2024 New Zealand ILCA National Champs, Napier SC
Live Sail Die - Day 1 report and photos
Live Sail Die - Day 2 report and photos
Live Sail Die - Day 3 report and photos
Reports by Nick Page
Final Day 4 - Two light races to wrap up a fantastic contest
The final day of the 2024 NZ ILCA Nationals in Napier was hot, humid and in the end sunny, but got off to a slow start, with a delay to launching for the 100 boat fleet while the easterly breeze got established. Once on the water we again enjoyed lovely conditions for the final 2 races of the contest. The breeze was lighter than the first 3 days, varying from about 5 to 8 knots during the races, with a very small chop. The tide was quite strong across the course, making lay lines tricky and seeing even some of the top sailors parked against the top mark for a quick, unintended, break. The lighter breeze saw some different faces at the front of the pack, and resulted in some changes in the final results from the placing going into the day.
We have a new ILCA 6 overall champion, with Naomi Ferrissey from Murrays Bay holding her nerve to close out the overall ILCA 6 crown and the Women's division after a very close fought contest. The big mover of the day was local star Winston Liesebach, who scored a 1st and 2nd today to leap up to second in the overall standings. It secured him the youth boys crown but it was not quite enough to take the overall title, ending up two points behind Naomi, who's second in the days first race proved enough to secure the title for her. A single point back in third was Greta Pilkington (W), who in turn was just one point ahead of todays second race winner, World ILCA 6 Mens champion George Lane. Louie Poletti had another solid day to finish 5th overall and second youth while Australia's Frances Beebe (W) and Zach Stibbe (YB), who were both in contention going into the last day, found the light conditions tricky, ending up 6th and 7th overall. In 8th was Fiji's Sophia Morgan, who was very happy with her day after winning a new sail as a spot prize at prize giving! The top 10 was rounded out by yesterdays race winner Miro Luxford (YB), who definitely found the light conditions challenging, but just held out Sam Clarke from Murrays Bay, who capped off a great series with a 3rd in the last race, with Napier local Will Muir also finishing on a high with a 4th in the last race.
Leading Youth Girl was Chloe Turner from Murrays Bay, who had enough points in hand to stay ahead of Napier local Rose Dickey, in spite of Rose having a great day with two top 10 results. Pupuke's Daniella Wooldridge rounded out the top 3 for the youth girls.
In the ILCA 7 the lighter conditions broke overnight leaders Master Nik Burfoot's run of bullets, but a second and third in the two races was enough for him wrap up the overall title and leave prize giving with a raft of trophies, for overall ILCA 7 2024 champion, overall Masters Champion and divisional winner. Scott Leith (M), one of those who had a top mark rest, won the days second race, which was just enough to hold off the fast finishing George Pilkington, the under 21 trophy winner, by a single point. George had the best day of the fleet, convincingly winning the first race and then finishing 2nd to Scott in the second. While the top three pretty much dominated the results all series there was a fantastic contest behind them between the top two GM's, Andrew Dellabarca and Rohan Lord and Master Kris Decke for 4th, 5th and 6th. In the end it was Andrew who had the most consistent day to hold onto 4th and the leading GM spot. Two to really make the most of the lighter conditions were Irish GGM visitor Bill O'Hara, who's 3rd and 4th on the day well and truely secured the GGM cube and simply had the balance of the GGM's watching in awe, and Mike Knowsley, who's 5th in both races saw him lock in a top 10 finish.
In the ILCA 6 Masters fleet Phil Wild (M) easily took the title but saw his monopoly on race wins broken, with Hamilton's GM Werner Hennig taking the first race of the day and second overall. Ed Tam (M) held on for third, just ahead of fast finishing Dave Johnson (M) and Roger Winton(GM). GGM Graeme Tee continued his strong regatta to win his division from Pete Thomas while in the Women's Hamilton fleet mother Helen Spencer's 10th in the first race was enough for her to secure the Women's trophy from Georgina Wooldridge.
In the ILCA 4's Tom Pilkington continued to dominate, winning both races and the overall series. The close contest between Lucy Millar, Hermione Arsis and Lucy Yang for the minor placings continued, with Lucy holding on to take the girls prize and second overall. So after what everyone agreed was an exceptional contest in all respects; weather, venue, quality of racing, race management, everything, we have lots of satisfied sailors and our 2024 champions. We are all looking forward to doing it again next year in Nelson, January 15th to 19th 2025.
