Merlin Rocket Open at Hampton Sailing Club

Hampton Merlin Open © Michaela Parker

Hampton Merlin Open © Michaela Parker

Vintage Merlin Rocket Open (Saturday 3rd October)

Following a week of bright sunshine and steady easterly breezes, the day of the Hampton vintage Merlin Rocket open meeting dawned murky and airless. 16 dauntless crews chatted and drank tea during an hour's postponement, while the breeze mounted until it reached a light and fitful easterly.

Oddly enough, it was barges that dominated the first race. Simon Girven and Claude Wheeler opened up a narrow lead from the start. Chased by Alex Jackson and Rachel Alder and Stuart Jenkins crewed by Nicola Scaddon. The first barge made it's appearance just after the halfway point, when it forced Girven/Wheeler into a windless patch in front of the club house, allowing Jackson/Alder to take the lead. This only lasted until they were approaching the final buoy, when a second barge forced them wide of the mark and allowed Jenkins/Scaddon to round first and build a large enough lead to win on handicap. Just after the leaders finished, the breeze shifted 180 degrees and piped up, accompanied by the arrival of the sunshine.

After a tasty lunch, the fleet went out to enjoy the pleasant south westerly. Phil Dalby and Suzi Bell lead from the start, chased by John Bell and Olivia Bell. These two boats stretched away from the rest of the fleet. Dalby /Bell forced Bell/Bell to do penalty turns when they attempted to pass down wind. With the bit between their teeth, Bell/Bell came back and caught Dalby/Bell port and starboard at the next windward mark. This wasn't the end, though, as Dalby/Bell completed their turns and chased down Bell/Bell, gaining an overlap on the final leeward mark and holding on to win.

Following tea, the wind had started to drop off. Several boats had a chance of taking the open. In the event, Bell/Bell fought it out with Jackson/Alder. Hywel Bowen-Perkins with Lucy Penwarden and Patrick Rayner kept them company on the way round. Jackson/Alder took the win from Bell/Bell, who later found out that they were only four seconds behind on corrected time.

With the sailing out of the way, we all adjourned to the bar to enjoy the famous Hampton curry take away and not enjoy the rugby, many Dark'n'stormys were needed to come to terms with this.

Vintage Open Overall Results:

Merlin Rocket Open (Sunday 4th October)

It was a golden morning that greeted the 20 Merlins which turned up to contest the Hampton Thames series open, a mixture of old and new boats featured. Unfortunately the wind was not as beautiful as the sunshine. A very light south westerly which was forecast to turn southerly, showed an alarming tendency to die away with puffs appearing from both east and west.

PRO Jane Chambers laid down the law at the briefing, this and the fear of the black flag allowed all 20 boats to complete all three starts without a general recall.

After an hour's postponement to allow the wind to build a little, the fleet got away. John Bell with Olivia Bell slipped around the windward mark first, just in front of Phil Dalby with Suzi bell. Bell/Bell picked up a nice little puff and sailed away while Dalby/Bell disappeared out of the back door. Bell/Bell were never really challenged and finished ahead of Hywel Bowen-Perkins with Lucy Penwarden and Patrick Rayner in third.

Hampton Merlin Open - photo © Michaela Parker

As we sat down to a fine lunch the breeze picked up a little. On the race track, it was the boats that hugged the Surrey bank that reached the buoy first, led by John Hollands and Tim Parker, who unfortunately were sucked back into the pack. Phil Dalby and Suzi Bell took on the lead and stretched away from the chasers for a couple of laps, only to sit in a hole while boats passed on either side. Perkins/Penwarden held on to a narrow lead at the finish from Alex Jackson and Rachel Alder, with Bell/Bell in third.

In the final race, a group of four boats, once again got away from the rest, this included the main contenders; Bell/Bell, Perkins/Penwarden and Jackson/Alder, joined by class chairman Fran Gifford and Alex Warren. These traded the lead throughout the race. Coming away from the final leeward mark, it was Jackson/Alder who were out in front, when Perkins/Penwarden picked up one of the many rogue puffs that were drifting around the race track and surged through to take the win.

Hampton Merlin Open - photo © Michaela Parker

Aside from the fickle wind and the disappointment of the rugby, it was a very enjoyable weekend, which relied heavily on the contribution of all the Hampton members who were involved in the race management, catering and bar keeping.

Open Overall Results: