Merlin Rocket Sondown Cup at Tamesis Club
by John Dunkley 11 Oct 2011 07:59 BST
9 October 2011
Sondown Cup at Tamesis © Vivian Burchill
Richard and Harry Harris sweep the board
Richard and Harry Harris swept the board in a fleet of 20 Merlin Rockets winning all three races in the Sondown Cup Thames Series open meeting and taking the Queen Elizabeth Bowl for the best placed vintage boat for the third successive year at Tamesis Club, Teddington, on Sunday 9 October. With the best two of the three races to count, they sailed Passing Cloud (1079) with great tactical skill and pulled away from every challenger to win each race by an impressive margin.
The closest challenge came from David Vines and Fran Gifford in Elusive (3347), who were second in every race but who had the misfortune to be recalled for being slightly over the line in the second race.
There was some close racing for third place between Joe and Tom McLaughlin in Smart Cookie (3559), Matthew Peregrine Jones and Dana Church in Masquerade (995), and Jon and Fenella Redding in Pikey (3520).
In the first race Carolyne Vines, the Race Officer, sent the fleet off on a full six round course in a moderate WSW wind with double east-west doglegs in front of the clubhouse. The course for the second race was extended down river to Lensbury for three rounds in a slightly stronger wind. The final race, in which there were only 14 starters, was sailed in a more north westerly wind which gave a good downstream beat and the opportunity to fly a spinnaker upstream.
There were visitors from Fishers Green SC, Hampton SC, Minima YC, Tata Steel SC, Walton and Frinton YC and Wembley SC.
Commodore John Adams presented the prizes.
Overall Results:
1st Passing Cloud (1079) Richard & Harry Harris 2pts
2nd Elusive (3347) David Vines & Fran Gifford 4pts
3rd Smart Cookie (3559) Joe & Tom McLaughlin 6pts
4th Masquerade (995) Matthew Peregrine Jones & Dana Church 7pts
5th Pikey (3520) Jon & Fenella Redding 10pts