Merlin Rocket Porteous Cup and Sondown Cup at Tamesis Club
by Carolyne Vines & Sean Roberts 10 Oct 16:06 BST
28-29 September 2019
The Merlin weekend is split into two events - the Vintage De May for the Porteous Cup on Saturday and the Sondown Cup on Sunday for allcomers.
The bad weather forecast put some sailors off, but whilst the fleets on both days were smaller than usual, the quality of the competition was not.
Eleven vintage boats turned out on Saturday including the very welcome presence of Sel Shah and Gemma Horwood from Thames SC. Andrew Harris crewed by sister Sarah Warren led the way throughout, closely challenged by Joe McLaughlin and Sean Roberts, with John and Zoe Adams in hot pursuit who saw the benefit of using a metal mast to sneak ahead of David Baker and Jim Green in the overall standings on handicap. The racing took place on a figure-of-eight course in front of the club.
Thanks to Race Officer Peter Fryer assisted by Pauline Fryer and Hugh McLaughlin, and Marcus Chavasse and Ken Thatcher in the Patrol Boat.
Porteous Cup Results.
Sunday dawned wetter and some of the crews from Saturday felt they had had enough. Race Officer Matt Peregrine Jones sent the fleet above the island for all three races, great for the sailors but not for the spectators (saving the blushes of a few boats who nearly capsized in blustery conditions). Richard Harris took over from brother Andy in vintage Passing Cloud and the match between the two was nail biting. Richard crewed by Emma Macdonald won the first race of three, but Andy crewed again by Sarah Warren won the second two, slipping through Richard's lead in the third race.
Thanks to Matt Peregrine Jones, Peter and Pauline Fryer, Chris Taggart and Chris Starr in the Patrol Boat. Special thanks go to Chris Simon for Rule 42 adjudication.
The prizes for both events we given out by Vice Commodore Carolyne Vines, with the winner Andrew Harris thanking all concerned for organising the event.
Sondown Cup Results.