Collingridge shines in strong British showing in Palma

Daisy Collingridge secured a silver medal in the ILCA 6 class (credit: Sailing Energy)

Five British medals at opening Sailing Grand Slam event of 2026

Palma, Mallorca. The British Sailing Team made a strong start to the 2026 Sailing Grand Slam season taking home five medals, two more than any other country, at the S.A.R Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma.

As the opening event of the Sailing Grand Slam, the Princess Sofia Trophy marks the start of a five-regatta circuit that gathers the world’s top sailors across all 10 Olympic classes. Of the 41 British boats and boards in Mallorca, 11 made it through to medal series despite a challenging week of abnormal conditions in the Bay of Palma that kept everyone on their toes. 

Daisy Collingridge delivered the best performance of her career to date in the ILCA 6 class, finishing runner-up after a dramatic medal series. She sailed with impressive consistency throughout the week in testing and changeable conditions. Collingridge, who started sailing at Waldringfield Sailing Club in Suffolk, went toe-to-toe with Eve McMahon from Ireland. After a tense medal series outlined by head-to-head match racing between the pair, McMahon won the final race to take overall victory by a single point under the new World Sailing Olympic trial format.

Collingridge battled with training partner Eve McMahon in a thrilling finale (credit: Sailing Energy)

Speaking after the race, Collingridge said: “It’s been a really intense week topped off by a bit of match race practice yesterday and in the medal races today! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed not to keep hold of the win today but looking back on the week I’m really happy with how much I’ve learnt and the confidence I can take forward in how I was making my decisions around the course.

“I’m also buzzing for Eve, we’re great mates and training partners and for us to be battling up at the top together shows how strong our group is.”

Earlier in the day John Gimson and Anna Burnet started the British medal rush with a bronze in the Nacra 17 class. The reigning world champions had a difficult week leaving themselves in fifth with plenty to do in Saturday’s medal series. However, in a more traditional Palma sea breeze, the pair produced some of their best sailing finishing first and second in the two races to clinch third place overall.

There was a double British podium in the ILCA 7 class with Elliot Hanson delivering a strong display to pip teammate and four-time defending champion Micky Beckett to second. Sam Whaley also had a strong week to finish in eighth overall, once again showcasing Britain’s immense depth in laser sailing.

Hanson in action during today's medal series (credit: Sailing Energy)

European champions Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris continued their fine start to the 2026 season with a silver medal in the 470 class. They were joined in the gold fleet by Hannah Bristow and James Taylor who recovered from a slow start to finish inside the top 10.

Despite just missing out on the podium, Nottingham windsurfer Duncan Monaghan delivered a personal best performance finishing fourth in a highly competitive iQFOiL fleet. There were also other notable efforts from Lily Young (Formula Kite) and Hannah Snellgrove (ILCA 6) who both made their respective medal series. Meanwhile, defending overall Princess Sofia champion Emma Wilson, made the medal series just two weeks after surgery on her forearm. 

There were a number of other standout performances throughout the week from some of the British Sailing Squad and transition programme. Haydn Sewell and Dan Fusco-House made the gold fleet in the 470 class and Carys Atwell made her first ever gold fleet in ILCA 6 on the week of her 21^st birthday.

Lily Young returned to action in the Formula Kite class just four months after hand surgery

Performance Director, Mark Robinson said: “Overall, it’s been a really encouraging start to the season for the team. To come away from Palma with five medals – two more than any other nation – shows the strength and depth we’re continuing to build.

There were some standout performances this week, particularly from Daisy, who showed real composure and maturity in challenging conditions to get a silver medal. It was great to also see Duncan step up and deliver a personal best performance in a highly competitive iQFOiL fleet.”

With Palma now in the rearview mirror, the attention of some of the British Sailing Team will shift to the next Sailing Grand Slam event, SOF Hyres (French Olympic week) which takes place from 18^th-25^th April.

To see the full results from the Princess Sofia Trophy visit: https://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall