Merlin Rocket River Championship at Bourne End Week 2015 - Day 1
by Alice Markham 23 May 2015 23:06 BST
23-27 May 2015
Bourne End Week day 1 © Tony Ketley
Arriving at Upper Thames this morning the competitors were met with blue skies, a light breeze and the usual cooked breakfasts. It was clear from even the online entries that the Merlin entry would be strong this year, and this morning the decision was taken to flight the class to reduce the number of boats on an already bust start-line.
There was enough breeze that the traditional river boats and wider plastic boats seemed to have equal footings, each making gains in different areas.
The first race began with the blue and green flights: Tom Lonsdale and Alice Markham taking the lead off the line, but with Pete and Debbie Walker, and Alex Jones and Jack Deung in close pursuit. Although there were challenges from other boats in the fleet, it was these three that fought all the way round, ending with Tom and Alice just stealing the win from Alex and Jack, and Debbie and Pete in 3rd. In the other Merlin start pf black and yellow flights, it was the older boats that seemed to have the advantage with defending champion Laurie Smart and Vanessa Pilon taking the win, Alex Jackson and Rachek Alder in his newly refurbished narrow river boat in 2nd and Chris Rathbone with son Dan in 3rd.
The second race of the day was after a lunch break began with the blue and black flights: in this start it was once again the narrow river boats that got away at the start. Laurie and Vanessa took the win again, with Pete and Debbie Walker in 2nd and Chris and Dan in 3rd.
The other boats tried to chase but after an altercation with a mark that had been dragged too close into the bank by another boat, this left a gap too big to close. The second start was yellow and green and ended with Alex and Jack in 1st, Richard Pausey and daughter Gabrielle in 2nd and Alex Jackson and Rachel Alder in 3rd.
These results leave Laurie and Vanessa in the lead over night, with Alex Jones and Jack Deung in second and Alex Jackson and Rachel Alder in third. After a hog roast and a good night's tenting we will all be rearing to go tomorrow morning.
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