Please select your home edition
Edition
upffront 2024 December Leaderboard

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:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmCrewClubHull colourFleetFlightR1R2Pts
1st3759Red MistressThomas GillardOllie MeadowcroftSheffield Viking SCRedPlatinumBlackDNC1121
2nd3777MockingjayGeorge YeomanMark OakeyItchenor SCGreyPlatinumRed1DNC121
3rd3691Quick FixMike CalvertJane CalvertAxe YCBluePlatinumBlackDNC2122
4th3751NarniaMary Henderson‑WhiteRory GiffordBrightlingsea SCBlueGoldRed2DNC122
5th3820SkadiCaroline GouldLivvy BellShoreham SCGrey whitePlatinumBlueDNC3123
6th3764Fancy LiquorTim FellsFrances GiffordSalcombe YCBluePlatinumRed3DNC123
7th3671SnakebiteDavid ConlonRebecca BinesBrightlingsea SCBlackGoldBlueDNC4124
8th3726ArwenWill HendersonArthur HendersonSalcombe YCBlue/whitePlatinumRed4DNC124
9th3788Blue my mindChristian BirrellSam BreareyParkstone YCBluePlatinumBlueDNC5125
10th3791Didley SquatJon GorringeMatt CurrellParkstone YCBluePlatinumGreen5DNC125
11th3814SonicJames GossChris WhiteSouth Staffordshire SCBluePlatinumBlackDNC6126
12th3678NoraStephen CrookSally TownendHollingsworth Lake SCBlack/whiteGoldGreen6DNC126
13th3796ROBERTAWilliam WarrenCharlotte FildesShoreham SCBlueGoldBlueDNC7127
14th3676Hot TottyAntony GiffordJo GiffordRoyal Tay YCBlue (white below waterline)PlatinumGreen7DNC127
15th3727FragileMark StockbridgeJames GiffordUpper Thames SCGrey/ WhiteGoldBlueDNC8128
16th3823The Goon ShowAlex JacksonPippa KilsbyShoreham SCElf BluePlatinumGreen8DNC128
17th3696Tiger TigerAlex WarrenJonty FreemanShoreham SCWhiteGoldBlueDNC9129
18th3793BorisJames GoodfellowRebecca VideloNetley Sailing ClubWhitePlatinumGreen9DNC129
19th3803Black SwanChris GouldSophie MackleyShoreham SCWhitePlatinumBlueDNC10130
20th3812MaumaharaTom StewartRob AllenSalcombe YCBlackPlatinumRed10DNC130
21st3801PokeyMatt BiggsBeka JonesBartley SCGreyPlatinumBlueDNC11131
22nd3807BalooTim SaxtonHolly McArthurItchenor SCBluePlatinumGreen11DNC131
23rd3645Blue VelvetSteven HallCharlotte StewartRoyal Corinthian YCBlue/WhitePlatinumBlueDNC12132
24th3714KevinRob HendersonAlice MarkhamHayling Island SCBlueGoldGreen12DNC132
25th3703FaithlessRichard WhitworthJasper BramwellParkstone YCBlack WhitePlatinumBlackDNC13133
26th3683BluebirdTom BallantineMadeleine AndersonSalcombe YCBlueGoldRed13DNC133
27th3625Point BreakAndrew HarrisSara WarrenTamesis SCBlueSilverBlackDNC14134
28th3802KhaleesiSimon PottsRichard ParslowBurghfield SCLight greyPlatinumGreen14DNC134
29th3787QuicksilverChris MartinJosh OatesMidland SCRedPlatinumBlueDNC15135
30th3799Simply ScrumptiousPaul RaysonChris HillSalcombe YCGreyGoldRed15DNC135
31st3735Clone WarsTom MorrisChris KilsbyHayling Island SCGreyPlatinumBlackDNC16136
32nd3364ShadowfaxChris HaworthStuart AstonBristol Corinthian YC SilverRed16DNC136
33rd3724SublimeEd BradburnJonny CoatesSouth Staffordshire SCGreyPlatinumBlackDNC17137
34th3716Carbon footprintSteve LeneyGill LeneyBlithfield SCYellowGoldRed17DNC137
35th3700Dumb and DumberRobert KennaughAndrew ProsserMidland SCBlueGoldBlackDNC18138
36th3687Mellow YellowMatt GreenfieldHannah GreenfieldChew Valley Lake SCYellowGoldGreen18DNC138
37th3670Filthy GorgeousMark MckeeverOliver MacleanMidland SCBlack WhiteBronzeBlackDNC19139
38th3659ZenoJulian ParryNicky BassHollingworth Lake SCMintGoldGreen19DNC139
39th3746Point n squirtJames WellsAnna AylwardRYAWhite GreyPlatinumBlueDNC20140
