Selden Merlin Rocket National Championships – Runners and Riders

2010 Merlin Rocket nationals at Penzance © Tom Gruitt / www.tom-gruitt.co.uk

The 2012 Selden sponsored Merlin Rocket championships are due to start on Sunday 26th August at a new venue for the class, Lyme Regis.

For a class celebrating 67 years of National Championships, it is wonderful to see the class on the up with high demand for boats and an entry list that reads like a who's who of dinghy sailing. Boasting 2 Olympic medalists and 17 Endeavour Trophy winners, the 2012 fleet will certainly be one of the most competitive on record. Overall victory could come from anyone in a long list of champion sailors. Getting into the top 20 overall will be some achievement.

Amongst the front runners will be four of the most decorated teams in the fleet:

• All eyes will be on Stu Bithell fresh from claiming 470 Silver at Weymouth. Stu has teamed up with his 2010 champion crew Christian Birrell in a brand new boat and will be expected to show all his Olympic know-how. Or, as many of the fleet is hoping, still be on a post Olympic bender!

• Last year's winners Andy 'Taxi' Davis and Tom Pygall will be brimming with confidence with Taxi already adding the 2012 Solo title to his long list of honours. After their match racing master class in 2011, no one will want to get in a boat for boat race with them.

• Geoff Carveth and Graham Williamson will be looking to take the title they narrowly lost on the last day in 2011 and have a new boat that has been going fast all year. Revenge will be sweet if they can close out the win they had in the palm of their hand before Taxi's intervention.

• Nick Craig, who needs no introduction, has teamed up with Roger Gilbert's two times Merlin champion crew James Stewart and will put up their usual formidable challenge, hiking harder and longer than anyone else and tacking on every little shift they can find.

While these four will be getting prime time attention, there is a wonderful array of talent also capable of taking the title.

Multiple N12 champion Tom Stewart, who now has a record beating five 2nd place finishes, is back with a new boat and Lark champion helm Steve Hall in the front end hoping to take the elusive title for the first time.

The form team on the open meeting circuit has been John Gorringe and Endeavour champion crew Toby Lewis, who are particularly potent in a breeze.

Winners of Salcombe Merlin Week 2012 and one of the quickest teams in the fleet, Dave Winder and Pippa Taylor will be hoping for a week of mixed conditions and plenty of Hollingworth shifts.

Strong all year around the circuit and with race winning boat handling in a breeze, Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis are sure to feature near the front.

Showing bursts of speed in their new Jo Richards 'Superfast Jellyfish', Simon Blake and Alex Jackson could be the surprise package if it all comes together and they find the right buttons.

Third in 2011 and second at Salcombe Week 2012, Tim Fells and Chris Downham will be looking to keep the trend going with their unique skiff-styled set up.

Add to these a roll call of Merlin Rocket champions (Richard Whitworth, William Warren, Mike Calvert, Jon Turner, Pat Blake and Alan Warren) and multiple champions from other classes (Simon Potts, Andy Tunnicliffe, Dave Wade, Dave Hayes, Ben McGrane) and it is clear why no-one is claiming to know the eventual winner.

What is for certain is that the racing will be of the highest standard and there will be plenty of stories to share over the usual enthusiastic refreshments.

Keep your eyes on YachtsandYachting.com to see how this one unfolds!