Merlin Rocket Thames and Vintage Series at Minima Yacht Club

Andy Harris and Sarah Warren win the Merlin Rocket Thames and Vintage Series event at Minima © Stuart Jenkins

On Sunday 12th May 2024 Minima Yacht Club hosted a combined Thames & Vintage Series Event. Minima Yacht Club first raced in the summer of 1889 on the Hamble River. In the early days there were several Divisions of the Club, including a Surbiton Division on the River Thames.

After the close racing at Thames SC on Saturday Andy Harris and Sarah Warren, sailing 607 Crescendo, Peter Impey and Paul Nebel in 1939 War Horse and Ollie Houseman and Egle Tumosa in Luka 3560 moved down stream to Minima YC for more of the same. They were joined by two home boats from Minima and visitors Stuart Jenkins and Nicola Scaddan in Flinkidink 1097 from Hampton and Ben and Olivia Archer in 3054 After Myth from Parkstone.

Race 1

The race officer set a short course for the light variable conditions. Seven boats were on the start line for Race 1 which got under way just after 11:00hrs. It was a clean start with Crescendo and Luka getting the better starts and slowly pulling away from the main group. On the second lap Flinkidink came up behind on new breeze to momentarily take the lead before Crescendo and Luka got back into first and second places on the water.

These positions remained the same until the finish after a 45-minute race for the leaders.

Race 2

Race 2 saw the breeze increase just before the the start. All the competitors were pushing the line hard. At the start Luka was over the line and with Crescendo thinking they were over too, both boats went back to restart leaving the rest of the fleet to make the best of the clear air. Flinkidink made the best start getting to the windward mark first and pulling out a good lead on the other boats.

With the stronger breeze Ben and Olivia in a borrowed Championship winning boat back in 1977, moved up the fleet too. Flinkidink maintained the lead for most of the race before being overtaken by Crescendo and Luka.

The competitors came off the water for a delicious lunch with the winner still to be decided on the last race.

Race 3

The wind was light and viable for the last race with everything to play for. The race was fiercely contested from the start with Crescendo eventually pulling away from Luka in second place and Flinkidink to win the Vintage & Thames Series Trophies.

Thank you to Minima Yacht Club for an excellent day's racing on the River Thames and all the visitors particularly those who had travelled considerable distance from Chew Valley & Parkstone.

The next event for the Vintage Series is at Tamesis Sailing Cub on Saturday 18th May followed by the Thames Series sponsored by Craftinsure on Sunday 19th May.

Thames Series - Eric Archer Trophy:

Vintage Series (Handicap Series) - Chindit Trophy:

Andy Harris and Sarah Warren win the Merlin Rocket Thames and Vintage Series event at Minima - photo © Stuart Jenkins