ILCA Midlands Grand Prix at Staunton Harold Sailing Club

ILCA Midlands Grand Prix © Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Wow, what an event! Staunton Harold SC hosted the penultimate in the ILCA Midlands Grand Prix - next stop Burton Sailing Club for the final!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our ILCA Open Event at the weekend. A great day was had by one and all with 30+ boats enjoying epic battles across the fleet. Well done to everyone who took part!

Race 1

The wind was variable S to SE in direction and strength. The course stretched across most of the reservoir with a challenging mile long run down the second leg. This gave a lot of choices allowing for big gains and losses to be made. Home sailor, Nathan Smith, established a comfortable lead through the race to finish first. John Ling (Bartley SC) pulled through to finish second and Henry Redmond (Covenham SC) took third place.

ILCA Midlands Grand Prix - photo © Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Race 2

Race 2 started with different winds at each end of the start line. Lining up for the start, a big group of sailors bunched up at the Committee Boat end. Home sailor Pete Gray and Burton SC's Adam Skidmore (Radial rig) caught a shift at the port end allowing hem to clear the fleet on port tack.

Pete led at the first mark with a break away group in hot pursuit. Runs up and down the lake saw the main fleet close the gap and early leader, Pete, dropped back. By the end of the race John Ling had managed to work his way to the front of the fleet to take a comfortable win. Meanwhile Henry Skidmore and home sailor Craig Williamson battled it out for second, Henry just clinching the second, leaving Craig with third.

ILCA Midlands Grand Prix - photo © Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Race 3

By the start of Race 3 the wind had dropped. The start line had a big port end bias which meant a tough start for the racers. A group of five broke away for their own race. Leading this group John, Pete and Nathan enjoyed a close tussle in the lighter breeze. Once in front John covered the others, who stayed close, but couldn't pass him.

ILCA Midlands Grand Prix - photo © Staunton Harold Sailing Club

Thank you

Thanks go to our excellent Race Team for an exciting day's sailing. Also thank you to our Galley team for keeping everyone going!

Lastly

Don't forget this coming weekend's grand finale for the ILCA Midlands Grand Prix at Burton Sailing Club. Find out more here and take part!

Overall Results: