Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week 2024 at Salcombe Yacht Club - Day 1
by Tim Fells 30 Jun 19:56 BST
30 June - 5 July 2024
After a sunny Saturday spent moving boats to the beach, the 120 competitors were greeted on Sunday Morning to a light North Westerly and broken sunshine.
Race 1 - Red v Green, Course 7,4,X,3,X
With a flood tide under them and a patchy breeze coming round the Ferry Inn the fleet were rather line shy, concerned not to start their series with a BFD. Locals Tim Fells and Fran Gifford spotted the opportunity to start clear ahead of the line up and flick onto port in the main stream and lead the fleet around Snapes and onto the beat up to Gerston.
Anthony and Jo Gifford got a nice starboard lift out of Saltstone to take the lead at Gerston from Tim and Fran with George Yeoman and Mark Oakey right on their transoms. These three had a tight battle until they reached the Yalton creek where Tim and Fran slipped away and built what looked like a commanding lead.
However, with two laps of the challenging town section of the course ahead of them there were plenty of snakes and ladders to negotiate. One such snake grabbed Tim and Fran off the Ferry landing allowing George and Mark and the flyweight team of Mandy Henderson and Rory Gifford to climb their personal ladder into the top two positions which they held to the line with George and Mark taking the first gun of the week.
In a good race for the family Henderson, Will and Arthur came home fourth a nose ahead of Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell with Anthony and Jo rounding out the top six, making it three Henderson's and four Giffords in the chocolates.
Race 2 - Blue v Black, Course 7,3,7,X
For the afternoon race, the wind remained in the NNW and had built to 10 knots giving fantastic racing conditions on the beat up to Gerston. The challenge was to get off the start and around Snapes against the ebbing tide.
With these flights packed with talent, there were three gold Merlin symbols, denoting previous class champions, leading the fleet into Snapes. Tom Gillard and Ollie Meadowcroft were drawn a little bit high under Snapes and it was the wily team of Mike and Jane Calvert who took the outside route to lead into the Bag, followed by Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey.
On the long beat to Gerston, Tom and Ollie put the hammer down to taken the lead but Mike and Jane found the last few shifts to lead onto the run. These two had built a significant lead and had a classic duel in the sun with the lead changing numerous times. On the final run the breeze went forward and Tom and Ollie were the quickest to respond to get their noses ahead and lead back into the harbour. There were no more dramas and they came home to take the bullet and put down a marker for the week.
Mike and Jane were an impressive second ahead of Caroline Gould and Livy Bell who had steadily climbed through the fleet after a less than stellar start. In fourth and showing great pace and positioning were David Conlon and Rebecca Bines. Christian and Sam who had fallen back to 10th at one point recovered well for fifth to just hold off James Goss and Chris White.
Results after Day 1:
Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | Hull colour | Fleet | Flight | R1 | R2 | Pts |
1st | 3759 | Red Mistress | Thomas Gillard | Ollie Meadowcroft | Sheffield Viking SC | Red | Platinum | Black | DNC | 1 | 121 |
2nd | 3777 | Mockingjay | George Yeoman | Mark Oakey | Itchenor SC | Grey | Platinum | Red | 1 | DNC | 121 |
