Blithfield Barrel Series at Blithfield Sailing Club - Day 4

Blithfield Barrel finale © Chris Martin

What a difference 5 days makes! We went into the week assuming that the series was won, but the consequences of the use of aeroweb sails reached further than the Sailjuice series and the forced the retirement of Rich Adams who was leading the series. Rich and Chris Gould sailed brilliantly in the two Barrel weekends they took part in and thoroughly deserved to win the series.

Still, politics over, this left all to play for. Any of the top 6 boats could now win the series and with lightish weather forecast most eyes were on the lightweight Merlin Rocket of Steve and Gill Leney who were lurking with intent just outside the top 6.

The first race got underway first time in fairly light conditions with an element of port bias, and more pressure down the left hand side. First to the mark were the Merlin of Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis, followed by the borrowed RS300 of Chris Gould. This developed into a three sided affair when Steve and Gill Leney joined the fray. Matt won the race, Steve and Gill second, Chris Gould third. After the race Jayne Tatton and her helpers provided and excellent lunch.

The second race kicked off in slightly more wind and a change of course. At the minuites ticked away the line became progressively more committee boat biased leading to a general recall and a restart under black flag. By the time of the restart the line was very pin biased and the fleet got away cleanly, if only just! This made the left side of the beat side apparantly favoured, but something must have also been happening up the right hand side as the leading boats from both sides of the bear arrived together causing much stress in one Merlin particularly as they somehow managed not to hit anyone.

Matt Biggs ands Ben Hollis led from start to finish with Chris Gould in second, but as neither of these had sailed enough races the battle for the Barrel was being fought behind them. The RS 400 of Ben and Steve Hendon was close on the heels of the leaders, but never got far enough away from the pair of Merlins battling it out behind them. Chris Martin and Rob Kennaugh managed to overcome thier percieved weight disadvantage to stay in front of Steve and Gill Leney and take 3rd and 4th places respectively. 4th was good enough to give Steve and Gill the Barrel with 13 points in a very high scoring series.

Thanks to everyone who helped to run the series and to everyone who came along to it. We have enjoyed running the series and it will take place next year over corresponding weekends. For full results please visit the club website and look under open meetings.

Barrel Overall Results:

1st Merlin Rocket, Steve Leney & Gill Leney (Blithfield SC)
2nd Osprey, Jon Batt & Nick Broomhall (Blithfield SC)
3rd Merlin Rocket, Chris Martin & Rob Kennaugh (Blithfield SC)
4th RS400, Ben Hendon & Steve Hendon (Blithfield SC)
5th GP14, Richard Instone & Jim Toothill (Chase SC)
6th Merlin Rocket, Paul Keeling & Michelle Keeling (Blithfield SC)
7th Merlin Rocket, Tom Chadfeild & Andy Chadfield (Blithfield SC)
8th Merlin Rocket, Tim Male & Rebecca Aldred (Blithfield SC)
9th GP14, Matt Thursfield & Adam Froggatt (Chase SC)
10th GP14, Peter Jaques & Peter Tait (Chase SC)