40th3775Night FuryChris JenningsPete NicholsonBurghfield SCGreyPlatinumGreen20DNC140
41st3731MayhemAndy JonesMaddie JonesBurghfield SCGreySilverBlueDNC21141
42nd3684Keyser SozeTom LowEd LowWest Hoe SCBlack GreySilverGreen21DNC141
43rd3710Paradigm ShiftJon IbbotsonRob StewartBurghfield SCWhitePlatinumBlackDNC22142
44th3707Monkey BusinessStuart JenkinsNicola ScaddanHampton SCPale blueBronzeGreen22DNC142
45th3740Why ask?Pat BlakeJilly BlakeLymington Town SCBlueGoldBlackDNC23143
46th3692NemoSteve ConroyAnna RaysonSalcombe YCTurquoiseSilverRed23DNC143
47th3749StanleyColin AndersonSean AndersonBartley SCWhiteGoldBlueDNC24144
48th3611The Phantom MenaceChris DoddsAnna BlakeCarsington SCGreyGoldRed24DNC144
49th3709Wild at heartJack NortonDave RoyceRanelagh SCBlueGoldBlueDNC25145
50th3769The DiscipleGraham Cranford SmithInnes ArmstrongSalcombe YCGreySilverGreen25DNC145
51st3679Daddys BoatNick HeginbothamJustine DavenportHollingworh Lake SC/South CaernarvonshirGreen/whiteGoldBlackDNC26146
52nd3753Appetite for destructionAndy BinesSarah CBrightlingsea SCWhiteSilverRed26DNC146
53rd3766The BearAndy DalbyAimee/Elsa DalbyBurghfield SCBlue YellowSilverBlackDNC27147
54th3732Two PlanksBen HollisAlex PauseyBartley SCBlue/greySilverRed27DNC147
55th3773No. 34Alan WarrenBill CarrollShoreham SCWhiteSilverBlueDNC28148
56th3652Time and TideJohn BellPhil DalbyHampton SCPurpleSilverGreen28DNC148
57th3054After MythJoe McLaughlinSean RobertsTamesis SCDark Blue & WhiteSilverBlueDNC29149
58th3715Truly ScrumptiousRichard CookeRussell HallWembley SCBlack whiteSilverGreen29DNC149
59th3747Learner driverClive EplettNigel HuftonFrensham Pond SCBlue WhiteGoldBlackDNC30150
60th3795GoonTim HarridgeRobbie/Josh LeroyHampton SCElf BlueSilverGreen30DNC150
61st3633Chill OutTimothy HarmsAmelia LittleHampton SCBlueSilverBlueDNC31151
62nd3815The KrakenMark BarwellLou JohnsonLymington Town SCBlueGoldGreen31DNC151
63rd3725Island GirlAndrew SquireLaura EvansSalcombe YCBlueSilverBlackDNC32152
64th3723Fifty shadesLeslie BithellLily TointonHollingworth Lake SCGreyBronzeGreen32DNC152
65th3569Time ZuluBen LulhamSamantha LulhamBlakeney SCPurpleSilverBlueDNC33153
66th3730Blood sweat and beersPaul HollisKatie KeithBartley SCBlueSilverRed33DNC153
67th3806Blue TitBen JonesHelen HilditchSalcombe YCBlueSilverBlueDNC34154
68th3666...ted...John MeadowcroftZoe MeadowcroftUpper Thames SCGreyPlatinumRed34DNC154
69th3647Liquid DreamsHywel Bowen‑PerkinsLucy PenwardenSalcombe YCBlueSilverBlackDNC35155
70th3641Puff the Magic DragonMark WaterhouseIsobel StewartSalcombe YCBlueGoldRed35DNC155
71st3825T CupStorm NuttallSally CuthbertSalcombe YCDark GreyBronzeBlackDNC36156
72nd3615EdgarStuart BatesLydia BourneHollingworth Lake SCGreen/WhiteSilverGreen36DNC156
73rd3781 David HallEmilie HoodBlackwater SCGrey whitePlatinumBlackDNC37157
74th3547Moondance AssasinPeter MaleTim MaleBlithfield SCBlueSilverRed37DNC157
75th3794ItchthysJulian HarmsGeorge BenderMidland SCGrey OrangeSilverBlueDNC38158
76th3758 David HayesGrace Al MukhtarLymington Town SCBlackPlatinumGreen38DNC158
77th3805NermalMark ReddingtonLewis FowlerBartley SCGreySilverBlueDNC39159
78th3598Bar HumbugRobert SmithPete RichardsSalcombe YCBlack/whiteSilverGreen39DNC159
79th3790PointerColin BrockbankVana VlastakiWembley SCBlueSilverBlackDNC40160
80th3745OutnumberedPaul DeanFrancesca DeanWembley SCDark GreyGoldRed40DNC160
81st3736MetachrosisJon BloicePhilippa BloiceWhitstable YCBlueBronzeBlueDNC41161
82nd3702Salmon en crouteDuncan SalmonRuth HanstaterSalcombe YCBlueGoldGreen41DNC161
83rd3567FatboySlimMartin SmithKaren BestonRedditch SCTurquoiseBronzeBlueDNC42162
84th3748White TigerNigel BrookeSuzie BrookeLymington Town SCGreySilverRed42DNC162
85th3530Sir TopazMike CollesLauren MorganMidland SCYellowBronzeBlackDNC43163
86th3648Bang TidyJamie WrightAnnabel StewartShoreham SCBlue/whiteBronzeRed43DNC163
87th3675White Sauce er erRob HatleyJoe HatleyTamesis SCWhiteBronzeBlueDNC44164
88th3677IndecisionTimothy BarrPeter ImpeyTamesis SCRedBronzeGreen44DNC164
89th3333PreciousJohn AdamsRos Warwick‑HallerTamesis SCWhiteBronzeBlueDNC45165
90th3463Smoke on the waterJonathan CowperHannah HutchingsHunts SCPinkBronzeRed45DNC165
91st3704Factory MaidGemma HorwoodBenji HughesWembley SCGrey WhiteSilverBlackDNC46166
92nd3813PacemakerSteve HarlingEleanor Thomas/Sarah RobertsStarcross YCTurquoiseBronzeRed46DNC166
93rd3660DjelibeybiJon BuckleyJonathan CarrStarcross YC BronzeBlueDNC47167
94th3587MistralHenry MasonBelinda MasonBlithfield SCWhiteBronzeRed47DNC167
95th3599HarryNigel CooperJohn HollandsSalcombe YCRedBronzeBlueDNC48168
96th3511Heaven SentAndrew MillsEllie MillsHampton SCRedBronzeGreen48DNC168
97th1638Clockwork OrangeDavid PrickettBernard PrickettRYA BronzeBlackDNC49169
98th3817AuraGeoff KimberHelen KimberStone SCLight BlueSilverGreen49DNC169
99th3621RaunchyTristram SquirePeter SlackSalcombe YCBlueBronzeBlackDNC50170
100th3152PandemoniumMike SteeleGeorge WilsonSt Edmundsbury SCAWhiteBronzeRed50DNC170
101st3705Two pints of lagerGeoff WrightEdward AlexanderBlithfield SCBlueSilverRed51DNC171
102nd3686IfKevin RoseHarvey GodelUpper Thames SCGrey/whiteBronzeGreen52DNC172
103rd3742Speed MachineHoward EelesJustin GemBartley SCBlue WhiteBronzeRed53DNC173
104th3800BramblesRichard BramleyTony ChealShoreham SCBlueBronzeRed54DNC174
105th3368DebutanteIan LaingAndrew HuntHollingworth Lake SCRed/whiteBronzeGreen55DNC175
106th3816 Phil EmeryPhoebe PaineWhitstable SCBlueSilverBlueDNCDNF240
106th3755The EdgeMichael HamiltonChristian HamiltonBlackpool and Fleetwood YCGreenBronzeBlackDNCDNC240
106th3586ShadowplayKieron MasonGeorge MasonBlithfield SCDark GreyBronzeRedDNCDNC240
106th3561SnortingJoe ShawStephanie MitterhouseWembley SCWhiteBronzeBlackDNCDNF240
106th353Gangsta ParadiseDan AlsopJennie KingLyme Regis SCGreySilverBlackDNCDNF240
106th3706Monkey PuzzleKevin AndersonSadie AndersonSalcombe YCGreyBronzeBlueDNCDNC240
106th3697Too Dark and StormyRichard PageElizabeth DalbyHampton SCPurpleBronzeRedDNCDNC240
106th3654Tales of AcapulcoGeoffrey CoxJonathan CoyteSalcombe YC BronzeGreenDNCDNC240
106th3822 Gareth GriffithsPippa HilditchLymington Town SCGreyBronzeBlackDNCDNC240
106th3786ShotgunnMichael WilsonHelen WilsonIsle of Man YCGrey BlueSilverBlackDNCDNF240
106th3809 Arran HolmanFaye ChattertonRYAPurplePlatinumGreenDNCDNC240
106th3768 Rob CageHatty CageThames SCWhiteGoldRedDNCDNC240
106th3756RobertNeal LillywhiteFreya LillywhiteSalcombe YCGreyGoldBlueDNCDNF240
106th3738Superfast JellyfishSimon BlakeMolly BlakeRoyal Brighton YCBlack/whitePlatinumBlackDNCDNF240

Related Articles

Merlin Rocket Class Launches 2025 Calendar
41 events to choose from, yes you read that right The 2025 Merlin Rocket Calendar is here, and the class is delighted to share with you events that will take us from the banks of the River Thames and the River Trent to the seas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Essex. Posted on 26 Nov
Craftinsure Silver Tiller End of Season at Stone
Is this the first time that AI has been used to establish the winners? We made it, report 41 of 2024 and the final one from this year's Merlin Rocket season. Having asked the third placed finishers at each of the events it was probably time I wrote one myself. Posted on 28 Oct
2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE Circuit at Shoreham
A perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots The 19th of October saw 18 Merlin Rockets head to Shoreham Sailing Club for the final stop of the 2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE circuit. The fleet were welcomed by a perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots. Posted on 21 Oct
Merlin Rocket Felucca Trophy at Hollingworth Lake
Part of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller and the Northern Circuit The annual Felucca Trophy has just taken place at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October, with 16 Merlin Rockets going north to take part. Posted on 16 Oct
Merlin Rockets of all ages at Hampton
A challenging day's sailing with a variable wind and strong stream Usually this is held over two days at the weekend but this year, with a strong stream in the Thames and a forecast of virtually no wind on the Sunday, we took the decision to hold both the De May series and the Thames series race concurrently. Posted on 14 Oct
Merlin Rocket Women's Championship
A great event with training, a talk by Sarah Ayton, then competitive racing The Women's Champs is special as so many ladies from other classes come and join, Merlin crews team up and ex Merlin sailors come back to the class. Sailing is a sport for everyone but I think there are still barriers to a lot of ladies. Posted on 16 Sep
Merlin Rockets at Upper Thames
David Battye was naturally itching to point his flag for inadequate stability This year's edition of the Upper Thames Sailing Club Merlin Rocket open meeting weekend (8th and 9th September) saw a temperamental forecast and every different flavour of weather, but often a noticeable lack of wind. Posted on 13 Sep
Women Sailors - the Merlin Rocket Class Needs You
Second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club on 14-15 September The Merlin Rocket Class is renowned for its technical development and the high standard of its sailors, and now it is developing in other ways; the Merlin Rocket Class Association is running its second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club. Posted on 6 Sep
Merlin Rocket Youth Championship 2024 at Itchenor
A great way see what young helms and crews can do 10 boats headed to Itchenor Sailing Club for the second year of the Merlin Youth Championships. It's not an easy boat to to own if you're under 25, so the youth champs is a great way see what young helms and crews can do. Posted on 2 Sep
Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby overall
Every weather under the sun, but thankfully ending with sunshine From Frensham with love. Last day report from the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships in Tenby and what a week. We've had every weather under the sun. Thankfully we ended on sunshine which was a bonus, unlike Salcombe. Posted on 17 Aug