Selden Merlin Rocket Championships to be held at Lyme Regis
by Tim Fells 27 Apr 2012 08:57 BST
25-31 August 2012
The Merlin Rocket class and title sponsor Selden are pleased to announce the 2012 National Championships which will be held at Lyme Regis Sailing Club in Dorset from 25th to 31st August. The event website is now live and entries are open.
www.merlinrocket.co.uk/champs/index.html
Lyme Regis is renowned as a classic championship venue with the capability of providing champagne sea sailing in a big westerly swell, while having all the holiday essentials of a traditional English seaside town. With a friendly club, accommodation on the doorstep and plenty of pubs to keep the thirsty entertained, it has the makings of a truly great event. Unsurprisingly, interest is high and the portents are for one the best weeks in the class’s long history.
Competitively the Merlin Rocket National Championship has long been seen as one of the UK’s premier dinghy events, attracting the country’s top sailors to test themselves in these highly refined racing machines. The list of past champions is a who’s who of the good and the great of UK dinghy sailing and 2012 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive events to be held in the UK this year (Olympics aside!).
At the front of the fleet, defending champions Andy ‘Taxi’ Davis and Tom Pygall will be back to defend their hard earned title and leading UK small boat sailor Geoff Carveth is teaming up again with Graham Williamson in a new boat to rejoin battle. After the final race match race which decided the title between these two in 2011, this will be an interesting battle to watch!
Multiple N12 champion Tom Stewart, who now has a record beating 5 2nd place finishes, is back with a new boat and Steve Hall in the front end hoping to take the elusive title for the first time. Throwing his hat in the ring for the first time, Nick Craig adds to the roll call of Endeavour winners gunning for the title.
Challenging these big names will be the Merlin Rocket’s past champions and home grown talent (Richard Whitworth, William Warren, Mike Calvert, Jon Turner, Simon Blake, Dave Winder, Matt Biggs) and multiple champions from other classes (Tim Fells, Ian Dobson, Dave Wade, Dave Hayes, Jon Gorringe).
The high competition levels in the fleet have led to a significant increase in equipment development, all aimed at achieving a winning edge no matter how small. On this year’s innovation list there are new pole launching systems, high aspect foils, 3DL sail laminates, minor hull tweaks, skiff style mainsail sheeting and, if he can make it work, Jon Turner's canting rig. Will these make the difference or will it be the best team that takes the title? Whatever the outcome, it is sure to be a compelling battle for honours.
The championship is not all about the front end of the fleet. For a class with such history, there are plenty of long term friendships and multi-generation sailing dynasties who return year after year to compete hard and enjoy the great social events.
The class is looking forward to a truly great week and will welcome and help find boats for anyone who wants to come and share in the fun. Any of the contacts on the championship website will be pleased to help.