Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
Harken 25mm Wire Shackle Block - 300
Harken 25mm Wire Shackle Block - 300

Selden Merlin Rocket National Championship at Penzance - Overall

by Tim Fells 19 Aug 2016 21:18 BST 14-19 August 2016

OMG! What an awesome day to close out the Selden Merlin Rocket Championships in Penzance. As competitors arrived at the club on Friday morning, the forecast strong South-Westerly was already established and the wave trains that Mount's Bay is famous for were rolling across the bay with plenty of white water on show under a clear blue sky.

There was much debate as to whether conditions were already on the edge and with the forecast for the breeze to steadily increase, and many prudent teams decided it was too much. Our PRO motored out into the teeth of conditions and confidently radioed in that it was 18 knots and could we all be so kind as to come out and play. 28 boats took up the challenge.

After a black flag general recall that produced no OCS numbers - because apparently all the fleet was over and the PRO felt it unnecessary to spoil the day for all of us - the fleet launched up the first beat in conditions which were sailable but with huge waves to navigate.

The first mark saw the usual suspects of Bithell/Pygall, Craig/Roberts, the McGranes and the already crowned champions Gilbert/Stewart joined by a couple of heavy weight crews, Gorringe/Lewis and Fells/Wells.

The second reach was truly epic; pretty much straight down the waves, with huge holes in water, crews at the back of the bus and centreboards screaming. It was worth the entry fee alone!

As the four lap race progressed and the breeze steadily built, a duel developed at the front between Stu/Tom and Nick/Alan who were boat-for-boat all the way until 100 yards from the finish until Stu and Tom dismounted coming out of a gybe.

Nick and Alan took their first bullet of the week with Ben and Roz, who were going amazingly well for a lightweight team, snatching second from Stu and Tom.

Tim and Oli, thoroughly enjoying the conditions, screamed home fourth ahead of Simon Potts and Ally Martin in fifth, and Mike Simms and Richard Brown closing out an excellent first Merlin Champs in sixth.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Merlin Rocket nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

PosFleetSail NoHelmCrewClubR2R1R3R4R5R6Pts
1stGold3722Roger GilbertJames StewartFrensham Pond24212(RET)11
2ndGold3739Ben McGraneRoz McGraneNetley33-844216
3rdGold3658Chris JenningsPete HornBurghfield510-1431827
4thGold3776Nick CraigAlan RobertsFrensham Pond45118(DNF)129
5thGold3777Simon PottsAlly MartinBurghfield106-1253529
6thGold3753Michael SimsRichard BrownCarsington9-1511211639
7thGold3764Tim FellsOli WellsSalcombe1385-1710440
8thGold3774Jon TurnerRichard ParslowLyme7215612-1842
9thGold3645Steve HallSimon HaightonBurnham61210105-1343
10thGold3770David HayesJonny RatcliffeHayling Island876-2216946
11thGold3778Chris GouldChris KilsbyBlithfield17-2617271255
12thGold3735Richard WhitworthPippa TaylorHollingworth21977(OCS)1155
13thGold3754Jon GorringeToby LewisParkstone141416-209760
14thGold3775Stuart BithellTom PygallHollingworth114(DNC)OCS362
15thGold3730Pete BallantineBen HollisSalcombe / Blithfield121913196(DNC)69
16thGold3673Caroline CroftBeka JonesBlithfield-20132014142081
17thGold3733Dave WadeRachel RhodesNorthampton151622(RET)82384
18thGold3656Olly TurnerGraham SextonStarcross112092618(DNC)84
19thGold3691Mike CalvertSean AndersonAxe YC191828913(DNS)87
20thGold3759Sam BarkerMegan PascoeCastle Cove2217191515(DNC)88
21stSilver3727Mark StockbridgeNeil DaviesRanelagh18-3424302110103
22ndGold3756William WarrenChris DownhamShoreham(DSQ)2125231722108
23rdSilver3685Sophie MackleyJames WarrenShoreham-303021242014109
24thSilver3641Mark WaterhouseMatt CurrelParkstone27242325(OCS)19118
25thSilver3539Dan AlsopFrances GiffordLyme/ PSUK-382332133321122
26thSilver3690Tim HarridgeLucy BurnHampton252727-313115125
27thSilver3779David LeeTim LawsStarcross28-3626292617126
28thGold3746Dan WillettPete NicholsonBrightlingsea16291816(RET)DNC132
29thSilver3769Graham Cranford-SmithSteve PenfoldSalcombe24-4038322416134
30thSilver3740Pat BlakeJilly BlakeCookham2322363322(DNC)136
31stSilver3744Chris MartinOliver MacleanMidland3925412119(DNC)145
32ndSilver3716Steve LeneyGill LeneyBlithfield4235331830(DNC)158
33rdSilver3566James WellsLiz WellsStarcross2938(DNC)412824160
34thSilver3773Alan WarrenBill CarrollShoreham3139342829(DNC)161
35thBronze3683Ben JonesHelen HilditchShoreham3232303632(DNC)162
36thGold3684Andy DavisAlex WarrenBlithfield(OCS)113DNCDNCDNC173
37thBronze3772Phil EmeryDavid HawkinsWhitstable3745293925(DNC)175
38thSilver3564Rob KennaughColin AndersonMidland2633(RET)2736DNC175
39thGold3707David HallMari ShepherdBlackwater4028(RET)3423DNC178
40thSilver3643Mark BarwellLouise JohnsonLymington Town3631374335(DNC)182
41stBronze3651Colin BrockbankMartin HughesWembley3437394234(DNC)186
42ndSilver3714Richard BurtonAlice MarkhamUpper Thames3547(DNC)4027DNC202
43rdBronze3767Ben ArcherTheo HarrisParkstone41423135(DNF)DNC202
44thBronze3628Robin CharlesDan NewmanStarcross4446354639(DNS)210
45thBronze3713Steve HarlingEleanor ThomasStarcross4344(DNC)3737DNC214
46thBronze3518Julian HarmsTimothy HarmsMidland4643424738(DNC)216
47thSilver3709Tom LonsdaleRhos HawesUpper Thames3341(RET)38RETRET218
48thBronze3704Jemma HughesCharlotte CotterThames4548444441(DNC)222
49thBronze3734Phil AshworthAli AshworthWeymouth(OCS)50404540DNC228
50thBronze3511Andrew MillsEllie MillsHampton475143(RET)42DNC236
51stBronze3352John DonoghueCharles VernalTBC484945(RET)43DNS238
DNQGold75AAlex WarrenTom PygallShoreham(DNC)DNCDNC11DNCDNC223

