Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Merlin Rocket Youth Championship 2023 at Itchenor Sailing Club

by Anna Aylward 15 Sep 2023 07:02 BST 9-10 September 2023

The hottest weekend of the year arrived, perfect for the hottest event on the calendar: the inaugural Merlin Rocket Youth Championships. Young sailors from many different fleets traipsed their way to Itchenor Sailing Club from across the country, some even making their way from the exotic lands of Scotland and Birmingham, and they were met by 16 beautiful (loaned) boats loaded up on double stackers. Word on the street is that Freya Lillywhite personally towed about 12 of them to the club herself.

We deployed the Merlin sailors to the boat park to aid with the rigging, as it turns out that setting up the 200 pieces of string on a Merlin is not intuitive, no matter how brilliant a sailor you are. Happy to report that most boats seemed to be set up correctly, although I couldn't really tell seeing as no one has seen me rig a Merlin in about two years (thanks James).

The weekend then started with some land-based coaching from the incomparable George Yeoman and Rob Henderson, generously loaning their time and expertise, before the illusive breeze finally appeared and we were thrown down the estuary for a bit of on-the-water coaching and practice.

As a south-westerly breeze was holding, the race team swiftly set up a windward-leeward course and set us in motion. It quickly became apparent that the left was paying with Ollie Meadowcroft and Anna Aylward, James and Fran Gifford, and Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner among the boats leading up the beat on the left.

Ollie and Anna lead round the windward mark and maintained the lead to the leeward mark. There were some changes in position around the leeward mark as the more experienced Merlin sailors, like Chloe Willars with super crew John Tailby were able to navigate the drops more quickly.

Most boats sensibly went left on the second beat, fighting to judge the lay line with the tide and shifts. The second run was more entertaining with more gybes, again allowing the more experienced crews a slightly easier time. Ollie and Anna stayed ahead to cross the line first, followed by Chloe and John, then James and Fran. The wind was just holding on, so another race was attempted, but two general recalls later and the race team judged the wind too light and called it a day.

The Saturday night social took place in the campsite, with a very healthy competition between crews and helms - crews obviously winning. Those that were camping fell asleep to the well-known lullaby 'it's a shoe', and Day 2 arrived with everyone looking extremely fresh and perky. Whoever said young people don't get hangovers has clearly never witnessed this group of sailors.

The sun was back out and we raced to rig in time to get on the water, ready to sit and wait for the wind. Another tricky forecast for the race team as the wind was due to begin spinning around in circles whilst also dropping. While we had an easterly breeze, they set another windward-leeward course and attempted to send us off. However, the youth had quickly learnt how to start races like real Merlin sailors and two general recalls followed. Under a black flag the fleet was eventually away!

Halfway up the beat the wind had a big 50 degree shift around to the south, meaning it was now more luck of the draw where you started off the line. Those on the left lost out whilst those on the right were now pointing at the mark. James and Fran rounded the windward mark first, and held that position for the remainder of the race.

The run had become a reach, without quite enough power to attack the boats ahead. The ribs swooped in to move the windward mark but James and Fran were already back on the beat so they didn't have much time to lay it. It obviously paid to go right this time, but you were quickly on the lay line. The resulting race was somewhat processional, as there was another reach to the finish and given the shifty wind the race team finished the race early. Hannah Carruthers and Isobel Stewart crossed the line in 2nd place, and Hayden and Freya Sewell were in 3rd place.

The fleet were kept out for another few hours to see if any raceable wind materialised but sadly all that turned up was rain. Some follow my leader commenced around the estuary as the race team gamely tried several options, but none stuck, and we were sent back in. As it turns out the breeze that took us in was the best of the weekend and we enjoyed a lovely reach to the club!

Our 2023 Youth Champions are James and Fran Gifford!
2nd place was Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner, also winning the first youth team, the first female helm and first non-Merlin team.
3rd place was Ollie Meadowcroft and Anna Aylward
4th place was Chloe Willars and John Tailby
5th place was Hayden and Freya Sewell

Thank you so much to In The Welsh Wind for sponsoring the event!

Thank you to Fernhurst Books for providing spot prizes for the event, awarded to:

  • Youngest helm: Samson Cross
  • Human outboard award: George Bender
  • Furthest travelled: Calum Bell and Oliver Maclean
  • Happiest boat: Tom Hartland Smith and Alex Warren
  • In love with the right: Will Wilkinson

Thank you also to Box PR and Creation Covers for sponsoring the event with some lovely water bottles.

Thank you to Itchenor Sailing Club for hosting us and to George Yeoman and Rob Henderson for coaching us. Thanks to our race team for dealing with the difficult conditions and the shore and house team!

Overall Results:

PosBoat NameSail NoHelmCrewClubHelm AgeCrew AgeR1R2Pts
1stHot Totty3676James GiffordFrances GiffordUniversity of Strathclyde Sailing Club/S1946314
2ndStolen from Meds3666Alice DavisOliver RaynerYorkshire Dales SC / Draycote1818459
3rdThe Bear3766Oliver MeadowcroftAnna AylwardUpper Thames SC19261910
4thQuicksilver3787Chloe WillarsJohn TailbyNotts County SC21242810
5thNo idea3707Hayden SewellFreya SewellWPNSA19188311
6thStealth3722Charlotte VIdeloKatrina GilbertFrensham Pond Sailing Club20519413
7thRoberta3796Rebecca VideloMegan PascoeFrensham Pond Sailing Club22367613
8th36543654Hannah CarruthersIsobel StewartFrensham Pond Sailing Club192013215
9thTiger Tiger3696Tom Hartland SmithAlex WarrenShoreham SC183051116
10thMoist3643Calum BellOliver MacleanMidland Sailing Club222261016
11thMerlin Rocket3658Megan FarrerArthur BaileyEmsworth SC181810717
12thKeyser soze3684Robert RichardsonOllie HawkinsRoyal Windermere yacht club2221121224
13thEasy Rider3618Sebi SchmidtGeorge BenderMidland Sailing Club2326111425
14thRoberta3756Samson CrossJonty FreemanShoreham SC1430141327
15thMonkey Puzzle3706Alex BaxterCallum FarndenOCSS2424151530
16thNever Been to Salcombe3812Will WilkinsonOliver WinderWQSC ‑ HLSC1923161632
17thN/A3732Alex PauseyBen HollisUpper Thames Sailing Club2336DNCDNC36

Related Articles

Merlin Rockets at Upper Thames
DeMay and Thames Series Opens held over the weekend Nine boats enjoyed the Merlin Rocket class Vintage event at UTSC on Saturday 6th September 2025. Crews were welcomed by sunshine and a moderate south easterly breeze. The wind was coming from the direction of the Bounty pub beyond the Marina. Posted on 10 Sep
Merlin Rocket Women's Championship preview
Entries are open for this mid-September event at Brightlingsea The Merlin Rocket Class is set to host its Women's National Championships on 13-14 September 2025 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club. The event title, listed in the official 2025 calendar, marks a weekend dedicated entirely to women's participation. Posted on 2 Sep
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray collect their trophies on a windless final day The Race Officer, Francis Marshall (an old misspent-youth mucker from one of your correspondents' Mirror days) displayed amazing patience and skill across the week such that by Thursday night we already had 9 races completed. Posted on 15 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 5
A day of learning as it started with another great What Went Well session Thursday's racing was sponsored by ClamCleat. It was a day of learning as it started with another great What Went Well session, this time for the crews with Rachael Gray, Sophie Mackley and Chris White sharing their crewing top tips. Posted on 15 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 4
Three races held after a night of fancy dress After a night of fancy dress with the theme "what were you wearing when the ship went down", lifeguard Tom Gillard was on hand to rescue the drowning Merlin Rocket crews and deliver them safely to the boat park in the morning. Posted on 13 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 3
The very keenest of rocketeers launched as soon as Delta flew Eager to get over the disappointment of blasting to the start line on Creation Covers race day two only to wallow as the wind shut off, the fleet were eagerly anticipating the prospect of a three-race day out in Looe Bay. Posted on 12 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 2
The wind fizzled out, leaving the waves to roll in under grey skies Day 2, Creation Covers Race Day, began with an excellent "what went well" session from Ben Saxton and Matt Rainback, finally unlocking the secrets of using the lowers and threading our way upwind in shifty conditions. Posted on 12 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 1
Founders Trophy and Beecher's Cup races for the 47-boat fleet Sunday 10th August saw the 2025 Merlin Rocket Aspire National Championships kick off at the beautiful Cornish resort of Looe. The 47 teams arrived the previous day to complete registration and scrutineering. Posted on 10 Aug
Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals Runners & Riders
The form guide of the top riders ahead of the Grand National! As we eagerly await the chance to be wowed by a field of quality, unrivalled by that of any other, us mortal spectators can merely speculate as to which vessel and esteemed riders will take the prestigious crown and name themselves champions. Posted on 4 Aug
Welcome back to the top table!
P&B winning in One-Designs It's been a superb start to the 2025 Championship Season for P&B, with their sails winning events up and down the country, as well as further afield. Posted on 1 Aug