3rd | 3691 | Quick Fix | Mike Calvert | Jane Calvert | Axe YC | Blue | Platinum | Black | DNC | 2 | 122 |
4th | 3751 | Narnia | Mary Henderson‑White | Rory Gifford | Brightlingsea SC | Blue | Gold | Red | 2 | DNC | 122 |
5th | 3820 | Skadi | Caroline Gould | Livvy Bell | Shoreham SC | Grey white | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 3 | 123 |
6th | 3764 | Fancy Liquor | Tim Fells | Frances Gifford | Salcombe YC | Blue | Platinum | Red | 3 | DNC | 123 |
7th | 3671 | Snakebite | David Conlon | Rebecca Bines | Brightlingsea SC | Black | Gold | Blue | DNC | 4 | 124 |
8th | 3726 | Arwen | Will Henderson | Arthur Henderson | Salcombe YC | Blue/white | Platinum | Red | 4 | DNC | 124 |
9th | 3788 | Blue my mind | Christian Birrell | Sam Brearey | Parkstone YC | Blue | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 5 | 125 |
10th | 3791 | Didley Squat | Jon Gorringe | Matt Currell | Parkstone YC | Blue | Platinum | Green | 5 | DNC | 125 |
11th | 3814 | Sonic | James Goss | Chris White | South Staffordshire SC | Blue | Platinum | Black | DNC | 6 | 126 |
12th | 3678 | Nora | Stephen Crook | Sally Townend | Hollingsworth Lake SC | Black/white | Gold | Green | 6 | DNC | 126 |
13th | 3796 | ROBERTA | William Warren | Charlotte Fildes | Shoreham SC | Blue | Gold | Blue | DNC | 7 | 127 |
14th | 3676 | Hot Totty | Antony Gifford | Jo Gifford | Royal Tay YC | Blue (white below waterline) | Platinum | Green | 7 | DNC | 127 |
15th | 3727 | Fragile | Mark Stockbridge | James Gifford | Upper Thames SC | Grey/ White | Gold | Blue | DNC | 8 | 128 |
16th | 3823 | The Goon Show | Alex Jackson | Pippa Kilsby | Shoreham SC | Elf Blue | Platinum | Green | 8 | DNC | 128 |
17th | 3696 | Tiger Tiger | Alex Warren | Jonty Freeman | Shoreham SC | White | Gold | Blue | DNC | 9 | 129 |
18th | 3793 | Boris | James Goodfellow | Rebecca Videlo | Netley Sailing Club | White | Platinum | Green | 9 | DNC | 129 |
19th | 3803 | Black Swan | Chris Gould | Sophie Mackley | Shoreham SC | White | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 10 | 130 |
20th | 3812 | Maumahara | Tom Stewart | Rob Allen | Salcombe YC | Black | Platinum | Red | 10 | DNC | 130 |
21st | 3801 | Pokey | Matt Biggs | Beka Jones | Bartley SC | Grey | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 11 | 131 |
22nd | 3807 | Baloo | Tim Saxton | Holly McArthur | Itchenor SC | Blue | Platinum | Green | 11 | DNC | 131 |
23rd | 3645 | Blue Velvet | Steven Hall | Charlotte Stewart | Royal Corinthian YC | Blue/White | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 12 | 132 |
24th | 3714 | Kevin | Rob Henderson | Alice Markham | Hayling Island SC | Blue | Gold | Green | 12 | DNC | 132 |
25th | 3703 | Faithless | Richard Whitworth | Jasper Bramwell | Parkstone YC | Black White | Platinum | Black | DNC | 13 | 133 |
26th | 3683 | Bluebird | Tom Ballantine | Madeleine Anderson | Salcombe YC | Blue | Gold | Red | 13 | DNC | 133 |
27th | 3625 | Point Break | Andrew Harris | Sara Warren | Tamesis SC | Blue | Silver | Black | DNC | 14 | 134 |
28th | 3802 | Khaleesi | Simon Potts | Richard Parslow | Burghfield SC | Light grey | Platinum | Green | 14 | DNC | 134 |
29th | 3787 | Quicksilver | Chris Martin | Josh Oates | Midland SC | Red | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 15 | 135 |
30th | 3799 | Simply Scrumptious | Paul Rayson | Chris Hill | Salcombe YC | Grey | Gold | Red | 15 | DNC | 135 |
31st | 3735 | Clone Wars | Tom Morris | Chris Kilsby | Hayling Island SC | Grey | Platinum | Black | DNC | 16 | 136 |
