ILCA 7 World Championships – Qingdao, China
Regatta Report by Michael Compton
The ILCA 7 World Championships in Qingdao proved to be one of the most unpredictable and testing events I’ve experienced to date. With challenging weather, strong currents, and limited racing opportunities, it was a week that tested every sailor’s patience, adaptability, and resilience.
The first four days of the regatta were spent waiting ashore or on the water with no racing completed. Day one greeted us with big waves, dense swarms of flying insects, and a powerful current that made it nearly impossible to make it upwind. In the days that followed, the current remained a major obstacle—at times it was so strong that even reaching the start area became a logistical battle(especially as some sailors didn't have coaches to tow them). On day four, conditions looked promising with some wind building, but thick fog rolled in, reducing visibility to the point where the race committee couldn’t see the pin end of the line, forcing yet another abandonment.
Racing finally got underway on day five with two races in light wind and strong current. The second race was shortened, finishing at the top mark on the second upwind leg—a decision that reflected just how tough it was to get fair and complete races in such conditions.
Day six brought a dramatic change. A frontal system pushed through, bringing gusts over 35 knots and large shifts in both wind direction and pressure. I was caught in an unfortunate incident at the top mark in the first race of the day when another sailor tacked onto port and capsized on top of me, costing valuable positions. The remaining races were equally chaotic, with the breeze becoming increasingly unstable and hard to read.
Despite the limited racing and difficult conditions, I’m reasonably pleased with how I finished. It was a mentally and physically demanding event, and I took away a lot of valuable lessons—especially in staying composed and adapting quickly when things don’t go to plan.