Please select your home edition
Edition
Melges 15

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough Sailing Club

by Roger Day 11 May 12:21 BST 10 May 2025
ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough Sailing Club © Roger Day

A mixed fleet of ILCA 6 and 7s took to the water at Attenborough today representing eight different clubs.

Three races were held under clear blue skies but with a ESE wind direction it wasn't ideal for a perfect course due to islands within the small lake. However, the fleet got away for a clean start with a beat to the first mark followed by a very broad reach to the second. Even after this short period of the race the front runners were becoming clear. A second beat, a short reach and then a run along the whole length of the lake took the fleet back to the downwind mark and thus the start of a beat taking the boats through the gate and to repeat for a total of three laps.

John Ling (219358 ILCA7, Bartley SC) came through the finish line first after leading throughout 30 seconds before Paul Keeling (108827 ILCA7, Blithfield SC) who had been trailing John all the way around. Archie Munro-Price (222281 CCSC) a junior, led the ILCA 6 visitors and finished 5th on corrected times.

After lunch two races were held back to back. Both races got away cleanly with some impressive control by a number of the fleet maintaining station on the start line. John Ling managed to get well clear of the fleet on the second lap being approximately a minute in front of John Richardson (215693 ILCA7, Trent Valley SC) and with Archie just 10 seconds further back with his smaller sail. Further down the fleet a number of place changes were continually taking place. Some of the changes could certainly be put down to the wind changing direction and strength turning beats into a fetch and broad reaches into close reaches. There were periods when boats almost had no way and next minute planning.

The last race was much closer between John and Paul yet again at the front. Christine Stratham (182627 ILCA7, ASC) had her best race of the day coming over the line in third just managing to beat another home club member Mike Pritchard (137398 ILCA7, ASC) by just 2 seconds but they were all beaten by Archie on corrected time.

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoRig
1Archie Munro‑Price227281ILCA 6 / Radial
2John Ling219358ILCA 7 / Full Rig
3Paul Keeling108827ILCA 7 / Full Rig
4Michael Pritchard137398ILCA 7 / Full Rig
5Christine Statham182627ILCA 7 / Full Rig
6Luke Hardy161405ILCA 7 / Full Rig
7John Richardson215693ILCA 7 / Full Rig
8Andrew Allan214110ILCA 6 / Radial
9Marcellus Pryer216543ILCA 7 / Full Rig
10Louis Mok134702ILCA 7 / Full Rig
11Anthony Spillers16450ILCA 7 / Full rig
12Jonathan Catton167947ILCA 7 / Full Rig
13Heidi Richardson156263ILCA 6 / Radial

Related Articles

2025 ILCA Master Worlds at Formia, Italy
Aa week of challenging conditions and fierce international competition The 2025 ILCA Master World Championships came to a close on Sunday in Formia, wrapping up a week of challenging conditions, fierce international competition, and unforgettable moments both on and off the water. Posted on 29 Sep
ILCA Grand Prix at Bowmoor
Another reminder to read the instructions carefully, and note the buoys carefully Twenty-one ILCAs turned out at Bowmoor Sailing Club on Saturday September 20th for their ILCA Grand Prix meeting. It counts towards both the Wessex Grand Prix series and for the Thames Valley series. Posted on 23 Sep
ILCA Announcement
Protecting the one-design integrity of the class ILCA's mission is to protect the integrity of strict one-design sailing—the principle that ensures every sailor competes on equal terms. This principle, enshrined in the ILCA Fundamental Rule, has been the foundation of our class's success. Posted on 21 Sep
ILCA open meeting at Frensham
22 sailors were faced with an incoming storm but no sign of wind upon arrival 22 sailors were faced with an incoming storm but with no sign of wind when they arrived on Sunday morning for one of the Thames Valley ILCA open meetings. The start was postponed for a short time. Posted on 21 Sep
Enter now for the 2025 ILCA U21 Europeans
Last week to apply for the record-breaking event The 2025 ILCA Under 21 European Championships & Open European Trophy will be held in Split, Croatia, from 18-25 October 2025, and it's shaping up to be a record-breaking event, with 240 entries already received. Posted on 20 Sep
Formia to Host 450+ Sailors for ILCA Master Worlds
Sailors from 31 nations have arrived in Italy The 2025 ILCA Master World Championships officially kicked off today in Formia, Italy. This year's event has drawn over 450 sailors from 31 nations, making it one of the largest gatherings of the ILCA Master community worldwide. Posted on 19 Sep
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup HUN
A record-breaking 177 competitors from 16 countries The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup HUN in BalatonfĂĽred featured a record-breaking 177 competitors from 16 countries, including Olympians and top sailors. Posted on 16 Sep
ILCA Women's Coaching day at Parkstone
It's really rewarding to coach groups with so much energy and enjoyment of the sport George Povall brought the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme to Parkstone on Saturday where 14 ladies attended from Poole YC, East Dorset SC, Chew Valley SC as well as the home club. Posted on 10 Sep
Derwent Reservoir Lakeland & Borders ILCA Open
A longer walk to launch, but plenty of water for the 21 entrants Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club welcomed 21 entrants to their annual ILCA open on Saturday 6th September, forming part of the 2025 ILCA Lakeland & Borders series. Posted on 8 Sep
ILCA Thames Valley Series GP at Island Barn
39 entries made it the largest of the series so far this year Thirty nine entries made Saturday's Island Barn ILCA Open the largest of the Thames Valley Grand Prix series so far this year. The club worked hard to encourage all sailing levels to enter and the conditions made for a wonderful day's racing in Surrey. Posted on 7 Sep