Illusion Inland Championship 2025 at Middle Nene Sailing Club
by Wilf Kunze 11 Nov 2025 06:24 PST
Close racing was the order of the day - Illusion Inland Championship at Middle Nene © Tom Vessey
For the fourth consecutive year, Matt Yallop (GBR16), the reigning Inland Champion of the Illusion class, defended his title in the season's last open sailing event at Middle Nene SC (Northants).
Cold weather and a forecast of light winds meant that there were only five competitors in the fleet, including Josh Gillson, a promising talent from the MNSC Youth Fleet who swapped his usual RS Tera for a day in a mini keelboat.
Headed by the experienced Flying 15 sailor Neil Bartholomey, the race team had set a figure of eight course in the northern part of Thrapston Sailing Lake, and the format included four sprint races in the morning with two longer races in the afternoon.
Fortunately the light winds promised did not materialise and the sunny day brought an average wind speed of 15mph, with the odd light gust. There was some very close racing among the contestants but in the end, the reigning champion persevered to take the attractive glass trophy for another year.
At the prize-giving, MNSC Commodore Roo Jarvis thanked the race and galley teams for their support and congratulated the contestants on their participation. The final positions were Matt Yallop (GBR16) 1st, Tony Wright (GBR82) 2nd, Jack Mead (GBR4) 3rd, Wilf Kunze (GBR108) 4th and Josh Gillson (GBR163) 5th.
The day ended with the well-attended traditional MNSC Bonfire Party with a spectacular fireworks, accompanied by hot snacks and cold drinks from the bar.
The next Illusion events at Middle Nene SC will be the 8-hour Race in mid-July 2026 and the Open Meeting/Inland Championship on 7th November.
MNSC is the only club in the East Midlands to regularly race Illusion mini-keelboats with its very active group of eleven boats in the Slow Handicap fleet. Other classes frequently sailed are Flying 15 (keelboat), Solo, ILCA/Laser, RS200, RS400, RS Tera, RS Feva, Phantom, Supernova and Wayfarer. For any enquiries please contact MNSC by email to or via the club website www.middlenenesc.co.uk