17/05/2026
As Dinghy Captain, it was a pleasure to welcome sailors back to the River Wyre for the opening event of the 2026 ILCA UK / Laser Northern Grand Prix. The day delivered everything our tidal venue is known for — shifting water levels, tactical challenges, sunshine, and a committed fleet ready to make the most of it. What follows is the full account of yesterday’s racing, capturing the conditions, competition, and standout performances across all three races.
An early start to the 2026 ILCA UK / Laser Northern Grand Prix series 23 sailors arrives at the tranquil shores of the River Wyre for a 10:00am start. On arrival, they were greeted with little water to be seen, but shortly afterwards “the tap was turned on” to support this tidal venue.
Blessed with sunshine and a gentle westerly Force 2–3 breeze, sailors headed down tide towards Shard Bridge following the briefing. With the course set and Black Flag conditions in force, racing got underway.
Race One produced an interesting start, with the whole fleet on starboard tack before being forced to pop over onto port due to the tide — always an entertaining sight. Ian Jones 227315 broke free early to take the lead, closely followed by Will Taylor 219798. It was fantastic to see some youth sailors Molly Haslam 167920 and Lochlyn Grant 189464 on the water, both successfully completing the slightly shortened course in the slow fleet.
By Race Two, the tide had started to ease and the entire starting line was packed. Peter McCrystal 224754took control early and was the first competitor to tack onto port. However, his lead was short-lived as Ian Jones and Will Taylor once again fought their way to the front. As the tide turned, another shortened race was required.
The third and final race of the day proved to be a race officer’s nightmare as the wind clocked south and rain arrived. Despite the challenging conditions, the race team expertly adjusted the course and moved several marks to get racing underway. This time, the local sailors took advantage, with Peter McCrystal leading the way and Nick Powell, Malcolm Marsden, and Neil Marsden close on his heels.
The final results told the story:
• 1st Place: Ian Jones — Dovestone SC
• 2nd Place: Peter McCrystal — B&FYC
• 3rd Place: Will Taylor — Delph SC
• 1st Lady: Kathryn Partington-Smith — Pennine SC
• 1st Youth: Molly Haslam — Delph SC
