Craftinsure Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Open at Chichester Yacht Club

by Meryl Deane 19 Mar 2013 05:18 GMT 16 March 2013

Despite rain, cold weather and gusty conditions, 22 Merlin Rockets made it to Chichester Yacht Club for Saturday's Open Meeting. Sailors had come from all over the country - from Cornwall to the Midlands and Northwest.

This was the first meeting where results counted for the 2013 Silver Tiller series, sponsored by Craftinsure, a trophy that has a history back as far as 1950.

Conditions were cool & breezy, during most of the racing with some very large gusts. Race Office Nick Colbourne set a triangle /sausage course in Chichester Basin, offering some great reaches & runs, but also some tricky gybes. There were a considerable number of capsizes, keeping the safety crews on their toes, although in this fleet the sailors are experts at self–rescue (much to the safety crews relief due to the cold conditions!)

The wind dropped a little for the first race which started in rain with winds of 11-15 knots. The enthusiasts were all close to the line and after a general recall racing got underway. Jasper Burnham & Graham Sexton (Snettisham Beach) got an early lead, but fell back during the racing. This allowed Richard Whitworth & Sarah Bines (Parkstone), Matt Biggs & John Halkett (Blithfield SC) and David Hayes & Johnny Ratcliffe (HISC) to get past. With some very close racing Richard & Sarah were 1st, Matt & John 2nd and David & Johnny 3rd.

The wind continued to build shifting up a gear during Race 2 to 16-25 knots. These larger gusts increased the capsizes, but led to some spectacularly fast reaches & runs for those who could stay on top of the conditions. The racing remained very close and first place again went to Richard Whitworth & Sarah Bines, 2nd were Sam Pascoe & Alex Adams (Castle Cove SC) and 3rd David Sayce & Graham Williamson (HISC).

With the wind continuing to increase Race 3 was kept short. There were already a number of retirements due to the tricky conditions, but the majority of keen racers were on the start line. This time Sam Pascoe & Alex Adams managed to get a good lead and keep ahead or Richard Whitworth & Sarah Bines, to take first with Richard & Sarah 2nd. Matt Biggs & John Halkett were 3rd.

Competitors retired to the shore for Chichester Yacht Club's tea & cakes, followed by the prize giving.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	3703	Richard Whitworth	Sarah Bines	Parkstone S.C.	1	1	‑2	2
2nd	3563	Sam Pascoe	Alex Adams	Castle Cove	‑8	2	1	3
3rd	3743	Matt Biggs	John Halkett	Blithfield S.C.	2	‑5	3	5
4th	3734	David Hayes	Johnny Ratcliffe	HISC	3	4	‑7	7
5th	3736	David Sayce	Graham Williamson	HISC	‑5	3	5	8
6th	3708	Jasper Barnham	Graham Sexton	Snettisham Beach	4	‑7	6	10
7th	3745	Stephen Cockerill	Sarah Cockerill	HISC	7	‑10	4	11
8th	3656	Olly Turner	William Carrol	Starcross Y.C.	6	6	‑8	12
9th	3744	Chris Martin	Tom White	Blithfield S.C.	‑11	8	9	17
10th	3731	Andy Jones	Lou Johnson	Parkstone S.C.	10	9	(DNS)	19
11th	3693	Will Rainey	Caroline Croft	Shoreham S.C.	9	‑12	11	20
12th	3650	Richard Adams	Kattie Wright	Midland	‑17	11	10	21
13th	3634	Ben Archer	J. Warren	PYC	‑16	14	12	26
14th	3663	Christopher Haworth	Joanne Harvey	Blackpool & Fleet S.C.	12	16	(DNS)	28
15th	3626	Andy Hay	Nik Middleton‑Stewart	R.Y.A.	14	15	(DNF)	29
16th	3442	Mark Stockbridge	Eddy Atfins	Ranelagh S.C.	‑19	17	14	31
17th	3448	Sam Thompson	Clare Thompson	Penzance	(DNS)	DNS	13	36
18th	3716	Steve Leney	Gill Leney	Blithfield S.C.	(DNF)	13	DNS	36
19th	3610	Richard Dee		Midland	13	(DNF)	DNS	36
20th	3688	Ben Hollis	Jo Marlow	Blithfield S.C.	15	(DNF)	DNS	38
21st	3584	Jon Townsend	Barbara Langford	Emsworth.S.C.	18	(DNF)	DNF	41
22nd	3569	John Bell	Olivia Bell	Hampton .S.C.	20	(DNF)	DNS	43