32nd | 3364 | Shadowfax | Chris Haworth | Stuart Aston | Bristol Corinthian YC | | Silver | Red | 16 | DNC | 136 |
33rd | 3724 | Sublime | Ed Bradburn | Jonny Coates | South Staffordshire SC | Grey | Platinum | Black | DNC | 17 | 137 |
34th | 3716 | Carbon footprint | Steve Leney | Gill Leney | Blithfield SC | Yellow | Gold | Red | 17 | DNC | 137 |
35th | 3700 | Dumb and Dumber | Robert Kennaugh | Andrew Prosser | Midland SC | Blue | Gold | Black | DNC | 18 | 138 |
36th | 3687 | Mellow Yellow | Matt Greenfield | Hannah Greenfield | Chew Valley Lake SC | Yellow | Gold | Green | 18 | DNC | 138 |
37th | 3670 | Filthy Gorgeous | Mark Mckeever | Oliver Maclean | Midland SC | Black White | Bronze | Black | DNC | 19 | 139 |
38th | 3659 | Zeno | Julian Parry | Nicky Bass | Hollingworth Lake SC | Mint | Gold | Green | 19 | DNC | 139 |
39th | 3746 | Point n squirt | James Wells | Anna Aylward | RYA | White Grey | Platinum | Blue | DNC | 20 | 140 |
40th | 3775 | Night Fury | Chris Jennings | Pete Nicholson | Burghfield SC | Grey | Platinum | Green | 20 | DNC | 140 |
41st | 3731 | Mayhem | Andy Jones | Maddie Jones | Burghfield SC | Grey | Silver | Blue | DNC | 21 | 141 |
42nd | 3684 | Keyser Soze | Tom Low | Ed Low | West Hoe SC | Black Grey | Silver | Green | 21 | DNC | 141 |
43rd | 3710 | Paradigm Shift | Jon Ibbotson | Rob Stewart | Burghfield SC | White | Platinum | Black | DNC | 22 | 142 |
44th | 3707 | Monkey Business | Stuart Jenkins | Nicola Scaddan | Hampton SC | Pale blue | Bronze | Green | 22 | DNC | 142 |
45th | 3740 | Why ask? | Pat Blake | Jilly Blake | Lymington Town SC | Blue | Gold | Black | DNC | 23 | 143 |
46th | 3692 | Nemo | Steve Conroy | Anna Rayson | Salcombe YC | Turquoise | Silver | Red | 23 | DNC | 143 |
47th | 3749 | Stanley | Colin Anderson | Sean Anderson | Bartley SC | White | Gold | Blue | DNC | 24 | 144 |
48th | 3611 | The Phantom Menace | Chris Dodds | Anna Blake | Carsington SC | Grey | Gold | Red | 24 | DNC | 144 |
49th | 3709 | Wild at heart | Jack Norton | Dave Royce | Ranelagh SC | Blue | Gold | Blue | DNC | 25 | 145 |
50th | 3769 | The Disciple | Graham Cranford Smith | Innes Armstrong | Salcombe YC | Grey | Silver | Green | 25 | DNC | 145 |
51st | 3679 | Daddys Boat | Nick Heginbotham | Justine Davenport | Hollingworh Lake SC/South Caernarvonshir | Green/white | Gold | Black | DNC | 26 | 146 |
52nd | 3753 | Appetite for destruction | Andy Bines | Sarah C | Brightlingsea SC | White | Silver | Red | 26 | DNC | 146 |
53rd | 3766 | The Bear | Andy Dalby | Aimee/Elsa Dalby | Burghfield SC | Blue Yellow | Silver | Black | DNC | 27 | 147 |
54th | 3732 | Two Planks | Ben Hollis | Alex Pausey | Bartley SC | Blue/grey | Silver | Red | 27 | DNC | 147 |
55th | 3773 | No. 34 | Alan Warren | Bill Carroll | Shoreham SC | White | Silver | Blue | DNC | 28 | 148 |
56th | 3652 | Time and Tide | John Bell | Phil Dalby | Hampton SC | Purple | Silver | Green | 28 | DNC | 148 |
57th | 3054 | After Myth | Joe McLaughlin | Sean Roberts | Tamesis SC | Dark Blue & White | Silver | Blue | DNC | 29 | 149 |
58th | 3715 | Truly Scrumptious | Richard Cooke | Russell Hall | Wembley SC | Black white | Silver | Green | 29 | DNC | 149 |
59th | 3747 | Learner driver | Clive Eplett | Nigel Hufton | Frensham Pond SC | Blue White | Gold | Black | DNC | 30 | 150 |
60th | 3795 | Goon | Tim Harridge | Robbie/Josh Leroy | Hampton SC | Elf Blue | Silver | Green | 30 | DNC | 150 |
61st | 3633 | Chill Out | Timothy Harms | Amelia Little | Hampton SC | Blue | Silver | Blue | DNC | 31 | 151 |
62nd | 3815 | The Kraken | Mark Barwell | Lou Johnson | Lymington Town SC | Blue | Gold | Green | 31 | DNC | 151 |
63rd | 3725 | Island Girl | Andrew Squire | Laura Evans | Salcombe YC | Blue | Silver | Black | DNC | 32 | 152 |
64th | 3723 | Fifty shades | Leslie Bithell | Lily Tointon | Hollingworth Lake SC | Grey | Bronze | Green | 32 | DNC | 152 |
65th | 3569 | Time Zulu | Ben Lulham | Samantha Lulham | Blakeney SC | Purple | Silver | Blue | DNC | 33 | 153 |
66th | 3730 | Blood sweat and beers | Paul Hollis | Katie Keith | Bartley SC | Blue | Silver | Red | 33 | DNC | 153 |
67th | 3806 | Blue Tit | Ben Jones | Helen Hilditch | Salcombe YC | Blue | Silver | Blue | DNC | 34 | 154 |
68th | 3666 | ...ted... | John Meadowcroft | Zoe Meadowcroft | Upper Thames SC | Grey | Platinum | Red | 34 | DNC | 154 |
69th | 3647 | Liquid Dreams | Hywel Bowen‑Perkins | Lucy Penwarden | Salcombe YC | Blue | Silver | Black | DNC | 35 | 155 |
70th | 3641 | Puff the Magic Dragon | Mark Waterhouse | Isobel Stewart | Salcombe YC | Blue | Gold | Red | 35 | DNC | 155 |
71st | 3825 | T Cup | Storm Nuttall | Sally Cuthbert | Salcombe YC | Dark Grey | Bronze | Black | DNC | 36 | 156 |
72nd | 3615 | Edgar | Stuart Bates | Lydia Bourne | Hollingworth Lake SC | Green/White | Silver | Green | 36 | DNC | 156 |
73rd | 3781 | | David Hall | Emilie Hood | Blackwater SC | Grey white | Platinum | Black | DNC | 37 | 157 |
74th | 3547 | Moondance Assasin | Peter Male | Tim Male | Blithfield SC | Blue | Silver | Red | 37 | DNC | 157 |
75th | 3794 | Itchthys | Julian Harms | George Bender | Midland SC | Grey Orange | Silver | Blue | DNC | 38 | 158 |
76th | 3758 | | David Hayes | Grace Al Mukhtar | Lymington Town SC | Black | Platinum | Green | 38 | DNC | 158 |
77th | 3805 | Nermal | Mark Reddington | Lewis Fowler | Bartley SC | Grey | Silver | Blue | DNC | 39 | 159 |
78th | 3598 | Bar Humbug | Robert Smith | Pete Richards | Salcombe YC | Black/white | Silver | Green | 39 | DNC | 159 |
79th | 3790 | Pointer | Colin Brockbank | Vana Vlastaki | Wembley SC | Blue | Silver | Black | DNC | 40 | 160 |
80th | 3745 | Outnumbered | Paul Dean | Francesca Dean | Wembley SC | Dark Grey | Gold | Red | 40 | DNC | 160 |
81st | 3736 | Metachrosis | Jon Bloice | Philippa Bloice | Whitstable YC | Blue | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 41 | 161 |
82nd | 3702 | Salmon en croute | Duncan Salmon | Ruth Hanstater | Salcombe YC | Blue | Gold | Green | 41 | DNC | 161 |
83rd | 3567 | FatboySlim | Martin Smith | Karen Beston | Redditch SC | Turquoise | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 42 | 162 |
84th | 3748 | White Tiger | Nigel Brooke | Suzie Brooke | Lymington Town SC | Grey | Silver | Red | 42 | DNC | 162 |
85th | 3530 | Sir Topaz | Mike Colles | Lauren Morgan | Midland SC | Yellow | Bronze | Black | DNC | 43 | 163 |
86th | 3648 | Bang Tidy | Jamie Wright | Annabel Stewart | Shoreham SC | Blue/white | Bronze | Red | 43 | DNC | 163 |
87th | 3675 | White Sauce er er | Rob Hatley | Joe Hatley | Tamesis SC | White | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 44 | 164 |
88th | 3677 | Indecision | Timothy Barr | Peter Impey | Tamesis SC | Red | Bronze | Green | 44 | DNC | 164 |
89th | 3333 | Precious | John Adams | Ros Warwick‑Haller | Tamesis SC | White | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 45 | 165 |
90th | 3463 | Smoke on the water | Jonathan Cowper | Hannah Hutchings | Hunts SC | Pink | Bronze | Red | 45 | DNC | 165 |