Day 3 - A close contest in the ILCA 6
Today was again a great days sailing. We had a nice Napier NE sea breeze all day, but it was more variable than yesterday for todays 3 races. After a delay of half an hour while the breeze settled in todays first race was held in a brisk 15 knots of breeze, although this did start to ease later in the race. Race 2 was much lighter and patchier, maybe averaging 8 knots and then it picked up a little more for the third race. There was a decent chop all day, which offered some good downhill rides, particularly in the first race. PRO Andrew Kearney again set an excellent course and there was close racing throughout all the fleets.
Even though conditions were similar to yesterday there were significant shake ups in the standings in the ILCA 6 fleet. Overall it was a great day for the women, with Naomi Ferrissey enjoying a stellar day, winning one race and getting second in both the others, to move right to the top of the standing. She now leads on count back from overnight leader Greta Pilkington, who had a consistent but not spectacular day, with her best a 3rd in the third race. Aussie visitor Frances Beebe started off with bang, winning the first race and ending the day 3rd overall to complete the women trifecta at the top of the table with one day to go. Miro Luxford (Youth Boys) also had a great day, improving with every race and capping it off by taking the gun in the last race of the day.
George Lane leads the Mens ILCA 6 division and is in 4th overall, while Louie Poletti leads the Youth Boys in 5th overall. Chloe Turner had a consistent day to lead the Youth Girls. In every ILCA 6 category the titles are still well and truely open. At the top of the overall table it is really close, with no less than 7 sailors within 10 points of the lead and all still with a realistic chance at the overall title with the 2 races remaining tomorrow.
The situation is a bit different in the other fleets.
Nik Burfoot (M) again had a dominant day, winning all 3 races in the ILCA 7 to take a solid lead overall into tomorrows final races. Scott Leith (M) and George Pilkington (Open) remain within striking distance, although Scott had a very testing 3rd race, withdrawing after tying himself in knots as he unexpectedly found life in the bunch more complicated than when one is clear ahead! Behind the leading three, GM's Andrew Dellabarca and Rohan Lord continue a close contest for the GM title and 4th and 5th overall while Master Kris Decke continues to lie 6th. Kris managed to lead race 3 for a good while, but eventually got gobbled up by the 3 leaders. Our ever consistent Irish visitor Bill O'Hara continues to lead the GGM's, while Worser Bays Simon Beck demonstrated that it is possible for mere mortals to break into the leading bunch with his 5th in the last race.
In the ILCA 6 Masters the days races followed what has become a normal pattern at this contest, with Master Phil Wild dominating with three bullets while Ed Tam (M), Werner Hennig (GM) and Dave Johnson (M) slug it out for the minor overall placings and close contests continue for the GGM and Women titles slightly further down the order. Both Ed and Dave suffered UFD's in todays first race, so will need to be on their best behaviour tomorrow to secure their top placings.
In the ILCA 4 Tom Pilkington continued his clean sweep, but there is a really close contest for the minor placings with Lucy Millar, Hermione Aris and Laura Yang all trading places and all are in with a chance of the other podium spots.
So with 2 races left tomorrow, and lighter winds forecast, there is still plenty of opportunity and plenty to play for before all the titles are decided and the cubes are handed out.
Day 2 - Napier simply superb
Yesterday was nice, today was superb. A proper sea breeze was just getting established for race 1 and it built all day. By the days third race it was 15 knots plus, great waves and it provided a superb days sailing. Superb conditions laid the foundation for superb racing and sure enough every fleet enjoyed 3 great races. Superb race management matched the conditions, with great courses set perfectly for the conditions providing opportunities for all 100 competitors, and even a lovely broad reach surfing in at the end of the day. You could tell it was a good workout, some of the GGM's were debating the merits of a maximum of two races a day at the bar afterwards!
The fresher breeze gave the standings at the top of the ILCA 6 fleet a bit of a shakeup, with Greta Pilkington all smiles after having a really strong day with 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings in todays 3 races to grab the overall lead on count back from Napier Winston Liesebach, who remains the leading youth. Australian visitor Frances Beebe also has a great day to sit just a point back in third, ahead of George Lane and overnight leader Loiue Poletti, who could not quite find a repeat of yesterday's form today. Zach Stibbe excelled in the windier third race to take the gun and moved up the leaderboard into 6th, ahead of a very consistent Naomi Ferrissey. A great contest is developing amongst the youth girls, with Chloe Turner and Rose Dickey neck and neck on points after day 2.
