Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

Sailingfast ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough Sailing Club

by Roger Day 29 Jun 2024 08:41 BST 15 June 2024

Seventeen boats took to the water for a three-race series. Forecasts all predicted a gusty day and high probability of rain throughout.

The first race got away on time cleanly in a light breeze with one exception, who misread the start line. By the time the first boat, John Ling 224155, had reached the windward mark the fleet had already started to separate. The wind was patchy and light, and some were finding the conditions difficult. The first lap took John almost 16 minutes to complete with the next three boats, Steven Thomas 165537, Paul Keeling 108827 and Ben Richardson 222774 coming through the gate within 30 seconds of each other. It was a further couple of minutes before the fifth boat and a full 10 minutes before all 17 boats had crossed the gate line.

The wind continued to be light with few place changes, although Paul Keeling passed Steven Thomas to finish second and third respectively. Those sailing with radial rigs suffered in the light winds with Andy Allan 24110 coming in tenth after just two laps.

There was an interlude for lunch before getting back out on the water for two races to be sailed back-to-back. With a storm cell showing on the weather radar 10 or so miles south of us the winds beside being fickle veered significantly, and even after a short postponement due to lightening in the vicinity, the first leg had changed from a beat to a reach (who would be a race officer?).

Again, John Ling showed his prowess to lead the fleet with Paul Keeling not far behind and with the wind not showing any significant gain in strength the fleet once again became well-spaced across the lake. It took John 15 minutes for the first lap, but the radials were suffering yet again taking up to 40 minutes to complete lap one. The second lap was even slower for all, but John stayed in front to take pole, Paul Keeling second and Steven Thomas in third.

The storm cell had passed, and the wind backed to making the OOD decision look more positive with a good beat on the first leg. The wind had also increased in strength. The fleet got away cleanly, and John Ling had decided to try a port flyer. It didn't work too well, and he quickly found open water to take his penalty for a port/starboard transgression. Even so he found the windward mark in second place following Steven Thomas. There was some close racing throughout the fleet which stayed much closer together with the improved wind conditions, and significant place changes occurred and even a couple of capsizes took place. Andy Allan with his radial rig managed a fourth place allowing for his handicap adding to his fifth in the second race making him first radial. The standard rig boats came in with John first, Paul Keeling second and Steven Thomas third. In addition, Oliver Rogers was first Junior.

The club received great feedback from all the visitors on the welcoming friendly atmosphere and a special thanks to all the club members who helped to make the day a success Roger and Gillan Day as Race Officers, Lisa Burnham and Racheal Berridge for the delicious refreshments and Peter Stevens and Sue Burnham for safety boat and finally Phil Burnham and Russ Statham as lead boat.

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoRigR1R2R3Pts
1st John Ling224155ILCA 7/ Full Rig1112
2nd Paul Keeling108827ILCA 7/ Full Rig2224
3rd Steven Thomas165537ILCA 7/ Full Rig3336
4th Ben Richardson222774ILCA 7/ Full Rig4458
5th Andy Allan214110ILCA 6/ Radial10549
6th Christine Statham182627ILCA 7/ Full Rig77613
7th Alex Homer186067ILCA 7/ Full Rig96814
8th Simon Limb217014ILCA 7/ Full Rig5101515
9th Lazaros Andronis209010ILCA 6/ Radial139716
10th Mike Homer166638ILCA 7/ Full Rig6111417
11th Mike Pain213563ILCA 6/ Radial168917
12th David Burnham216065ILCA 7/ Full rig8121320
13th Carl Avery197774ILCA 7/ Full Rig12131022
14th Louis Mok134702ILCA 7/ Full Rig11141122
15th Greg Rimmer67023ILCA 6/ Radial15171227
16th Oliver Rogers212144ILCA 6/ Radial14151729
17th Philip Deeley201354ILCA 6/ Radial17161632

Related Articles

22nd Budget Marine Antigua ILCA Open
17 sailors from Antigua, St Vincent and British Virgin Islands (BVI) compete Last Saturday and Sunday at Falmouth Harbour in Antigua was the 22nd Budget Marine Antigua ILCA Open. Organized by the Antigua Yacht Club, the event brought together 17 sailors from Antigua, St Vincent and British Virgin Islands (BVI). Posted on 28 Mar
2027 Performance Sailcraft ILCA Under-21 Worlds
Up to 200 sailors are expected to compete at Sandringham YC The International Laser Class Association has awarded the right to conduct the 2027 ILCA Under-21 World Championships to ILCAVic in Melbourne, Australia. Posted on 13 Mar
ILCA Women's Coaching at Queen Mary
24 benefit from event on International Women's Day The sun came out for 24 ILCA sailors on International Women's Day as the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme returned to Queen Mary on Saturday 8th March. Happily QM gave everyone complementary sunglasses to cope with the glare! Posted on 11 Mar
Entry Open for the Suzuki ILCA Masters Europeans
Suzuki joins an outstanding line-up of sponsors EurILCA, and Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) are thrilled to announce that Suzuki will be the title sponsor for the 2025 SUZUKI ILCA Masters European Championships, taking place at Hayling Island Sailing Club from 14th to 20th June 2025. Posted on 24 Feb
ILCA's Path to a Sustainable Future
As the world evolves, so must the Class The original innovative design and construction techniques of the ILCA dinghy have endured through the decades, with over 227,000 boats built, allowing us to race with the same boat our parents used when they were our age. Posted on 16 Feb
2025 ILCA Thailand National Championships
Italian Olympian Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini snatches ILCA 7 gold On the final day of racing at the 2025 ILCA Thailand National Championships, Italian Olympian Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini snatched ILCA 7 gold, with Australians Zac Littlewood and Ethan McAullay taking silver and bronze. Posted on 10 Feb
Increasing ILCA class female participation
The Australian ILCA class has continued to show growth The Australian ILCA class has continued to show growth in participation by females in the ILCAs, Australia's most popular single handed dinghy class, at the Oceania and Australian Open and Youth Championships sailed in early January. Posted on 21 Jan
Daisy Collingridge talk on Women in Sailing
British Sailing Team and ILCA sailor inspiring change Over 70 sailors from as far away as Bough Beech in Kent and Rutland SC descended on London Corinthian SC in West London to join Daisy Collingridge from the British Sailing Team to talk about Women in Sailing. Posted on 12 Dec 2024
Positive Waves of Change for Sailing in Orkney
Already experiencing the transformative legacy of the Orkney 2025 Games Orkney is already experiencing the transformative legacy of the Orkney 2025 Games, with a surge in interest in sailing setting a course for the sport's growth in the islands. Posted on 4 Dec 2024
ILCAs at Draycote Water
Combination of Olympic sail and 1972 hull brings deep joy Following recent weeks disappointing wind for several large events 16th November at Draycote Water seemed to be the place to be for all ILCA sailors in the Midlands. There was a reasonable entry of 44 Sailors looking forward to stretching their legs. Posted on 22 Nov 2024