Related Articles

Craftinsure Silver Tiller End of Season at Stone
Is this the first time that AI has been used to establish the winners? We made it, report 41 of 2024 and the final one from this year's Merlin Rocket season. Having asked the third placed finishers at each of the events it was probably time I wrote one myself. Posted on 28 Oct
2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE Circuit at Shoreham
A perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots The 19th of October saw 18 Merlin Rockets head to Shoreham Sailing Club for the final stop of the 2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE circuit. The fleet were welcomed by a perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots. Posted on 21 Oct
Merlin Rocket Felucca Trophy at Hollingworth Lake
Part of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller and the Northern Circuit The annual Felucca Trophy has just taken place at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October, with 16 Merlin Rockets going north to take part. Posted on 16 Oct
Merlin Rockets of all ages at Hampton
A challenging day's sailing with a variable wind and strong stream Usually this is held over two days at the weekend but this year, with a strong stream in the Thames and a forecast of virtually no wind on the Sunday, we took the decision to hold both the De May series and the Thames series race concurrently. Posted on 14 Oct
Merlin Rocket Women's Championship
A great event with training, a talk by Sarah Ayton, then competitive racing The Women's Champs is special as so many ladies from other classes come and join, Merlin crews team up and ex Merlin sailors come back to the class. Sailing is a sport for everyone but I think there are still barriers to a lot of ladies. Posted on 16 Sep
Merlin Rockets at Upper Thames
David Battye was naturally itching to point his flag for inadequate stability This year's edition of the Upper Thames Sailing Club Merlin Rocket open meeting weekend (8th and 9th September) saw a temperamental forecast and every different flavour of weather, but often a noticeable lack of wind. Posted on 13 Sep
Women Sailors - the Merlin Rocket Class Needs You
Second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club on 14-15 September The Merlin Rocket Class is renowned for its technical development and the high standard of its sailors, and now it is developing in other ways; the Merlin Rocket Class Association is running its second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club. Posted on 6 Sep
Merlin Rocket Youth Championship 2024 at Itchenor
A great way see what young helms and crews can do 10 boats headed to Itchenor Sailing Club for the second year of the Merlin Youth Championships. It's not an easy boat to to own if you're under 25, so the youth champs is a great way see what young helms and crews can do. Posted on 2 Sep
Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby overall
Every weather under the sun, but thankfully ending with sunshine From Frensham with love. Last day report from the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships in Tenby and what a week. We've had every weather under the sun. Thankfully we ended on sunshine which was a bonus, unlike Salcombe. Posted on 17 Aug
Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby Day 5
23 knots with gusts and a 2-metre swell with waves on top Day 5 was wet and wild in Tenby, 23 knots with gusts and a 2-metre swell with waves on top, the visibility was varying from three miles to less than one, so after a three-hour postponement the race team hoisted AP over A, and the fleet relaxed. Posted on 16 Aug