Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller open meeting at Starcross Yacht Club

Merlin Silver Tiller event at Starcross © John Murrell / www.fotoboat.com

Merlin Silver Tiller event at Starcross © John Murrell / www.fotoboat.com

A fleet of 25 Merlins made the journey to Starcross YC despite the weekend forecast jumping between gale force winds, flat calm and pouring rain in the preceding week. In the end it was 'alright on the night' (or day) with a calm Saturday morning and brief postponement giving way to a perfect if shifty northerly breeze and plenty of sunshine.

Race 1 got away cleanly on a windward/leeward, with the early leaders appearing to come out of the right. Those on the left suffering from the recurring issue of finding the bottom due to the relatively small tide for this year's event. At the finish Matt Biggs / John Hackett pipped Nick Craig / Alan Roberts, with Starcross YC sailor Olly Turner crewed by Alex Warren rounding off the podium.

The breeze perked up further for the second race, and with a change of course to triangle/sausage some great - if short - reaches were to be had. Again the early leaders appeared from the right, though each beat appeared an extreme game of snakes and ladders that reshuffled the fleet. Nick & Alan took the gun, followed by Jon Gorringe / Toby Lewis with Olly & Alex showing great consistency with another third.

Sunday dawned overcast, with a much steadier northerly that started to fade as start time approached. A couple of recalls and a black flag were needed to curb the enthusiasm of the fleet. When the start eventually got away it was a port tack drag race with those on the left getting a little more pressure. Unfortunately as the next run progressed the breeze faded completely, and then returned from the south west, causing the race to be abandoned.

Having reset the course to the new breeze the committee got another race away in the gentle south-westerly flow. Matt & John manage to pick their way back through the fleet after an indifferent first beat to take another gun, followed by Alex Jackson / Fran Gifford and Mike & Jane Calvert. Nick / Alan & Olly / Alex both struggled to escape the midfleet in the light conditions and recorded a 10th & 12th respectively.

With the cut-off time approaching some had taken the opportunity to head in, but the committee was keen to give the fleet another race if possible. In the end a race was started but abandoned on the first run when a protest was lodged that the committee had exceeded the cut-off by a minute or two (depending on whose watch you were using). Thus the results from the three races stood giving Matt & John a well deserved win, followed by Nick & Alan and with Alex & Fran pipping Olly & Alex on countback.

Many thanks to the sponsors of the Silver Tiller series, Craftinsure.

Overall Results: