Merlin Rocket National Champs at Looe Sailing Club - Day 5

Pinnell & Bax Thursday started well, with bottles of Champagne ready and waiting for for the helms and crews of the first 21 boats. The Ranelagh Trophy was presented by Ranelagh Sailing Club on the 21st anniversary of the Merlin Rocket class, and ever since the first 21 boats on Thursdays race have been awarded a bottle for their efforts.

This morning there were great expectations and many bleary eyes after 2 races yesterday and the Championship Dinner, but the weather overcame optimism, and despite a promising breeze on the way to the race course, in fact the reality was very different. After a long postmoment, Roger Hocking and his team, guided by Alan Warren, decided to run the crews' race first, in the fickle breeze.

The first challenge was to pick whereabouts to start, largely governed by the swinging wind. The port end was favoured, and Mirror World Champion Holly Scott, crewed by Julian Parry were nearly first to the windward mark.

The Bognor Barrel winners, after a challenging race, were Trent Valley sniffers, Phil Dalby and Simon Blake in Smart Tart. Phil commented, "Great race. Fairest race of the entire champs with more stream than breeze. I was disappointed not to find a river bank though."

Despite many attemps by the Race Officer, the flukey wind defied any other championship races. Therefore we look forward to two races on Friday, the Silent World Trophy, arguably the class' finest offering, and the rescheduled Ranelagh Trophy. We'll enjoy the Champagne!

Results after Day 5: