Merlin Rocket Open at Midland Sailing Club
by Mike Anslow 31 Mar 2010 11:03 BST
28 March 2010
Midland Sailing Club welcomed 28 Merlin Rockets to their Midland Circuit event on 28th March. Visitors came from as far away as Devon, Brightlingsea and London, and there was a large contingent from local clubs. This was also a Silver Tiller event, sponsored by Speed Sails.
In fine sunny weather and a westerly force 3 Race Officer Nigel Spurr set a course with 2 longish beats. Shifts and gusts kept teams on their toes and places could easily be won and lost. Andy ‘Taxi’ Davis (Chase SC) and Mike Calvert (Axe SC) battled for the lead followed by Matt Biggs (Blithfield SC) and Richard Adams from the home club. Mike eventually got through to take the gun from Andy, with Matt and Richard third and fourth.
After lunch, due to a slight windshift the Race Officer set a different course for the second race. The strong port bias on the line made it important to get onto port tack as soon as possible. Matt led at the end of the first lap followed by Richard, Mike and Andy. These places were held until the final beat when Richard, approaching from one side, was able to tack and cross the finish line a foot ahead of Matt. Mike was third and Andy fourth. This meant that any one of these four was in with a chance of winning the meeting. During the race the pleasant spring conditions had encouraged the race management team to send out for ice creams, and the Race Officer decided to delay shortening course for a couple of legs whilst they enjoyed them!
The final race was sailed over the same course. Matt took an early lead followed by Andy and Richard Adams, but Mike found himself in fifth behind Richard Dee of Midland SC. By the end of the second lap Richard Dee had got through into third. Matt lead the fleet home followed by Andy Davies, Richard Dee, Richard Adams and Mike Calvert.
This left Matt as winner of the Midland Mug for the second year running with Mike Calvert coming second on countback from Andy Davis.
Overall Results:
Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
1 | 3705 | Matt Biggs | Ben Hollis | Blithfield | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
2 | 3691 | Mike Calvert | Jane Calvert | Axe | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
3 | 3684 | Andy Davis | Tom Pygall | Chase | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
4 | 3655 | Richard Adams | Rob Kennaugh | Midland | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
5 | 3610 | Dickie Dee | Chris Gould | Midland | 5 | 7 | 3 | 8 |
6 | 3702 | Duncan Salmon | Ian Garwood | Wembley | 12 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
7 | 3716 | Steve Leney | Gill Leney | Blithfield | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
8 | 3563 | Paul Hollis | Iain Leiper | Blithfield | 7 | 8 | 7 | 14 |
9 | 3717 | David Charlton | Celza Charlton | Brightlingsea | 9 | 10 | 9 | 18 |
10 | 3617 | Tom Chadfield | Andy Chadfield | Blithfield | 29 | 9 | 10 | 19 |
11 | 3674 | Mike Anslow | Chris Winters | Midland | 10 | 11 | 11 | 21 |
12 | 3666 | C Jordan | G Jordan | ? | 14 | 12 | 12 | 24 |
13 | 3518 | Julian Harms | Tim Harms | Midland | 13 | 29 | 14 | 27 |
14 | 3645 | Jeremy Deacon | J Deacon | cookham | 16 | 14 | 29 | 30 |
15 | 3566 | J Wood | H Wood | ? | 19 | 18 | 13 | 31 |
16 | 3496 | Martin Smith | K Lewis | Redditch | 17 | 16 | 15 | 31 |
17 | 3530 | Mike Colles | Ian Anderson | Midland | 15 | 20 | 16 | 31 |
18 | 3240 | C Anderson | S Anderson | ? | 18 | 15 | 17 | 32 |
19 | 3619 | Guy Browne | Tom Cluely | Trent Valley | 20 | 13 | 29 | 33 |
20 | 3583 | Chris Martin | Abi Spurr | Blithfield | 8 | 29 | 29 | 37 |
21 | 3543 | A Beardshead | P Fuller | ? | 22 | 19 | 19 | 38 |
22 | 3403 | James Dawes | Steve | Redditch | 21 | 21 | 18 | 39 |
23 | 3663 | Chris Haworth | Jo Harvey | Blackpool & Fylde | 11 | 29 | 29 | 40 |
24 | 3582 | Malcom Hyams | Dan Barrett | Midland | 23 | 29 | 20 | 43 |
25 | 3680 | Steve Watson | Andrew Prosser | Midland | 29 | 17 | 29 | 46 |
26 | 3581 | Roger Pass | Megan Ward | Midland | 29 | 22 | 29 | 51 |
27= | 522 | Dave Trott | Sue Ann | Midland | 29 | 29 | 29 | 58 |
27= | 3489 | Richard Turner | E Binning | Banbury | 29 | 29 | 29 | 58 |