Master Nik Burfoot, our ex Open Laser world champion, might not have sailed ILCA's much for a few years but today proved that he has certainly not forgotten the art! Three bullets propelled him to the lead in the ILCA 7 fleet, leaving the rest of the fleet in his wake. Overnight leaders, Master Scott Leith, and Open sailor (and Greta's brother) George Pilkington both worked to keep Nik honest all day to lie second and third overall, just a couple of points adrift of Nik. Behind them Grand Masters, Andrew Dellabarca and Rohan Lord are slugging it out for the GM cube while Ireland's Bill O'Hara led the GGM's in two of todays 3 races to stamp his authority on the GGM division.
In the 4.7's the Pilkington's continued their family domination, with younger brother Tom winning all 3 races ahead of an extremely close contest for second. Lucy Millar from Gisborne, with a 2/3/2 today, just leads Hermione Aris from Murrays Bay and Laura Yang from Akarana, who got through to second in todays second race to stay in close touch overall.
In the ILCA 6 Masters the fleet could only watch in awe as Master Phil Wild continued his domination with three more bullets. Behind Phil a close series is developing between Ed Tam (M), who remains second overall, Werner Hennig (GM) and Dave Johnson (M), while in the GGM's Pupuke's Pete Thomas made a big move up the order to significantly close the points gap on Graeme Tee from Ohope. Helen Spencer and Georgina Wooldridge are enjoying a close battle for the women title, with Georgina getting the better of the contest today, but still trailing Helen overall.
The weather man is predicting another stunner for tomorrow, so with 3 more race scheduled we should see another fantastic days sailing for everyone.
Day 1 - Locals excel
Napier turned on a lovely warm day with a light sea breeze for the opening day of the 2024 ILCA (Laser) NZ Nationals. A bit of high cloud made it very humid and prevented the sea breeze ever getting much over 8 knots for the first two scheduled races of the contest. Th breeze was quite patchy with a small chop, but it provided great conditions for close racing right through the 100 strong fleet.
In the 47 boat ILCA 6 fleet it was a fantastic day for the Napier locals, with Finn Balchin taking out race 1, Winston Liesebach race 2 and Rose Dickey leading the youth girls at the end of the day. Both Finn and Winston had good results in the days other race, to sit second and third overall, but neither were quite good enough to prevent Louie Poletti from Murrays Bay leading overall, as well as being the leading youth boy, after scoring a 2nd place in both races. The first 3 are followed closely by an extremely close contest for the leading woman's spot. Naiomi Ferrissey ended the day a single point ahead of Fiji's Sophia Morgan and Greta Pilkington, who recently qualified NZ for the Olympics. Both Sophia and Greta are on 12 points and as both are freshly returned from the World ILCA 6 Champs in Argentina there is sure to be some close racing in that group over the balance of the contest. Reigning World ILCA 6 men's champion George Lane was heard to comment that he did "not find the conditions easy", and sits 7th overall.
There are many familiar names at the head of the ILCA 6 Masters, with Murrays Bays Master Phil Wild using his great downwind speed to ensure two bullets. He leads fellow Masters Ed Tam and Dave Johnson at the top of the table. The leading GM, in 4th place overall, is Hamiltons Werner Hennig, while the leading GGM is Graeme Tee from Ohope in 6th overall. Helen Spencer is the leading Women's Masters. A great 6th in the first race set her up for the day, although consistency eluded her, with her race 2 somewhat less successful!\
The small but high quality ILCA 4 fleet shared the starting line with the ILCA 6 Masters. Tom Pilkington looks to be carrying on the family dynasty of success in ILCA racing winning both races and lead overall. Hermione Aris sits second and is the leading women.
In the ILCA 7 fleet the 26 Masters and Open sailors are sailing together as a single fleet. With our top 6 Olympic sailors all in Adelaide for the Open worlds the title will go to someone new this year. After 2 races leading Master Scott Leith, and leading Open sailor George Pilkington are tied at the top of the table with a win and a second each after 2 very tightly fought races. Third overall, and being welcomed back to the ILCA nationals after an absence of quite a few years, is ex Open World Champion, now Master, Nik Burfoot. Open sailor Max Faulkner sits in a solid 4th overall followed by a group of past masters winners; GM's Andrew Dellabarca and Rohan Lord and Onerahi Master Kris Decke. We are welcoming 2 Irish Masters visitors this year, who are having a stop off on their way to the Masters World in Adelaide. Having spun us a good Irish yarn, telling us its way too cold at home and that they had done no preparation and have "hardly sailed", Bill O'Hara had really solid days to be leading the GGM's in 10th overall, while I suspect Conrad is looking for a wee bit more breeze to stamp his authority on the contest.
So a great first day to kick off the 2024 nationals. The weather forecast for the next 3 days looks promising, with moderate breezes predicted, so we hope to see tomorrows 3 races completed on scheduled.