Craftinsure Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Chichester Yacht Club
by Graham Williamson 28 Mar 2012 12:15 BST
24 March 2012
Spring at Chichester Harbour: a beautiful day in a beautiful place. Nick Colborne, PRO, is concerned at how slowly the spring tide is filling Chichester Lake; the high pressure of the last few days has kept the water level down – 10mm per millibar. We are educated....
Nature takes its course, and with only a short delay to ensure water across the whole course Race One begins in a gentle Eastish breeze. Three boats quickly form a breakaway group; ‘Faithless’ Richard Whitworth & Sarah, the Monkey Business boys Si Blake & Alex Jackson and Matt Biggs & Ben Hollis in Stealth. Snakes & ladders ensue when Monkey Business takes the lead and Stealth & Faithless swap places before settling on Blake 1, Whitworth 2 and Biggs 3. The following pack is lead by ‘Miss Aigletinger’ (David & Fiona Sayce) ahead of plenty of other Merlin Rocket names.
Race Two: breeze is building slightly with the rising tide. The Monkey Business boys again hit the front at the first mark ahead of the White Saucererer Nick Craig & James Stewart. Stealth found a nice line of breeze to overtake Metachrosis (Colin Smith & Graham Williamson) on the run and these four held their positions to the finish, ahead of Quick Fix (Mike Calvert & Ian Garwood).
Race Three: tide now on the ebb causing some compression at the committee boat. Lots of shouting and Quick Fix going round the end to restart. Faithless and Metachrosis lead the breakaway with Dan Willett and Pete Nicholson in pursuit ahead of local boat Sublime (Martin & Vicky Jones).
Final outcome: win for Monkey Business 3707 (Shoreham SC), 2nd for Faithless 3703 (Parkstone YC), 3rd to Metachrosis 3736 (Hayling Island SC).
A brilliant day’s sailing; proper regatta tea with cake, scones and everything! Thanks to all at Chichester for a warm welcome and a very well run event, and to Craftinsure for sponsoring the Silver Tiller circuit.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Spank | 3707 | Simon Blake | Alex Jackson | Shoreham S.C. | 1 | 1 | -6 | 2 |
| 2nd | Faithless | 3703 | Richard Whitworth | Sarah | P.Y.C. | 2 | -10 | 1 | 3 |
| 3rd | Meta Chrosis | 3736 | Colin Smith | Graham Williamson | Hayling Island SC | -10 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 4th | Stealth | 3722 | Matt Biggs | Ben Hollis | Blithfield | 3 | 3 | -5 | 6 |
| 5th | Team Gill | 3675 | Nick Craig | James Stewart | Frensham Pond | 8 | 2 | -12 | 10 |
| 6th | Quick Fix | 3691 | Mike Calvert | Ian Garwood | Axe Y.C. | 5 | 5 | -7 | 10 |
| 7th | Miss Aigletinger | 3718 | David Sayce | Fiona Sayce | Hayling Island SC | 4 | 7 | -11 | 11 |
| 8th | Sublime | 3724 | Martin Jones | Vicky Jones | C.Y.C. | -15 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 9th | The Black Pearl | 3685 | Will Warren | Sophie Mackley | Shoreham S.C. | 7 | 6 | -9 | 13 |
| 10th | Gangsta Paradise | 3539 | Dan Alsop | Jennie King | Lyme Regis | 6 | -14 | 8 | 14 |
| 11th | Smarter | 3627 | Dan Willett | Pete Nicholson | Brightlingsea S.C. | -13 | 12 | 3 | 15 |
| 12th | Slippery When Wet | 3693 | Will Rainey | Kelly Miller | Shoreham S.C. | -11 | 9 | 10 | 19 |
| 13th | Blood Sweat & Beers | 3730 | Paul Hollis | James Davis | Blithfield | 9 | 11 | -16 | 20 |
| 14th | Truly Scrumptious | 3715 | Paul Rayson | Nick Yannakoyorgos | Fishers Green S.C. | 12 | -16 | 14 | 26 |
| 15th | Cool Cookie | 3620 | Andy Bines | Derick Gentry | Brightlingsea S.C. | 14 | -15 | 13 | 27 |
| 16th | FluffBum Baby Lover | 3719 | Mike Partridge | Claire Davis | Hayling Island SC | (DNF) | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| 17th | Volsci Queen | 3728 | Judith Massey | Ceilidh Higgs | Hayling Island SC | 16 | -18 | 15 | 31 |
| 18th | Make It So | 3556 | Alex Jones | Jack Deung | Cookham Reach S.C. | 17 | 17 | -19 | 34 |
| 19th | Ministry of Pleasure | 3634 | Ben Archer | W Carroll | P.Y.C. | 18 | -19 | 18 | 36 |
| 20th | Armed Forces | 3442 | Chris Iles | Kathy Iles | Locks Portsmouth | 19 | 20 | -21 | 39 |
| 21st | Point Break | 3625 | Richard Bramley | Tony Cheal | Shoreham S.C. | 20 | -21 | 20 | 40 |
