Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

Merlin Rocket Sondown Cup at Tamesis Club

by John Dunkley 17 Oct 2012 21:16 BST 14 October 2012

Andrew Harris and Sara Warren win

Andrew Harris & Sara Warren in Shenandoah (3088) fought off some fierce competition in a 20 boat fleet to win the Sondown Cup at the Thames Series open meeting for Merlin Rockets at Tamesis Club, Teddington, on Sunday 14 October. They also won the Elizabeth Bowl for the first vintage boat.

An early challenge in the first race came from Jon and Joanna Redding in Pikey (3520) until they had to do a 720 turn for a rule infringement. The contest then moved to Andrew's brother, Richard, in Passing Cloud (1079) and David Vines in Elusive (3347). After a delayed start because of a lack of wind, the fleet was sent off on a down river beat in a cold northerly wind which freshened slowly throughout the day. But it was on the up-river run that the outcome was really decided. Richard, crewed by his son, Harry, and David, by his daughter, Sophie, used their lighter overall weight to get the best speed from the following wind, seeking the slackest areas of stream as they raced up-river. With the Canbury mark to be left to port a fast approach on starboard gybe was needed to fend off those boats coming across from the slacker water on both banks. Spinnakers were used by some to good advantage but David Vines achieved impressive speeds without one. There was some aggressive bunching as the main part of the fleet followed on.

In the second race Mike Stephens and Jodok Gerber, the winners of the Porteous Cup at Saturday's race for Vintage Merlins, joined the fray in Flinkidink (1097) and took second place some two minutes behind Shenandoah but only a few seconds ahead of Passing Cloud. The Reddings were fourth in Pikey.

With the best two of the three races to count for overall points, Mike Stephens worked hard to get Flinkidink through to the front but met some keen competition from one of the visiting boats, Snorter (3627) sailed by Alex Jones and Jack Deung from Cookham Reach SC, and crossed the line just over a minute in front. This gave both Stephens and Richard Harris four points each and Flinkidink's second place was decided by a tie break as they beat Passing Cloud in the final race.

There were visiting boats from Hampton, Minima, Upper Thames and Wembley as well as Cookham.

The Prizes were presented by Tamesis Commodore John Adams and the racing was organised by John Harris, who was Race Officer, assisted by Margaret Stokes. Brian Southcott was Rules Umpire and Carolyne Vines, Rear Commodore Sailing, co-ordinated the results.

Overall Results:

1st Shenandoah (3088) Andrew Harris & Sara Warren (Tamesis) 2pts
2nd Flinkidink (1097) Mike Stephens & Jodok Gerber (Tamesis) 4pts
3rd Passing Cloud (1079) Richard & Harry Harris (Tamesis) 4pts (tie break)
4th Shoestring (1136) Joe McLaughlin& Joe Tosh (Tamesis) 7pts
5th Snorter (3627) Alex Jones & Jack Deung (Cookham Reach SC) 8pts

Related Articles

Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray take the trophy The final day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week dawned to another day of blue skies with a light Southwester forming in the harbour and forecast to increase. The overall result was still up for grabs with both leading protagonists in the morning race. Posted on 4 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 5
Wall to wall sunshine for the 102 teams The fifth morning dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a 5 knot SW sea breeze popped in at the surprisingly early time of 8.30, promising a good day's racing for the 102 teams. Posted on 3 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 4
Random gusts from every direction, including vertical Past the halfway stage and the weather served up another wind direction for the fourth day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week. Posted on 2 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 3
South-Westerly establishes itself after a windless dawn The third day dawned with light cloud and absolutely no wind in the harbour. As often happens at Salcombe, by the time the fleet started to launch a South-Westerly had started to establish itself and by the 10.30 start time there was 4-5 knots. Posted on 1 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 2
First start gets away on the top of the tide With the rest of the UK cooking in 30+ degrees, Salcombe has been veiled in sea mist for the last few days. Monday was the day when this was meant to clear but competitors woke to find the race track still shrouded in mist. Posted on 30 Jun
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 1
Over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers are in the picturesque South Devon Ria The ever popular Salcombe Merlin Week, sponsored by Helly Hansen, Craftinsure and Creation Covers, has again attracted over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers to the picturesque South Devon Ria. Posted on 29 Jun
Delivery to Salcombe Week - Final Call!
Devon's calling, and P&B are answering This weekend finds members of our Sail Loft team at Salcombe Yacht Club, for Merlin Salcombe Week. We'll be making the most of the conditions, the surroundings and the chance to catch up with other sailors who share our passion for competitive sailing. Posted on 26 Jun
Merlin Rockets in the Upriver Race at Ranelagh
A simple windward-leeward 6 times then head for home; what could be simpler? Ranelagh Sailing Club Upriver Race on Sunday in glorious sunshine with the forecast of decent breeze and the promise of bacon rolls and tea on arrival and lunch afterwards was all the encouragement nine vintage/classic Merlin Rockets needed. Posted on 25 Jun
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hampton
On arrival competitors and the duty team were provided with bacon rolls Following on from the Silver Tiller at Queen Mary Reservoir on Saturday, the double-header continued on Sunday at Hampton Sailing Club on the River Thames, with an entry of twelve boats including visitors from Midland, Parkstone and Plymouth. Posted on 18 Jun
Merlin Rockets at Queen Mary
Double black diamond descent in the Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series A keen fleet of Merlin Rocket crews descended upon the Queen Mary reservoir on Saturday 14th June for another episode of the exciting event in the ever hotly contested Craftinsure Silver Tiller series. Posted on 17 Jun