Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Lyme Regis Sailing Club

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis © Pauline Rook

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis © Pauline Rook

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis © Pauline Rook

The Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Lyme Regis produced a sailing experience that will live long in the memory. Driving down the hill on Saturday morning the bay was sparkling in the sun, with a good southwester bringing in rolling waves. By the time the fleet hit the water, conditions were definitely in the champagne zone and rapidly becoming epic.

Race one was a flat out blast in a force four, good waves and sun. Nick Craig and new dad Tobytastic 'Tye Daddy' Lewis put the pedal down and led home Dave Hayes and Jonny Ratcliffe and the legends that are Jon Turner and Richard Parslow in their new luxury sports boat.

Race two and life was getting a bit challenging. The breeze was up, waves were getting gnarly and the sun had disappeared. New kids on the block, Steve Hall and Si Haighton, won the pin and led to the first mark. Good job boys! A good few leading lights went missing in action on the first triangle, giving Roger Gilbert and James Stewart a lead that they held till the last run when they binned it to leave Nick and Toby taking another bullet. John Gorringe and Nicky 'just a little bit scared' Bass took third. Dave and Jonny won capsize of the day with a truly spectacular pitch pole. Richard Whitworth was elevated to minor deity status by sailing back to harbour with no rudder.

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis - photo © Pauline Rook

By race three the fleet had thinned out a bit and the waves had become monstrous. Nick and Toby reveled in the condition to take a third straight bullet. Jon and Richard navigated through the carnage to take second from Tim Fells and Oli Wells. Exhausted and cold crews retired to the bar for some soothing beers and plenty of wild stories.

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis - photo © Pauline Rook

Sunday dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a light and shifty northerly. Conditions could not have been more different. This was definitely going to a game of two halves.

Race four got away in flat water and 8-10 knots. Simon Potts and Ali Martin led in from the left but lost the lead on the first triangle to Tim and Oli who navigated their way through the shifts to take a comfortable win. Richard Whitworth pulled through to take second ahead of Roger and James who were maintaining a consistent set of results. All eyes turned to find out where Nick and Toby were and they had to look a long way back as they came home 13th, but maybe there had been some rig issues and would be back at the front for the final showdown.

Merlins, Larks and Albacores enjoy the breeze and waves at Lyme Regis - photo © Pauline Rook

The last race started in a dying breeze. Those who went left found new breeze and were seen leaving. Mike and Jane Calvert read it best and took a lead never to be challenged. Dan Alsop and Jenny King pulled through to second ahead of Simon and Ali and the ever consistent Roger and James. Again all eyes turned to find Nick and Toby who were experiencing a rare bad day on the water in their illustrious careers. They struggled home in 12th and when the final numbers were totted up discovered they had lost out by two points to Roger and James.

Many thanks from all of the rocketeers to the team at Lyme Regis SC who looked after us so capably both on and off the water. It was a truly memorable weekend!

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