Sharps Doom Bar Salcombe Merlin Week - Preview
by Tim Fells 7 Jul 2016 12:31 BST
10-15 July 2016
Sharps Doom Bar Merlin Week at Salcombe day 5 © Malcolm Mackley
Sunday 10th July will see the start of the much anticipated Sharps Doom Bar sponsored Salcombe Merlin Week. With the class celebrating its 70th anniversary year, the annual pilgrimage to Salcombe is the highlight for many and the week is more popular than ever. When entries opened last November, all 120 places were snapped up in a remarkable four days, leaving a few front runners on the wait list. Fortunately, everyone who put their name down now has an entry and can look forward to an action packed week on and off the water.
One of the unique aspects of the week is that, due to the size of the fleet, racing takes place in flights, one race in the morning, one in the afternoon, meaning that each day the competitors have the opportunity to watch the opposition go into battle. A large crowd is always at both ends of the start line which spans Salcombe harbour, and there is often an armada of spectator boats following the racing around the estuary.
The race schedule is as follows:
| | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|
| Sunday | Red – Green | Blue ‑ Black |
| Monday | Red – Blue | Green ‑ Black |
| Tuesday | Green – Blue | Red ‑ Black |
| Wednesday | Blue ‑ Black | Red – Green |
| Thursday | Green ‑ Black | Red – Blue |
| Friday | Red ‑ Black | Green – Blue |
Red Group
Top seeds in Red Flight must be Matt Biggs and John Hackett who went into the last (and memorably horrible) race in 2015 with a shot at the title before finishing third. Always quick around Salcombe with the knack of finding breeze that others miss (maybe using Matt's own 'vapour trails'), they will be sure to be in the mix come the end of the week.
Flying in from altitude training in the Alps, William Warren will be looking to recapture old glories and lead the peloton home. Strapped into his Lycra and padded pants, William cuts a somewhat queezy sight, but so long as crew Mark can keep his eyes out of the boat, they are sure to do well.
Another very hot prospect is the late entry Christian Birrell who, as well as his exploits in the Fireball class, is a frequent visitor to the Merlins and knows his way around Salcombe.
Jon Turner and Richard Parslow continue to get faster in their new exotic 'Panther' while we have the unknown quantity of young Solo star Pete Mitchell who has taken over the controls of Dave Hayes' 'Black Boat' for the week.
However, we are expecting these seasoned campaigners to be up-staged by Jen and Chris Dodds who have been absolutely flying and took second at the Salcombe Silver Tiller. There is no doubt that not only can they win their flight but have a good shot at the overall title.
Green Group
Green flight is most certainly the 'Group of Death', being jammed back with hot talent.
Leading the charge will be the young team of Chris Gould and Chris Kilsby who, in their new steed 3778, have been at or near the front of every circuit event so far this season and are clearly one of the form teams.
Also in the young chargers category is Olly Turner who has the bit between his teeth this year, winning at Wembley and Starcross and having recruited 2015 Salcombe Week champion crew Sam Mottershead to help his shot at the title. Nibbling at their heels and showing nerveless starting and great speed, particularly in the lighter conditions, are leading ladies Caroline Croft and Beka Jones. We expect to see them vying for top spot this year.
By a miracle of the seedings process, Green Flight also includes the defending champion Richard Whitworth, the multi-class megastar Roger Gilbert, the quick and experienced Alex Jackson with Chris Downham and also the mercurial talent and Salcombe deity Will Henderson, sailing with daughter Mary. Add to this list the additional talent of Paul Rayson, who knows the fast way round the Salcombe track, Rich Adams, who has always been in amongst the leaders and our esteemed Chairman Fran Gifford, crewing for Phil Dalby and you have a hotbed of competitive teams.
So for anyone spectating at Salcombe, Green Flight is the hot ticket. Book your ring side seats early as this is going to be one not to miss!
Blue Group
Next toughest flight looks like Blue which has six top teams who will expect to win races and vie for the overall title.
Top of the list are Mike and Jane Calvert who not only won the Salcombe Silver Tiller in April but, frankly, made everyone else look stupid. They have also had a number of wins on the circuit and are the form team with a vast knowledge of the intricacies of sailing at Salcombe.
Pushing them hard will be returning champion Si Blake who has teamed up with super crew and multiple Salcombe Week champion Pippa Taylor. Having taken over Dave Winder's winning ship 3735, they will be installed as one of the favourites for the title.
Pushing Si and Pippa all the way will be Taxi and Alex Warren, second in 2015. Taxi needs no introduction as one of the top talents in the class and is clearly on a rich vein of form having picked up the GP14 Worlds and Solo Nations Cup so far this year.
Also believing they will have a shot at the title will be Tim Fells and Oli Wells who won a couple of races last year and have two Silver Tiller wins so far in 2016. In addition, Ian and Ellie Sharps are ace starters, fast and now know where the Salcombe marks are, plus Chris Jennings and Pete Horn who are always in the action and had a race win in 2015.
Black Group
Finally to Black Flight where we find multiple Salcombe Week winner Dave Winder, this year making it a family affair with son Oliver in the front end. Dave has not only built himself a new boat (or more correctly, built himself a new boat, cut it to bits with a jigsaw and then reassembled into a new shape which we will all want to buy), but also trying to enthuse a new generation of the Winder dynasty – we wish him well on both counts!
Simon Potts and Ali Martin, having found love last year, will be hoping to avoid extracurricular distractions and make it to the start line on time for every race. They have bought a new ship and equipped her with a radical raking system and flattener, presumably to allow them to sail under low bridges. Having been one good result short of taking the title last year, we expect them to be one of the favourites in 2016.
One person who will not let Simon and Ali walk off with Black Flight, will be (not so) big Jon Gorringe. After a terrifying winter spent in close proximity with vegetable smoothies, Jon has emerged from his Sumo suit as a reborn Welsh Greyhound. Will he extend the Welsh sporting success with a long awaited win?
So the outlook is for a highly competitive week on the water with forecasts indicating moderate breezes for the first few days. Off the water there is a full social programme which will challenge the most hardened party goers. For sure it will be another huge week!