Placed Sailor 21 to 29 who is not a member of any RYA performance programme, winning the Tony Woods Corinthian Cup.
2nd Jon Emmett
3rd Freddie Maclaverty
4th Tom Hakes
5th Leo Yates
ILCA 7 - Open Championship
1st Alfie Noel (Open & National Champion, winner of the Holsten Lager & Andrew Simpson Memorial Trophy, and invited to participate in the Endeavour Trophy)
2nd Sam Grayton
3rd George Pilkington (Sailed Under NZL)
4th Robin Phipps
5th Hamish Collingridge
ILCA 7 - National Championship
1st Alfie Noel
2nd Sam Grayton
3rd Robin Phipps
Huge thanks to our generous sponsors: