SailingFast Northern ILCA Circuit Finale at Dovestone Sailing Club

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone © Inspired Images

The Sailingfast Northern ILCA Circuit completed the 2024 season at Dovestone Sailing Club on Sunday 13th October.

The 2024 season was conducted across 15 venues across the North, and saw 131 competitors from 27 different clubs sailing between March and October. Turnout was strong across the year, averaging 17 boats per event. Lowest turnout was a weekend which clashed with the Pwllheli qualifier, but saw a great turnout on the sea in North Wales to show that there alternatives to the South coast.

Racing has been strong across the year with some notable performances from the younger fleet members. Lewis Bacon (Leigh & Lowton SC) won at Delph SC, Hollingworth SC, Pennine SC and his home club Leigh & Lowton. Ollie Hirst (Scammonden SC) won his home event, whilst Will Dyson (Delph SC) was dominant at the Glossop SC open which was relocated to nearby Pennine SC.

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Inspired Images

Overall series winner was Ian Jones (Dovestone SC) for the 28th year in succession, but was pushed hard all year by Lewis Bacon, in 2nd place, with Tim Keighley (West Riding SC) never far away in 3rd overall and Paul Heath (Leigh & Lowton SC) in 4th.

There were 13 qualifiers, doing 5 of 15 races, and the prizes this year included new sails, covers and a carbon tiller extension, as well as T-Shirts for all qualifying sailors and the race winners across the series.

The Northern circuit had strong youth and club support, with 22 youth sailors, 24 women and 25 Masters from the 131 competitors. The series has encouraged a range of sailors, with competition across the fleet all year. Delph SC had the highest number of travellers, with an average of 4 boats at every event this year, closely followed by Leigh & Lowton with 2 boats.

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Inspired Images

The series has encouraged all rigs, and whilst the option to change rigs through the series is not to everyone's liking it has maximised the attendance at events, with many sailors changing rigs to suit the conditions across the year. The option often becomes a question of who will drop down a rig first. It's been great to see double stacker trailers arriving at events with parents and children and husbands and wives racing against each other.

Events have been wide and varied, with Rudyard Lake SC welcomed back onto the circuit and Ogston SC adopted from the Midlands region. The tidal event at Blackpool & Fleetwood was shared with the Lakeland & Borders circuit, and the event at West Kirby YC made it out onto the estuary.

The series will start again for 2025 in April, with the first event at Delph SC on Saturday 5th April 2025. 2025 looks to be a great year, with the Nationals making the trip north to Pwllheli in August.

We would also like to thank Sailingfast for sponsoring the series and their continued support for ILCAUK and the class.

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Gordon Riddell

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Gordon Riddell

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Gordon Riddell

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Gordon Riddell

Overall Results:

ILCA Northern Circuit at Dovestone - photo © Inspired Images