Merlin Rocket Open Meeting at Banbury Sailing Club

by Richard Turner 23 Apr 2007 22:01 BST 22 April 2007 Sunday 22nd April saw Merlin Rockets competing at Banbury Sailing Club for the Banbury Cross Trophy. Thirty-two boats, ranging in age from 25 years old right through to just a few months, found a light SSW breeze which allowed the race officer to set a course with two good beats up the reservoir and lots of spinnaker gybing on the way back down.

The first race saw a general recall before the fleet got away cleanly the second time around on a long beat up the lake from the northern end right up to the SW corner. Glen Truswell & Paul Davies in Storm Cloud (3543) took an early lead from Richard Whitworth & Ellie Bremmer in Filthy/Gorgeous (3670), Julian Parry & Holly Scott in Zeno (3659) and the Phantom Menace (3611) of Roger Tayler & Sally Townend. By the third lap, Filthy/Gorgeous had taken the lead from Storm Cloud, Zeno and Phantom Menace, and held this lead to the gun.

The second race was run back-to-back and got away cleanly first time with Filthy/Gorgeous taking an early lead from Storm Cloud, Zeno and Steve & Gill Leney in Carbonator (3639). This lead was held over the four laps of the race and the finishing order of the top four boats remained unchanged.

After an excellent lunch with lots of food and puddings, the fleet somehow managed to get afloat for the third and last race, with Richard Whitworth & Ellie Bremmer already having won the meeting. This did not stop the relentless crew of Filthy/Gorgeous taking and holding the lead all the way through the third race to the gun! This time, the Poached Salmon (3644) of Duncan Salmon & Ian Garwood came through in second, followed by Storm Cloud who squeezed past Phantom Menace to take third place on the last lap.

The Banbury Cross trophy was presented by David Cornish, President of Banbury SC, to Richard Whitworth & Ellie Bremmer of Hollingworth Lake SC. In second place were Glen Truswell & Jim Paul Davies of Salcombe YC, with Julian Parry & Holly Scott of Hollingworth Lake SC in third.

To mirror the prize structure on the Merlin Rocket Midland Circuit, prizes were also awarded to Glen Truswell & Paul Davies in Storm Cloud as the first Prime of Life boat (older than 10 years and less than 20), and to Tim Bury and Pat Kunzler of Banbury SC in Riders on the Storm as the first Mature boat (more than 20 years old).

Finally, in recognition of his continuing support of the Banbury Open, a special prize was awarded to Pat Blake, who won the Banbury Cross Trophy in 1967 and took eight place this year in Hot Totty. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the start of the Midland Circuit and to assist the celebrations, the Circuit provided competitors with free beer and wine.

Thanks to the duty crew ably led by Club President, Dave Cornish, the catering and bar team who kept everybody fed and watered (not to be taken literally!). Without such helpers the day would not have been possible nor as enjoyable for everyone.