91st | 3704 | Factory Maid | Gemma Horwood | Benji Hughes | Wembley SC | Grey White | Silver | Black | DNC | 46 | 166 |
92nd | 3813 | Pacemaker | Steve Harling | Eleanor Thomas/Sarah Roberts | Starcross YC | Turquoise | Bronze | Red | 46 | DNC | 166 |
93rd | 3660 | Djelibeybi | Jon Buckley | Jonathan Carr | Starcross YC | | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 47 | 167 |
94th | 3587 | Mistral | Henry Mason | Belinda Mason | Blithfield SC | White | Bronze | Red | 47 | DNC | 167 |
95th | 3599 | Harry | Nigel Cooper | John Hollands | Salcombe YC | Red | Bronze | Blue | DNC | 48 | 168 |
96th | 3511 | Heaven Sent | Andrew Mills | Ellie Mills | Hampton SC | Red | Bronze | Green | 48 | DNC | 168 |
97th | 1638 | Clockwork Orange | David Prickett | Bernard Prickett | RYA | | Bronze | Black | DNC | 49 | 169 |
98th | 3817 | Aura | Geoff Kimber | Helen Kimber | Stone SC | Light Blue | Silver | Green | 49 | DNC | 169 |
99th | 3621 | Raunchy | Tristram Squire | Peter Slack | Salcombe YC | Blue | Bronze | Black | DNC | 50 | 170 |
100th | 3152 | Pandemonium | Mike Steele | George Wilson | St Edmundsbury SCA | White | Bronze | Red | 50 | DNC | 170 |
101st | 3705 | Two pints of lager | Geoff Wright | Edward Alexander | Blithfield SC | Blue | Silver | Red | 51 | DNC | 171 |
102nd | 3686 | If | Kevin Rose | Harvey Godel | Upper Thames SC | Grey/white | Bronze | Green | 52 | DNC | 172 |
103rd | 3742 | Speed Machine | Howard Eeles | Justin Gem | Bartley SC | Blue White | Bronze | Red | 53 | DNC | 173 |
104th | 3800 | Brambles | Richard Bramley | Tony Cheal | Shoreham SC | Blue | Bronze | Red | 54 | DNC | 174 |
105th | 3368 | Debutante | Ian Laing | Andrew Hunt | Hollingworth Lake SC | Red/white | Bronze | Green | 55 | DNC | 175 |
106th | 3816 | | Phil Emery | Phoebe Paine | Whitstable SC | Blue | Silver | Blue | DNC | DNF | 240 |
106th | 3755 | The Edge | Michael Hamilton | Christian Hamilton | Blackpool and Fleetwood YC | Green | Bronze | Black | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3586 | Shadowplay | Kieron Mason | George Mason | Blithfield SC | Dark Grey | Bronze | Red | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3561 | Snorting | Joe Shaw | Stephanie Mitterhouse | Wembley SC | White | Bronze | Black | DNC | DNF | 240 |
106th | 353 | Gangsta Paradise | Dan Alsop | Jennie King | Lyme Regis SC | Grey | Silver | Black | DNC | DNF | 240 |
106th | 3706 | Monkey Puzzle | Kevin Anderson | Sadie Anderson | Salcombe YC | Grey | Bronze | Blue | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3697 | Too Dark and Stormy | Richard Page | Elizabeth Dalby | Hampton SC | Purple | Bronze | Red | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3654 | Tales of Acapulco | Geoffrey Cox | Jonathan Coyte | Salcombe YC | | Bronze | Green | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3822 | | Gareth Griffiths | Pippa Hilditch | Lymington Town SC | Grey | Bronze | Black | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3786 | Shotgunn | Michael Wilson | Helen Wilson | Isle of Man YC | Grey Blue | Silver | Black | DNC | DNF | 240 |
106th | 3809 | | Arran Holman | Faye Chatterton | RYA | Purple | Platinum | Green | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3768 | | Rob Cage | Hatty Cage | Thames SC | White | Gold | Red | DNC | DNC | 240 |
106th | 3756 | Robert | Neal Lillywhite | Freya Lillywhite | Salcombe YC | Grey | Gold | Blue | DNC | DNF | 240 |
106th | 3738 | Superfast Jellyfish | Simon Blake | Molly Blake | Royal Brighton YC | Black/white | Platinum | Black | DNC | DNF | 240 |