🔥 HSS ILCA Program 2024 – 2025 🔥

We welcome all young sailors and their families to join our ILCA program and the HSS sailing community!

The HSS ILCA program, led by our head coach Lucas Swan, is designed to elevate the sailing careers of our athletes through top-tier training and competitive opportunities. Our aim is to foster independence, excellence and personal growth of the participants. The program is intended for all young ILCA sailors, from those just starting their ILCA careers to those who are pushing forward to the senior level in ILCA 6 or ILCA 7.

Objectives

The objectives of the program are

  • Develop sailing skills and physical ability through a structured training program with clear goals and feedback
  • Provide competitive opportunities by participation in national and international ILCA events, as well as training together with top international teams
  • Enhance team work and a sense of community among sailors (and their families!) through sailing activities and social events

Program highlights

We believe high quality training, regular feedback and healthy competition are the cornerstones of development.

  • Coaching sessions 4 times a week, including on-water practice and theory lessons
  • Clinics on sailing techniques, boat maintenance, and race strategies
  • Participation in the Finnish ranking races, and a few international events
  • Regular progress discussion and feedback with the head coach
  • Winter Tour: Up to five training camps and/or regattas in Europe
  • Physical training to improve the sailors’ strength and stamina  

Timeline

During the winter sailing training is organised as a series of clinics and regattas, also known as the Winter Tour. The schedule is below. 

  • 16th to 22nd December: Christmas Trophy in Murcia, Spain.
  • 27th December tol 5th January: Vilamoura clinic I, training with international teams
  • 16th to 22nd February: Vilamoura clinic II
  • 2nd to 9th of March: Grand Prix 2 Vilamoura international regatta
  • 16th to 26th April: ILCA 6 Youth Europeans, Vilamoura

More details regarding the winter tour are here. 

The summer sailing season in Finland starts in late April. During the summer we take part in the national ranking series regattas. During the summer season there are also the following relevant international regattas.

  • June: ILCA 4 Youth Europeans, Puck, Poland
  • July: ILCA 4 Youth Worlds and ILCA 6 Youth Worlds, Los Angeles, USA 
  • August: ILCA U21 Worlds, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
  • October: ILCA U21 Europeans, Split, Croatia

How to join?

The HSS ILCA Program is available for HSS members. Send your membership application here and then sign up to the group on SuomiSport. We also recommend at least one parent to join as member, as the club supports junior activities from membership fees.

Members from other clubs can take part in Winter Tour events at a non-member price. Winter Tour information and signup will open at Suomisport soon.

Season 2025 info session at HSS Club Room Sept 2nd 6pm 2024. For more information, contact Lucas Swan, HSS Head Coach (+358 50 3777558 / lucas @ helsinkisailing.com) or Hanna Koskimies, HSS Junior Chief (+358 45 662 7522 / hanna @ helsinkisailing.com).

Good winds and hope to see you soon!

– The HSS Junior Sailing Team