Performance Sailcraft ILCA Midland Grand Prix event at Attenborough Sailing Club

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough © John Ling

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough © John Ling

Attenborough Sailing Club hosted the ILCA Midlands Open Meeting yesterday, with 15 sailors taking to the water for three races: one in the morning and two back-to-back in the afternoon.

The fleet had a good mix of ages, experience and rigs, which made for a competitive but friendly day on the water. From the shore the wind looked fresh, but Attenborough's islands and trees meant the forecast only told part of the story. The breeze shifted, faded, filled in again and kept everyone guessing, while the temperature caught plenty of sailors and duty team members out by feeling much colder than expected.

Race one used the full length of the lake on a figure-of-eight course. In the ILCA 7s, John Ling, Paul Keeling and Oscar Nowell started to pull clear, before Oscar suffered one of the more memorable moments of the day with a capsize to windward and a mast firmly stuck in Attenborough's famous mud, dropping him to 6th. Christine Statham sailed an excellent race in the ILCA 6, finishing 3rd overall and leading her rig.

For race two, Race Officer Peter Hampshire set a course that forced sailors to choose how best to thread their way through the islands, which rewarded those who read the lake well rather than simply sailing the most direct route. John Ling took the ILCA 7 win, while Christine Statham was again first ILCA 6.

By the final race the wind had faded and become even more shifty, making it a test of patience and decision-making rather than outright speed. John found the lighter conditions less to his liking and slipped to 2nd, allowing Paul Keeling to take the ILCA 7 win, while Oscar Johnson came through to win the ILCA 6 fleet.

Sailing coach Dom Barnes was also on the water during the day, informally supporting sailors across the fleet with observations, photos, video and a few coaching points between races and after the event. It was not a formal coaching day, but it gave several sailors the chance to get useful feedback while the racing was still fresh in their minds.

A big thank you goes to Attenborough Sailing Club, Race Officer Peter Hampshire, the safety crew, galley team, shore team and everyone who helped make the event happen. It was a challenging inland open meeting with cold hands, shifting breeze, close racing and one mast in the mud, exactly the sort of day where the sailors who kept thinking and adapting were the ones who came away with the biggest gains.

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough - photo © John Ling

Overall Results:

1st ILCA 6 - Christine Statham
1st Junior - Oscar Johnson

ILCA Midland Grand Prix at Attenborough - photo © John Ling