P&B Merlin National Championships at Looe Sailing Club - Day 2

Wow, what a day that was! After much debate about the sanity of launching into what looked like extreme conditions, the race office called the fleet out to play and they were confronted by a solid force five westerly and epic waves. Following the abandonment of Sunday's racing, there were two races scheduled of 50 minutes duration meaning much shorter legs for the four lap course.

Race one started at the first time with a lot of the fleet line shy in the big conditions. Those who started near the pin and then got onto port were in the driving seat as the breeze went 10 deg left. Defending champions Nick Craig and Alan Roberts powered their way in from the left to lead a very tightly bunched pack from which 2010 and 2012 champion Stu Bithell and Tom Pygall emerged to give chase followed by 2011 champion Andy Davis with Simon Blake.

The second beat was extraordinary as Armageddon arrived with black skies, a clap of thunder, wind rapidly pushing up to 36 knots and horizontal rain/hail in a complete white out. Racing continued unabated and fortunately the line squall was through before the leaders had to tackle the run. The leading three continued to hold position to the finish but behind them there was a good scrap taking place. Dave Wade and Ben Rayner put the hammer down and came through to fourth ahead of Jon Gorringe and Toby Lewis, and Tim Fells and Chris Downham in sixth.

Race two started in superb conditions with Force 4-5 from 235 deg and bright sunshine. Again the fleet were away first time from a slightly port biased line. Those who traded the bias for the ability to get onto port early were the winners with Stu and Tom nailing the beat to take a clear lead from Jon and Toby. Taxi and Simon were chasing again in third.

With the right corner continuing to pay, place changing was hard up the beat but negotiating the downwind legs in one piece was proving difficult. While the leading three kept their positions, Nick and Alan, who were lying fifth, dismounted on the run to give all other mere mortals hope. Jon Turner and Richard Parslow took up the chase in fourth and held on well down a huge final reach to the downwind finish. Tim and Chris completed a tidy day in fifth ahead of Chris Jennings and Ally Martin.

Stu and Tom take the early lead with 1,2 from Taxi and Simon with 3,3 and Jon and Toby with 5,2.

Results after Day 2: (two races)