Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Round 2 at Wembley Sailing Club

by Duncan Salmon 19 Mar 2018 13:06 GMT 18 March 2018
Wembley Craftinsure Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Open © Rob O'Neill

Chilly out and chilli in - a bracing day sailing at Wembley.

Despite the truly awful weather forecast 20 Merlin Rockets turned out for the second Craftinsure Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller open meeting of the season on Sunday 18 March 2018.

Of the 20 boats there were 11 visitors from as far afield as Salcombe, Bartley, Blithfield, Hayling Island, Trent Valley and closer to home from Fishers' Green.

After the welcoming mugs of hot tea and bacon rolls, John and Judy Gill organised three shortish races run back to back to try and keep things going and the 40 competitors from being frozen in the Arctic conditions. With the wind from the favourable north east direction but ranging from 18 to 30mph gusts with big shifts these were challenging conditions over the windward leeward course.

The first race was led from start to finish by Andy Davies and Alex Warren with Matt Biggs and Becca Jones in pursuit. Tim Fells and Fran Gifford recovered from an early infringement to come third. Jon Gorringe and Pete Gray put down a marker by coming forth. As John Gill promised the sequence second race started immediately after the last finisher had crossed the line and this time Jon Gorringe set off around the windward mark first and established a reasonably comfortable lead only to be hunted down by Andy and Alex, who closed the gap to the last run only to capsise during a gybe (claims of frozen spinnaker sheets were later heard) and Jon and Pete sailed to victory.

By the third race the challenging conditions were taking their toll and a total of 11 boats lined up to start with only 10 finishing. With a win apiece, it was close between Andy and Jon with Matt and Tim both in the frame. Jon made (too) good a start and was disqualified for being over. Andy and Alex were in the lead only this time to be challenged by Matt and Becca who overtook them down the last run only to lose out at the penultimate mark where Andy was able to get water to take the lead again and after that made no mistake crossing the line 1st.

On reaching the shore the frozen but exhilarated Merlin sailors were met with a cup of hot vegetable soup to warm them up, followed by the famous Wembley chilli con carne for a late lunch and the prize-giving.

Thanks to our Silver Tiller sponsors Craftinsure and Magic Marine, to the Wembley RS200 and Laser fleets for providing the much-used rescue service and the catering and to Anthony Rickaby the Wembley Merlin class captain for organizing it all.

The final results were Andy and Alex in first, Matt and Becca second, Jon and Pete third with Tim Fells and Fran fourth (also winning the Century Cup for having a combined age of 100 or more – amazingly enough!), Caroline Croft and Matt Lulham Robinson were fifth and Jack Holden and Rob Henderson in sixth place.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3Pts
13684Andy DavisAlex WarrenBartley SC1‑312
23743Matt BiggsBecca JonesBlithfield2‑424
33791Jon GorringePete GrayParkstone41(DNS)5
43764Tim FellsFran GiffordSalcombe YC‑3235
53673Caroline CroftMatt Lulham‑RobinsonBlithfield55(RET)10
63770Jack holdenRob HendersonBrun SC/Hayling Island SC6(RET)511
73726Will HendersonMary HendersonSalcombe YC‑118412
83766Andrew DalbyDarling WazzaTVSC‑76612
93634Richard CoulterChristian HillFishers Green SC8‑9715
103745Paul DeanSzymon MatyjoszcuhWSC‑137815
113682John StewardHarry StewardFishers Green SC‑1510919
123702Duncan SalmonHarriet SalmonWSC911(RET)20
133637Alan BroadbentRussell HallWSC12(DNS)1022
143790Colin BrockbankVanaWSC1012(RET)22
153717John GreenJamesWSC1613(DNS)29
163686Jeremy DeaconMike JanowiczRYA14(RET)RET35
173675David CroftRosie RichardsRYA17(RET)DNS38
183715Richard CookeLuke MooreWembley SC(RET)RETDNS42
193535Edward CoyneChris LomasWelsh Harp Sailing Club(RET)DNSDNS42
203668Mark SmythJulie CronshawWSC(RET)DNSDNS42

Related Articles

Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray take the trophy The final day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week dawned to another day of blue skies with a light Southwester forming in the harbour and forecast to increase. The overall result was still up for grabs with both leading protagonists in the morning race. Posted on 4 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 5
Wall to wall sunshine for the 102 teams The fifth morning dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a 5 knot SW sea breeze popped in at the surprisingly early time of 8.30, promising a good day's racing for the 102 teams. Posted on 3 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 4
Random gusts from every direction, including vertical Past the halfway stage and the weather served up another wind direction for the fourth day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week. Posted on 2 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 3
South-Westerly establishes itself after a windless dawn The third day dawned with light cloud and absolutely no wind in the harbour. As often happens at Salcombe, by the time the fleet started to launch a South-Westerly had started to establish itself and by the 10.30 start time there was 4-5 knots. Posted on 1 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 2
First start gets away on the top of the tide With the rest of the UK cooking in 30+ degrees, Salcombe has been veiled in sea mist for the last few days. Monday was the day when this was meant to clear but competitors woke to find the race track still shrouded in mist. Posted on 30 Jun
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 1
Over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers are in the picturesque South Devon Ria The ever popular Salcombe Merlin Week, sponsored by Helly Hansen, Craftinsure and Creation Covers, has again attracted over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers to the picturesque South Devon Ria. Posted on 29 Jun
Delivery to Salcombe Week - Final Call!
Devon's calling, and P&B are answering This weekend finds members of our Sail Loft team at Salcombe Yacht Club, for Merlin Salcombe Week. We'll be making the most of the conditions, the surroundings and the chance to catch up with other sailors who share our passion for competitive sailing. Posted on 26 Jun
Merlin Rockets in the Upriver Race at Ranelagh
A simple windward-leeward 6 times then head for home; what could be simpler? Ranelagh Sailing Club Upriver Race on Sunday in glorious sunshine with the forecast of decent breeze and the promise of bacon rolls and tea on arrival and lunch afterwards was all the encouragement nine vintage/classic Merlin Rockets needed. Posted on 25 Jun
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hampton
On arrival competitors and the duty team were provided with bacon rolls Following on from the Silver Tiller at Queen Mary Reservoir on Saturday, the double-header continued on Sunday at Hampton Sailing Club on the River Thames, with an entry of twelve boats including visitors from Midland, Parkstone and Plymouth. Posted on 18 Jun
Merlin Rockets at Queen Mary
Double black diamond descent in the Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series A keen fleet of Merlin Rocket crews descended upon the Queen Mary reservoir on Saturday 14th June for another episode of the exciting event in the ever hotly contested Craftinsure Silver Tiller series. Posted on 17 Jun