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Over the past seven decades, Middle Nene
Sailing Club has developed from a disused
gravel pit to a respected sailing club on the
national circuit. The Club in 1947 with just fi ve
boats and quickly became a well-known base
for dinghy and keelboat racing, with a number
of very successful sailors emerging. Amongst
their members the Club can boast a lady world
champion, European champions and several
national champions, as well as two members
who together sailed the Atlantic. Today the
Club counts more than 350 members, including
anglers. Middle Nene Sailing Club runs RYA
approved training programmes and expects to
train 50+ youngsters this year.

Joining in the two-day celebrations mid-July to
celebrate the 70th anniversary were the Mayor
of Thrapston, Sam Cribb, on Saturday, and The
Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, David
Laing, on Sunday. Both took the chance to not
only explore the club compound, but to also take
a short sailing trip around the lake and were
duly impressed by the effi cient operation of the
Club, which is run entirely by its members.

The event ended on Sunday pm with the threehour
long pursuit race for the ‘Anniversary
Cup’, in which all boats with a Portsmouth
Yardstick rating could participate on equal
terms. Appropriately, the race was won by
MNSC’s Commodore, Matt Yallop.

Racing days at Middle Nene Sailing Club
are Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays,
and the main dinghy classes are Enterprise,
RS200 and Solo, with Flying 15 and Illusion
forming the keelboat fl eet. The Club prides
itself on its family-friendly atmosphere and its
vibrant social life. New members are always
welcome at Meadow Lane in Thrapston.

Details are available from the MNSC website
www.middlenenesc.co.uk and from the club’s
Facebook page. 

Middle Nene Sailing Club