Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series Round 3 at Blithfield Sailing Club

by Chris Martin 29 Mar 2022 16:02 BST 27 March 2022

14 Merlin rockets gathered at Blithfield SC for round three of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller series. Also, the first O category event, this bought travellers from the south west and London as well as most of the usual local suspects. The mid-week forecast proved wrong with a pleasant force 2-3 settling down blowing over the clubhouse - tricky direction but could it have been far worse!

Race one got under way cleanly, the favoured path seemed to be to tuck under the clubhouse and cross your fingers that the wind finned in off the bank. This was exploited to the full by Paul Hollis and Paula Mason who led at the windward mark with Matt Biggs and Beka Jones in hot pursuit. The run proved just as tricky as the beat and Paul and Paula were overhauled by Matt and Beka and also Chris Martin and Samuel Bailey. Matt and Beka broke clear, but Chris and Samuel had to battle and were soon joined by Steve and Gill Leney who had recovered from what is best described as a hospital start.

The battle for second wasn't decided until the final mark as the three boats in the mix scattered on the final run. Steve and Gill went hard left which looked promising, Chris and Samuel went hard right also into pressure while Paul and Paula - who had rounded second too their direct approach, straight up the middle presumably with all fingers and toes firmly crossed. Steve and Gill's wind lane faltered right at the end, but a decent lane on the right proved fruitful for Chris and Samuel who managed to cross in front of Paul and Paula with inches to spare. Matt and Beka won, Chris and Samuel second, Paul and Paula third with Steve and Gill discussing start tactics all the way back ashore and passing both of the boats they had been fighting with all race.

Race two got under way after lunch, same breeze, same course, but more snakes and ladders. Tucking under the clubhouse shore was again the place to try to be, the consequence of this was coming in on the port lay line and with more boats trying it this led to some interesting roundings but no collisions and less outrage than might have been. Matt and Beka led at the windward mark and stayed there, but again the battle for second was hard fought.

Steve and Gill, Paul and Paula and Chris and Samuel were joined by James Wells and Anna Aylward and Colin and Sean Anderson in a five-way fight for a lap and a bit. Steve and Gill held on to second with Colin and Sean coming in third. The long beats in this race were even more enigmatic than the first with boats on opposite sides of the lake looking for an edge which would often reverse itself. An exceptionally tricky race!

Race three was held back-to-back. A tweak to the course made the second beat less extreme and also gave us a reach instead of a second run. A tweak to the start line gave us a little port bias which made the first beat interesting. Again, it paid to go hard left and tack along the clubhouse shore but with the pin favoured there was a chance of crossing the fleet this time. Chris and Samuel tried it, won the pin, but missed the cross by inches having to tack back onto starboard. While not ideal this wasn't catastrophic but Matt and Beka led at the mark, and again sailed away from the battle for second. Chris and Samuel got round in second with Steve and Gill Leney hot on their heels.

Steve and Gill passed Chris and Samuel on the run and James and Anna were also loitering with intent, but the close reach favoured the heavier teams and Chris and Samuel sailed over Steve and Gill and away from James and Anna. Steve and Gill remained a threat to Chris and Samuel but the beats being reset made going out on a limb far less profitable and the middle ground was now playable. Steve and Gill were marshalled carefully by Chris and Samuel for the remainder of the race to remain second and third, with Matt and Beka tantalisingly just out of reach in the lead.

So overall with three wins Matt and Beka took the overall win. Two seconds gave Chris and Samuel second overall with Steve and Gill Leney taking third with second and third place finishes.

First in Silver fleet were Colin and Sean Anderson.

First in Bronze fleet were Nigel and Freya Hudson.

Next up in the Craftinsure Silver Tiller is a Restricted event at Bartley SC on Sunday 3rd April.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewFleetR1R2R3Pts
13801Matt BiggsBeka JonesGOLD1112
23787Chris MartinSean BaileyGOLD2524
33716Steve LeneyGill LeneyGOLD4235
43746James WellsAnna AylwardGOLD7448
53749Colin AndersonSean AndersonSILVER5368
63730Paul HollisPaula MasonSILVER3699
73790Colin BrockbankRusselSILVER610511
83662Nigel HodsunFreya HodsunBRONZE117714
93742Howard EelesJosh OatesBRONZE891017
103449Carl WhitehillSam WhitehillBRONZE10111521
113547Peter MaleAdrain MaleBRONZE8151523
123567Martin SmithKaren BeestonBRONZE13131124
133619Guy BrowneGreg MartinBRONZE12121224
143414Ian LaingS McCann 15141327

Related Articles

Merlin Rockets at Minima
Double-header part 2 showcases the other face of river sailing While TSC was one for the locals and anyone who loves trying to predict how essentially zero wind will react while vaulting a concrete embankment, Minima YC was home to a sporty Northerly which was prone to gusting fresh to even fresher. Posted on 7 May
Merlin Rockets at Thames SC
A fine lunch, well-earned refreshments and homemade cake On Saturday 3rd May Thames Sailing Club hosted the Craftinsure sponsored combined Merlin Rocket Thames and DeMay Vintage Series Open Meeting, under clear skies and perfect sunglasses weather. Posted on 6 May
Merlin Rockets at Wembley
Craftinsure Silver Tiller Round 4 and Allen South East Series Round 3 A fleet of seventeen Merlins headed to Wembley for the next event in Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series, and the third event in the Allen South-East Series. On arrival we received a very warm welcome from all at Wembley SC. Posted on 29 Apr
Merlin Rockets at Parkstone
Craftinsure Silver Tiller & Allspars South-West Series weekend 19 boats enjoyed some truly epic sailing at Parkstone Yacht Club, for the combined one day Craftinsure Silver Tiller, two day Allspars South West series and PYC Easter regatta weekend. Posted on 21 Apr
Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Broadwater
The real highlight, as ever, was the legendary Broadwater lunch Broadwater Sailing Club delivered a warm and sunny welcome to kick off the latest round of the Allen South Eastern Series. Early arrivals were met with blue skies and a distinct absence of wind — although the bacon rolls provided ample compensation . Posted on 16 Apr
Merlin Rockets at South Cerney
Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars SW Series Round 2 The Merlin fleet headed to South Cerney for a four race open as part of the Allspars South-West Series and Craftinsure Silver Tiller circuit. The fleet were greeted with stunning sunshine, good breeze and a very friendly clubhouse. Posted on 10 Apr
Bartley SC have to postpone Merlin open meeting
Unexpected drop in water level makes the event unviable Sadly Bartley SC are having to postpone the Merlin Rocket open meeting on 30th March 2025 due to an unexpected drop in the water level making the event unviable. Posted on 28 Mar
Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Salcombe
David Greening is as good a race officer as any class could wish for The 2025 Salcombe Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series open meeting sponsored by Helly Hansen looked like it was going to be a long damp weekend with light winds, but this little haven in the South Hams had other things in mind. Posted on 25 Mar
Allspars sponsor Merlin Rocket South West Series
The series kicks off this weekend with a two-day opening event at Salcombe Yacht Club The Merlin Rocket Owners' Association is delighted to announce Allspars as the title sponsor for the 2025 South West Series. Posted on 19 Mar
Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Burnham
An opportunity to have 3 races that weren't sausage/triangle/sausage The Merlin Rocket fleet were welcomed at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham for the Allen South East Series 2025 by barista coffee, pastries and the opportunity to have three races that weren't sausage/triangle/sausage courses. Posted on 18 Mar