Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championship at Looe Sailing Club - Day 5

by Tim Fells 22 Aug 2019 21:18 BST 17-23 August 2019

The penultimate day of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Championships saw another two races and was again a glamorous day on the water. Winds from the SW around 8-12 knots with five degree shifts under mainly sunny skies was the order of the day.

The first race was for the Ranelagh Trophy, where the first 21 boats each receives a bottle of bubbly, very generously sponsored again by Winder Boats, the class's main builder.

The boats that started at the pin had some line bias and it was Taxi and Pippa who were able to get onto port to cross the fleet, while Christian and Sam carried on to almost the port lay line where they benefited from a bit of a left hander. Meanwhile on the right of the course Tim and Jodie Saxton were looking very good. As has been the story of the week, Christian and Sam did just enough to squeeze round ahead and were able to extend from Taxi and Pippa over the full five lap course.

By winning their fourth race of the week Christian and Sam had done enough to secure their second Merlin Rocket title with two races to spare. Their performance has been of the highest class combining consistent boat speed to just eke out those important boat lengths on the tight first beat, with great tactical positioning and boat handling. They are by far the most practiced team in the fleet and it is clear that despite the vast talent in the Merlin fleet at present, practice does make perfect.

Behind Christian and Sam, Taxi and Pippa were second ahead of Roger Gilbert and James Stewart who are putting together a typically strong set of top end results. Ben and Roz McGrane closed out another solid fourth ahead of Ian Sharps and Alex Warren who just got their noses in front of our correspondent at the final mark.

The second race for the Top Hat Trophy again saw a bout of second race fever. Just as on Wednesday the fleet were pulling the trigger early and the Black Flag was unfurled. The most prominent casualty were the Chrises Gould and Kilsby who were in line for a podium finish. Having lost a race to a broken mast they must now pray for the final race to be sailed and the second discard to come (which is not altogether certain with a light easterly forecast).

With Christian and Sam now sporting their yellow jerseys for the first time and clearly in a relaxed mood, the door was open for others to go for the win. Taxi and Pippa need no such invitation and turned on the after-burners to lead around the first mark and do a horizon job on the fleet. There was no looking back and the race was on for second place. Dave and Vicky Lenz were going extremely well but were not able to hold back Christian and Sam, taking a very well-earned third. Roger and James took another top five position ahead of Nick Craig and Tobytastic.

Overall, the battle for the podium positions is very tight between Taxi/Pippa, Roger/Stewart and Nick/Toby, all of who are previous Merlin champions.

In Silver Fleet, George and Sophie Yeoman have continued their excellent form, regularly appearing at the front end of the fleet. In Bronze John Cooper and Becki Wigley are keeping their noses in front.

The locals are not positive about the conditions for Friday but we are hopeful that the forecast Easterly will give us the chance for a final race with a lot up for grabs.

Results after Day 5:

PosSail NoFleetHelmCrewFounders CupBeechers CupClyde QuaichWest Country TrophyHoward TrophyWinter TrophyRanelagh TrophyTop Hat TrophyPts
1st3788GoldChristian BirrellSam Brearey1212‑311210
2nd3722GoldRoger GilbertJames Stewart‑13645153428
3rd3684GoldAndy DavisPippa Kilsby55745(BFD)2129
4th3776GoldNick CraigTobytastic Lewis31617‑1811534
5th3739GoldBen McGraneRoz McGrane14312‑191044754
6th3764GoldTim FellsFran Gifford11‑16813486858
7th3786GoldDavid WadeBen Rayner128(RET)119614666
8th3712GoldIan SharpsAlex Warren71110918(BFD)51575
9th3802GoldSimon PottsAlly Potts61358241012(DNF)78
10th3726GoldWill HendersonArthur Henderson420‑241615391885
11th3803GoldChris GouldChris Kilsby(DNF)4332118BFD97
12th3658GoldChris JenningsChris Martin8‑2415231121159102
13th3795GoldAlex JacksonMary Henderson15192315617‑2611106
14th3691GoldMike CalvertJane Calvert2518‑3714252717108
15th3778GoldDavid LenzVicky Lenz(RET)2811122813133108
16th3807GoldTim SaxtonJodie Saxton(RET)720729231013109
17th3736GoldRoger PhillipsWill Crocker914192123722(BFD)115
18th3777SilverGeorge YeomanSophie Yeoman2421‑261019121614116
19th3742GoldPete BallantineRob AllenL05251822229‑2710121
20th3759GoldSam BarkerMegan Pascoe‑3112162812152320126
21st3791GoldJon GorringePete Gray2102621(BFD)21DNF128
22nd3673GoldCaroline CroftTom Lonsdale16221726131433(DNS)141
23rd3796GoldWilliam WarrenRachel Rhodes2292727142518‑28142
24th3756SilverSophie MackleyJames Ward29‑5192516271923148
25th3801GoldMatt BiggsBeka Jones1826‑35318223016151
26th3781GoldDavid WinderLiv Bell17‑34302020192821155
27th3709SilverRob HendersonJames Ellis21232824‑30262019161
28th3775GoldDan WillettPete Nicholson233825(BFD)27242512174
29th3711SilverSam ThompsonLeanne Thompson‑3229211826303122177
30th3787SilverChris MartinSamuel Bailey1930‑392932353424203
31st3774GoldJon TurnerRichard Parslow2617223531(BFD)17DNC214
32nd3641SilverMark WaterhouseMat Currell3033‑503634163829216
33rd3804SilverAndrea BrewsterCharlotte Fildes‑4537293935203525220
34th3690SilverTim HarridgeClaire Mills27‑40343338282932221
35th3735GoldDave HallPaul Constable(RET)32331717BFD3226223
36th3784SilverMark BarwellLouise Johnson333614344336(DNF)33229
37th3582SilverBen PickeringNathan King343531‑4339333727236
38th3766SilverAndy DalbyPete Horn2015133033(RET)DNFDNC243
39th3666SilverJohn MeadowcroftOliver Meadowcroft44313237L05(BFD)2430244
40th3732BronzeJohn CooperBecci Wigley‑4227423237324237249
41st3749SilverBen HollisColin Anderson28413838‑53404034259
42nd3719BronzeRob MartinJan Martin3543(RET)4642293631262
43rd3790SilverColin BrockbankSuzy Brough404646423631‑4739280
44th3745SilverPaul DeanRussell Hall374745‑5440344138282
45th3769SilverGraham Cranford SmithRob Langley384840(DNF)44384435287
46th3706BronzeLawrence ToshJack Tosh(RET)56414046375036306
47th3772SilverPhil EmeryPhoebe Paine494448‑5151394341315
48th3794BronzeJulian HarmsTimothy Harms4154434448(BFD)4642318
49th3767BronzeBen ArcherOlivia Bellini4850‑565350425546344
50th3442BronzeMatt SmithJared Lewis(DNC)4247DNCRET414540347
51st3740SilverPatrick BlakeJilly Blake36393641(DNC)DNCDNCDNC350
52nd3555BronzeEmma RobertsonCarl Weighill53‑61515745485145350
53rd3695BronzePete SlackConnor Langan54(DNF)RET4747464943352
54th3639BronzeDan HeatonRory Hunter39(RET)DNS5052BFD3944356
55th3800BronzeRichard BramleyLiam Weighill47525256‑61515447359
56th3577BronzeJoe ToshWill Lowe(UFD)4544455445DNCDNC365
57th3704BronzeJemma HorwoodSel Shah515549‑5858475750367
58th3668BronzeMark SmythJulie Cronshaw4653(RET)55564353DNS372
59th3723BronzeGeoff KimberHelen Kimber4349554862(DNC)52BFD375
60th3511BronzeAndrew MillsEllie Mills50‑59535957505949377
61st3449BronzeCarl WhitehillSamuel Whitehill(DNC)57546059495648383
62nd3751BronzeHuw ReynoldsPhil Scott(RET)RETRET49494448DNC388
63rd3619BronzeGuy BrowneGreg Martin52(DNF)DNC525553DNFDNC410
64th3482BronzeRichard BurtonPatrick Burton55585761(UFD)54DNCDNC417
65th3561BronzeJoe ShawHannah Burt(RET)60RET62605258DNC424

