Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller races at Hayling Island Sailing Club

A big welcome was again extended to the CraftInsure Silver Tiller competitors arriving to do battle for the sixth and seventh rounds of this year's premier race series.

Having hosted the 2011 National Championships (not to mention many previous Merlin championships going back to the first event in 1946), Hayling's experienced race teams always put on a great event for the class with support from top onshore facilities. This weekend was no exception, only the chill north easterly keeping most people - except these hardy competitors - indoors.

The 'Open Water' Silver Tiller – Saturday 27th April

Briefing was at 11am sharp with the race team keeping it short and to the point. Rigging then commenced and in the steady F3/4 breeze competitors sailed out to the committee boat moored on the east side of the harbour channel entrance.

Race One

With the spring tide still flooding and the north easterly creating choppy wind over tide conditions it was David Hayes & Jonny Ratcliffe (3734) first away (no general recall)? heading across the harbour to take maximum tide advantage. Stephen & Sarah Cockerill (3745) and the never to be discounted duo of Richard Whitworth & Sarah Bines (3703) made up the leading trio as they then tacked across the tide for the long beat up to the windward mark.

Maintaining their competitive edge David & Jonny were first round and first to hoist on the reach with Richard and Sarah now a constant presence and, watching their every move for any sign of a break were Tim Fells & Chris Downham in 3727.

With places changing throughout the top ten it was Richard & Sarah who after completing one triangle and one sausage came through for the first win of the afternoon, followed by David & Jonny with Andy Davis crewed by Tom Pygall, third.

Race Two

Slacker water at the top of the tide resulted in the sea moderating a little for the start of race two, and, having the competitors absolutely on the start button this weekend, they all left the line without any incidents

With Nick Craig & Alan Roberts from Frensham Pond having technical problems in race one they now had the measure of the course in race two, following Andy Davis & Richard Whitworth to a fine third place finish.

Lower down the fleet close racing ensued throughout, with groups of boats tussling continuously for places in a race that had consistent top ten winners further down than their expected finishing position. Such is the level of competitiveness in this fleet that places lost by only the slightest mistake or lack of concentration will let your nearest rival grab a boats length on you!

And so to race three where concentration and stamina were tested to limits as with race two now behind them helms and crews lined up for the ultimate race of the day – and what a race !

Race Three

14:03 and the start gun fires. Tide now firmly on the ebb, a bit of sunshine steady F4 - what more could a sailor want? With Nick Craig leading the fleet away from the line and after only 5 minutes into the race the wind picked up to F6 gusting F7 (peak wind timed 1410 was recorded at 32 mph).

Crews madly raked their masts and crammed on loads of kicker, tweaked their lowers and sat out just that little bit further as helms feathered their way upwind through the huge gusts. Brilliant sailing overall and not one capsize to the windward mark meant some pretty entertaining fleet battles as boats powered away down the all too familiar first reach. As they planed into the wing mark some elected for the riskier but quicker reach to reach gybe, though most took the safer reach to run to gybe option in the prevailing conditions.

By now with the wind strength further testing tired helms and crews, capsizes inevitably occurred (the Sayce/ Williamson spectacular providing great entertainment to Hisc's armchair sailors). A number of broken masts bore testament to the speed of the ebbing tide and the Chichester mud!

The wind moderated by 1430 but damage had been done and a fleet of 38 starters had been reduced to just 21 by the end of the final leg. With a considerable lead over the second placed boat of Jon Turner and Richard Parslow - whose development work is clearly resulting in improving pace on the water – it was Nick Craig & Alan Roberts (3749) who took the chequered flag with David Hayes & Jonny Ratcliffe in third and Will Warren crewed by Chris Robinson in 4th.

Hot showers and the excellent dinner served up in the HISC restaurant were never more welcome!

The 'Sea' Silver Tiller – Sunday 28th April

After the high winds on Saturday the immediate change on Sunday couldn't have been more noticeable! A glassy calm preceded the promised breeze which eventually filled in enough to enable a half hour sail out against the flood tide to the start in Hayling bay.

Race One

With 44 boats entered and two races to run – each of 1 hour 15 minutes- the race team needed a decent breeze to get the schedule completed on time, and, almost on cue, the wind built to a steady F3 giving close and exciting racing throughout the first event.

Early leaders were Tom Stewart and Phil Dalby (3733) in close contention with the boats of Dave Hayes, Andy Davis and Tim Fells. In fact at the gybe mark on the final triangle these four were within 15 metres of each other.

Upholding HISC honours at the finish the Hayes/Ratcliff boat dived down to leeward and squeezed the winning position from Andy Davis / Tom Pygall who themselves were conscious of the late charge made by Nick Craig/Alan Roberts in pressing their fast forward button on the final reach to take a fine third from Stewart/Dalby 4th.

Race Two

In the second and final race of the afternoon a shiftier wind increased to a F4 with the starboard end bias on the line triggering an individual recall. Very unfortunately in the ensuing melee^ of boats returning to the start 3684 was badly holed, and with a sinking hull beneath them Taxi & Tom had no alternative but to retire – fast they may be but submarines they ain't! With the wind flicking right and back on the first beat it was Nick Craig who hit the front early on and from that point was never challenged to the line.

The wind then proceeded to veer 40 degrees for a period on the second beat prompting a lot of place changing and with the run becoming more of a reach it was Tim Fells / Chris Downham back taking the silver ahead of Hayes/ Ratcliffe. David Winder/Ben Rayner were fourth with Judith Massey crewed by Sophie Mackley making up the top 5 placings.

Taxi appealed his unfortunate incident and was awarded average points amounting to a joint second place finish. This left the top three boats on equal points with the Craig/Roberts team taking the silverware overall.

The series overall

To see the current Silver Tiller placings so far, visit www.merlinrocket.co.uk/reports

In summary over the weekend – five races & four different winners with nine HISC home club boats out on Saturday and ten on Sunday. One of the biggest Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller events of the year so far. Can competitive dinghy racing get any better than this?

Next stop – Rutland sailing clubs open water event which ties in nicely with the highly popular training weekend where Mr Whitworth will no doubt be giving us the secrets of his race winning success. All of them? Let's hope so!

Saturday 'Open Water' Results:

Sunday 'Sea' Results: