Vintage Merlin Rockets at Tamesis Club
by John Dunkley 7 Jun 2005 08:11 BST
4 June 2005
Porteous Cup for Vintage Merlins won by Stephens and Wilder
Mike Stephens and Rob Wilder won the Porteous Cup in Avenger (1004) in the annual race for vintage Merlins at Tamesis on Saturday 4 June. The 15 strong turnout was the best ever for the vintage fleet and the competing boats, which included Mervyn Allen's Kate, Merlin number 1, and Chris Barlow's Iska, Merlin number 6, enjoyed some excellent racing in a gusty westerly wind with long periods of warm sunshine mixed with heavy showers.
Race Officer Brian Southcott set a difficult double dogleg course for both races, an all-in five round race in the morning and a handicap pursuit in the afternoon. Avenger won the morning race with a three minute lead on Passing Cloud (1079), sailed by John Harris and Margaret Stokes, but had to concede first place to a well-handicapped Iska, sailed by Chris and Lois Barlow, by just over a minute in the afternoon, with Passing Cloud 25 seconds behind in third place.
The concours d'elegance was won by Mike Liggett's Squirrell (235), Huntingdon SC, and the event was organised by Berry Ritchie.
Overall Results:
1 Avenger (1004) Mike Stephens & Rob Wilder, Tamesis
2 Passing Cloud (1079) John Harris & Margaret Stokes, Tamesis
3 Bambusa (847) Berry Ritchie & Sue Harris, Tamesis
Pursuit race:
1 Iska (6) Chris & Lois Barlow, Frome
2 Avenger (1004) Mike Stephens & Rob Wilder, Tamesis
3 Passing Cloud (1079) John Harris & Margaret Stokes, Tamesis