Vintage Merlin Rocket Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club

by Godfrey Clark 7 Jun 2022 09:36 BST 28 May 2022

With an ideal northerly wind direction straight down the axis of the lake, the Fishers Green home boats were joined by some very welcome visitors, the race team had no trouble setting a true beat the full length of the lake, giving a 1.2 kilometre upwind leg from near the south weir to the north weir at the other end. Visitors came from as far as Chew Valley and Hollingworth Lake, but surprisingly only one boat from any of the London clubs.

Race one gave a hectic start line with Godfrey Clark and Mary Webb being OCS and having to go 'round the ends' and duck some transoms, but by the first windward mark they had found clear air and arrived second, behind Chris and Gabe Hill. That proved to be the finishing order, especially after the two leaders escaped the wind lull at the top mark and sailed happily away from the fleet with spinnakers pulling nicely.

For race 2 the start was again keenly contested with an identical pattern of the Clark team OCS and having to return, only to execute a good enough recovery to quickly climb to 3rd place. Meanwhile Chis and Gabe had almost nailed it again but were beaten on the water by the narrow hulled boat, Luca, of Oliver and the diminutive Emily Houseman (aged 7).

Ashore for a hot curry lunch with all the trimmings, and any of three boats could win the event on the final race. This time the Hills in Cream Cracker made no mistake and established a good enough lead to defend from the Housemans. Just behind, Hamlet was closing fast on the Steels in Pandimonium who in turn managed to pip Shogun on the line for 3rd place by just a boat-length.

The afternoon continued with a Crew's Race, giving some of the club's up and coming sailors the chance to have a go at helming the club's fastest boats. This surprisingly brought the liveliest breeze of the day and was won by Richard Burton (Shanendoa).

It had been a super day's racing in delightful conditions with the beat/sausage courses making it easy on the crews despite some tactical decisions of when and where to gybe, to match the shifts on the upwind legs

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	Cream Cracker	2997	Chris Hill	Gabe Hill	Fishers Green SC	1	‑2	1	2
2nd	Luka	3560	Oliver Houseman	Emily Houseman	Chew Valley Lake	‑5	1	2	3
3rd	Hamlet	3185	Godfrey Clark	Mary Webb	Fishers Green SC	2	3	‑5	5
4th	Bad Dog	3232	Harry Steward	Annabel Steward	Fishers Green SC	3	5	‑7	8
5th	Shogun	3055	Nick Yannakoyorgos	Blake	Fishers Green SC	‑7	4	4	8
6th	Pandimonium	3152	Mike Steel	Debs Steel	St Edmundsbury S & C	‑8	7	3	10
7th	Nutshell	1742	Jon Steward	Hannah Pighills	Fishers Green SC	‑12	6	6	12
8th	Shanandoa	3088	Andrew Mills	Richard Burton	Hampton SC	6	‑11	9	15
9th	Patriot	3252	Tony Cooper	Jessica Cooper	Fishers Green SC	4	12	(DNC)	16
10th	Smartypants	3506	Graham Webb	Roberto Mancini	Fishers Green SC	9	‑13	8	17
11th		2410	Ian Laing	Andrew Hunt	Hollingworth	10	8	‑13	18
12th	Hot Goblin	3402	Mike Atkinson	Simon Williams	Fishers Green SC	‑13	9	10	19
13th	Passion	3314	Richard Coulter	Graham Newman	Fishers Green SC	‑14	10	12	22
14th	Cobra	3465	Chris Glawin	Clive Gladwin	Fishers Green SC	11	‑14	11	22