Find out more at merlinrocketchamps.com

Related Articles

Merlins at Bartley
Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series, Youth Championship all in 1 day Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series and Youth Championships all in one day. 18 Merlin Rockets gathered at Bartley in anticipation of a strong wind event only to find gentle breeze, threatening to wane further. Posted on 11 Sep
Merlin Rockets at Upper Thames
DeMay and Thames Series Opens held over the weekend Nine boats enjoyed the Merlin Rocket class Vintage event at UTSC on Saturday 6th September 2025. Crews were welcomed by sunshine and a moderate south easterly breeze. The wind was coming from the direction of the Bounty pub beyond the Marina. Posted on 10 Sep
Merlin Rocket Women's Championship preview
Entries are open for this mid-September event at Brightlingsea The Merlin Rocket Class is set to host its Women's National Championships on 13-14 September 2025 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club. The event title, listed in the official 2025 calendar, marks a weekend dedicated entirely to women's participation. Posted on 2 Sep
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray collect their trophies on a windless final day The Race Officer, Francis Marshall (an old misspent-youth mucker from one of your correspondents' Mirror days) displayed amazing patience and skill across the week such that by Thursday night we already had 9 races completed. Posted on 15 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 5
A day of learning as it started with another great What Went Well session Thursday's racing was sponsored by ClamCleat. It was a day of learning as it started with another great What Went Well session, this time for the crews with Rachael Gray, Sophie Mackley and Chris White sharing their crewing top tips. Posted on 15 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 4
Three races held after a night of fancy dress After a night of fancy dress with the theme "what were you wearing when the ship went down", lifeguard Tom Gillard was on hand to rescue the drowning Merlin Rocket crews and deliver them safely to the boat park in the morning. Posted on 13 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 3
The very keenest of rocketeers launched as soon as Delta flew Eager to get over the disappointment of blasting to the start line on Creation Covers race day two only to wallow as the wind shut off, the fleet were eagerly anticipating the prospect of a three-race day out in Looe Bay. Posted on 12 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 2
The wind fizzled out, leaving the waves to roll in under grey skies Day 2, Creation Covers Race Day, began with an excellent "what went well" session from Ben Saxton and Matt Rainback, finally unlocking the secrets of using the lowers and threading our way upwind in shifty conditions. Posted on 12 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 1
Founders Trophy and Beecher's Cup races for the 47-boat fleet Sunday 10th August saw the 2025 Merlin Rocket Aspire National Championships kick off at the beautiful Cornish resort of Looe. The 47 teams arrived the previous day to complete registration and scrutineering. Posted on 10 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals Runners & Riders
The form guide of the top riders ahead of the Grand National! As we eagerly await the chance to be wowed by a field of quality, unrivalled by that of any other, us mortal spectators can merely speculate as to which vessel and esteemed riders will take the prestigious crown and name themselves champions. Posted on 4 Aug