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Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary Sailing Club

by Rob Allen 4 Apr 2023 13:51 BST 1 April 2023

The third round of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller series took place at Queen Mary SC on Saturday 1st April. A good turnout of 23 boats were enthused by a positive forecast and the prospect of back-to-back events, with Fran Gifford encouraging all and sundry to come to Ranelagh's event on the Sunday, just down the road.

Slightly daunted by a four race day, the fleet got away at the first time of asking thanks to a remarkably square line in the shifting 9-10 knot breeze and set off for 4 laps of course J, a sausage/triangle affair with very well set reaching legs in particular. After a close fight, Dave Lenz and Rob Allen emerged to pip Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell with Alex Jackson and Phil Dalby chasing hard in third.

In a gradually building breeze race 2 got away cleanly with Will and Rob Henderson showing strongly, before being overhauled by Simon Potts and Lottie Fildes. Ever consistent Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson took third.

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley

Race 3 was dominated by Simon and Lottie, with Matt Biggs and Beka Jones taking second and Alex/Phil taking third. By race 4 there was a little committee boat bias in the line, leading to a raft up on the right, before a big left shift after 10 seconds scuppered a few plans and saved other's bacon (ahem). Chris and Pete led handily before deciding that the triangle was so much fun they'd sail it even when a sausage was called for, allowing Jon and Matt to take the lead, just. This was how it stayed, with Dave/Rob holding off Matt/Beka for third in the battle of the matching kites.

The fleet returned happy after a good day's racing, if slightly dizzy from at least 16 laps. There was definitely a general at some point, I can't recall which race!

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley

Overall Jon & Matt took the win, with a very consistent series from Matt & Beka meaning they were second overall for the second Silver Tiller in a row (!) Dave & Rob were third in a tight battle with 5 points covering the first 6 boats.

First in Bronze fleet were John Holland and Ben Peerleg.

First in a tough battle for Silver fleet were Julian Harms and George Bender with Gold fleet taken out by Alex Warren & Jonty Freeman.

The Craftinsure Silver travels to Wales next, to Llangorse on the 22nd and 23rd April, which is combined with the Allen Inland Championships. Entries are now open.

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley

Overall Results:

PosFleetSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1stPlatinum3791Jon GorringMatt CurrellParkestone YC2‑8518
2ndPlatinum3801Matt BiggsBeka JonesBartley Sailing Club‑542410
3rdPlatinum3812David lenzRob AllenSalcombe YC17‑8311
4thPlatinum3775Chris JenningsPete NicholsonBurghfield‑936211
5thPlatinum3802Simon PottsLottie FildesBurghfield SC‑12111012
6thPlatinum3795Alex JacksonPhill DalbyShoreham SC3‑103713
7thGold3696Alex WarrenJonty FreemanShoreham SC654‑1415
8thGold3676Frances GiffordSophie MackleyRanelagh SC49‑10619
9thGold3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYA7‑129521
10thPlatinum3726Will HendersonRob HendersonSalcombe YC‑16212822
11thGold3727Mark StockbridgeTra JacobsUpper Thames SC13613‑1632
12thGold3702Duncan SalmonRuth HanstaterWembley SC14117‑1532
13thPlatinum3807Tim SaxtonPete MatthewsRYA10‑17111132
14thGold3796William WarrenMegan PascoeShoreham SC813‑151233
15thGold3799Paul RaysonChris HillSalcombe YC11‑14141338
16thGold3709Jack NortonDave RouseRanelagh1515‑16939
17thSilver3794Julian HarmsGeorge BenderMidland SC1916‑201853
18thSilver3805Mark ReddingtonLewis FowlerBartley Sailing Club1818‑191753
19thSilver3749Colin AndersonSean AndersonBartley Sailing Club171918(DNC)54
20thTBA3817Geoff KimberHelen KimberStone Sailing Club21‑22171957
21stGold3684Tom LowPeter ImpeyQueen Mary SC202021(DNC)61
22ndBronze3589John HollandBen PeerlegHampton SC2221‑232063
23rdBronze3449Carl WhitehallSam WhitehallRYA232322(DNC)68

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller series at Queen Mary - photo © Simon Winkley

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