Noble Marine & Ovington UKLA ILCA7 Spring Qualifier 3 at the WPNSA

This weekend brought the third and final UKLA spring qualifier series to a close at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Forecasts predicting over 30knots of wind on the Saturday meant that the Race committee had to be extra vigilant on the conditions in order to hold safe racing in the harbour.

After careful consideration from the RC, the ILCA 7's were sent out for a scheduled two races after a short postponement. Sailors were met with a fresh 20 knot South Westerly breeze to get the first race under way in. The first race had Sam Whaley charging off into the lead early on with James Percival-Cooke and Jake Farren-Price battling it out throughout the race to claim second and third respectively.

The second race brought much the same conditions with a lot more tired faces after a brutal 1 hour first race. Sam Whaley again rounded the windward mark first with James Percival-Cooke following close behind with Jake Farren-Price, Seb Kempe and Alistair Brown fighting it out behind. The standings more or less stayed the same with James trying to reel Sam in on the last downwind, however instead he decided a quick cool-off would be much more appropriate and so decided to go swimming halfway down the last downwind leaving Sam to sail off into the distance.

The second race final order was therefore Sam Whaley, James Percival-Cooke and Seb Kempe in first, second and third respectively.

Day 2 had a light N/NW breeze dropping off of the Osmington hills meaning another short postponement to kickstart the day. The race committee again did a great job of getting us out on the water as soon as possible to get the first race away. It would be day of snakes and ladders with the offshore direction, with many opportunities to gain from across the course.

It was Charlie South who sailed the most ladders on the first race, taking the top spot on his final day racing the ILCA 7 while Luke Anstey followed close behind in second with James Percival-Cooke in third.

The fourth race of the event had a building breeze of 10 to 12 knots and saw an early lead taken by Sam Whaley, on a mission to right his wrongs after the first race that day. James Percival-Cooke followed round in second with Jake Farren-Price finishing third.

Unfortunately for Sam his shot at redemption wasn't meant to be, punching in a UFD on the fourth race. This meant that James had already won the event going into the fifth and final race, giving him a first class spectator seat to watch Sam, Jake and Seb battle it out for second, third and fourth with only 1 point splitting them.

UKLA ILCA 7 Spring Qualifier 3 at the WPNSA - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

After a quick re-jiggle of the course the Race committee got the final race under way. This race had tight nit racing all the way through the race in a 5-7 knot breeze with Nick Welbourn building a healthy lead on the last downwind to escape the melee unfolding behind. After a punchy final mark rounding by all involved, and a few last second match racing moves by Seb in hope to put a boat between himself and Sam, The finishing order was Jake Farren-Price in 2nd and Seb Kempe in 3rd with Sam Whaley just behind.

The overall results were therefore James Percival-Cooke taking the top spot, with Jake Farren- Price in 2nd and Sam Whaley in 3rd. All in all the event brought some great conditions with some brilliant racing. Great to see seven Masters sailing in such challenging conditions.

A big thank you goes towards the Race Committee for excellent race management, the event organisers for running the event so smoothly. A special thank you to Ovington Boats and Noble Marine for being primary sponsors this weekend and Rooster and Sailingfast for their support of the Qualifiers series.

UKLA ILCA 7 Spring Qualifier 3 at the WPNSA - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography

Overall Results:

UKLA ILCA 7 Spring Qualifier 3 at the WPNSA - photo © Georgie Altham / www.facebook.com/galthamphotography