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Merlin Rocket Open Meeting at Wembley Sailing Club

by Colin Brockbank 4 Oct 2006 16:22 BST 1 October 2006
Merlin Rockets enjoy Wembley © Ben Shorten

30 Merlins competed in the recent Wembley Silver Tiller. The forecast was for the wind to increase through the day and it didn’t disappoint, with a 40 knot gust recorded at the club house.

The first race started in a force 2-3 and Dave Winder was the early pace setter coming out of a packed line. He and Jilly looked good for a bullet, leading with a reasonable margin but then Dave had a disconnect with his trusty toe straps and our recent anointed National Champion needed no second invitations. Winder tried to make up but William was showing the tenacity that won the Tenby champs and took first blood. The ever-improving Matt Biggs ground down Chris Dodds to take third.

The wind was picking up all the time now and for the second race Warren and Salmon jousted up the first beat. The leaders all congregated at the gybe mark, and Winder, who had fought through to second, went in again. Despite getting going quickly he couldn’t catch Warren who showed excellent speed and boat handling to wrap up the open with one race to spare. Roger and Pippa Taylor sailed really well roaring down the reaches to pick up a third.

Warren added icing to the cake to win the third race also from Pat Blake and Alan Warren all of who showed great skills in the stormy conditions.
So the overall order was Warren, Winder and Blake. Thanks should go to the RS200 fleet that organised an excellent event!

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