ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Bartley Sailing Club

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Bartley © Giles Horwich-Smith

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Bartley © Giles Horwich-Smith

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Bartley © Giles Horwich-Smith

Sponsored by Dinghy Buyer Direct, part of the Midlands circuit sponsored by Ovington Boats

Sunshine and a steady breeze welcomed the 22 club boats and 20 visitors to Bartley SC on Sunday 30th May. A mix of ILCA 4, 6, and 7 rigs took to the water with ages ranging from junior to great grandmaster to provide one of the largest turnouts in recent years.

The wind direction was not the best for Bartley with the Easterly swinging either side of true making it a challenge for the race officer to set a square line and first beat. However, with a brief postponement the line was set and the fleet got under way for race 1. The first beat proved decisive with those going to the right making big gains on any who thought the left was favoured. A small group of ILCA 7s at the front pulled out a tidy lead only to give it all back when they rounded the second windward mark in the wrong direction and had to re-round. This seemed only a minor diversion as Neil Crosby (Bowmoor), John Ling (Bartley) and George Fereday (Bartley / Earlswood) pulled away from Richard Baker (Bartley) in 4th and the chasing fleet. After an hour of racing Neil took the win by the smallest of margins from John and George.

The ILCA 6 fleet was well spread out with Kieran Bray (Banbury) beating Andy Allen (Trimpley) and Oliver Woodley (Liminston) to the line. ILCA 4 sailor Finley Moss showed that the ULKA / ASF Birmingham training at Bartley was paying off taking 16th place on handicap.

The fleet retired for some lunch at Tilly's Galley and some sun bathing whilst the race office dealt with the only protest of the day, and then it was back on the water for race 2 and 3 back-to-back.

Race Officer Steve Ward had warned the sailors that he would go from P to U to Black if we had too many recalls and he was true to his word catching many of the sailors out on the 3rd start to race 2. In the ILCA 7 fleet John Ling quickly established a lead that would not be challenged throughout whilst Simon Hardiman (Bartley), Joe Woodley (Burghfield), Greg Coines (Shropshire), George Fereday and Steve Thomas (Bartley) had a great battle for second position. In the end Simon got the 2nd and Joe the 3rd. Megan Hardiman (Bartley) was first ILCA 6 from Oliver Woodley and Sian Bray (Banbury) in a depleted fleet attributed to the black flag.

Everyone behaved in the final race showing that ILCA sailors can learn from our mistakes and the fleet were cleanly away, all be it on a very one-sided beat due to a huge wind shift at the start which subsequently shifted back as the fleet rounded. Ben Flower (Paignton) pushed ahead at the front with George Fereday keeping him honest and local youth sailor Tom Williams taking the 3rd. In the ILCA 6 fleet Oliver Woodley took the win followed by Harrison Allen (Bartley) (with a capsize on the line to celebrate) and Megan Hardiman.

At the end of the day John Ling won from George Fereday and Neil Crosby in the ILCA 7, Oliver Woodley was first ILCA 6 followed by Megan Hardiman (first lady helm) and Kieran Bray, and Finley Moss posted a fantastic result of 15th overall in the ILCA 4.

The prize-giving was a feast of goodies from our main sponsor Dinghy Buyer Direct ranging from a foil bag and tiller extension to T-shirts and water bottles, with additional prizes from series sponsor Ovington Boats - thanks to both sponsors for their generous contributions, at the end of the day everyone went away with something to celebrate a great event. Thanks also to fleet captain John Ling for organising the event and RO Steve Ward and his team for making the most of the challenging conditions.

Overall Results: