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Merlin Rocket National Championship sponsored by Aspire at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 2

by Fishers Green and Wembley Sailing 12 Aug 20:04 BST 11-16 August 2024

What a difference a day makes: Tenby delivers in epic fashion champagne conditions for Day two of the Merlin Rocket National Championships sponsored by Aspire Financial advisors; a view from the bronze fleet battleground.

A broken night's sleep due a passing thunderstorm got team Fishers Green dashing out in the middle of the night to retrieve sailing kit from the garden. Sailors woke to an overcast grey sky, with the Crew's Union safely navigated brilliantly hosted by Freya and Jonty, it was time once again to take on the country's finest merlin sailors. The grey skies soon cleared and beautiful steady force 4 arrived, a special thank to Ben Saxton/Matt Rainback giving up their time to give an enlightening chat to the fleet before racing, a real eye opener to this bronze fleet sailor to how much effort goes into getting to the front. The fleet launched for the glorious mile long broad 3 sailer to the start line, the sail out was worth the entry fee alone.

2 races scheduled for the day with the tide pushing the fleet over the line would have put the ever eager merlin fleet to repeat the black lag carnage of day one, amazingly both races got away cleanly possibly a 1st for the merlin fleet.

I will apologise for lack of detail and facts on what happened at the sharp end, from where your reporter is in the fleet it's hard to see the front, but I can imagine it's a place full of lifting tacks, manageable chop, beautiful sunshine and unicorns.

Race 1: those who chose the pin end and the left side came up trumps, Arran Holman/Hayden Sewell 3809 rounded 1st and held the lead to the finish, for the 3rd different winner of the week. 2nd Stu Bithell/Tom Pygall, 3rd Christian Birrell/Sam Brearey 3788.

Even in the bronze fleet you need to be on your game, as a missed shift or a missed timed wave costs you places, highlighting the immense standard and depth throughout the merlin fleet. Those adorning fleet leader bibs now had targets on their backs for bronze fleet to claim some scalps.

A quick turn around and the fleet set about race 2.

Leading the charge for race 4 top honour Stu Bithell/Tom Pygall 3826, closely chased by Andy Davis/Ollie Meadocroft 3824, this appeared to be a two horse race, from where I was watching, that is until I got home and checked the updated results to see Christian Birrell/Sam Brearey 3788 came through to take the victory.

Christian Birrell/Sam Brearey lead the nationals putting together an impressive scorecard not yet finishing outside the top 3.

Keeping hold of the gold jerseys for tomorrow gold fleet leaders Alex Warren/Jonty Freeman 3696 being chased by Maddie Anderson/Tom Ballantine 3683. A change at the top of the sliver fleet is Phil Emery/Phoebe Paine 3816 followed by yesterday's leaders Andy and Maddie Jones. While the bronze fleet is being led by Jon Steward/Christian Hill 3770, while waiting in the wings for any slip ups, is Howard Eeles/Josh Oates 3742.

All in all, a great day all round, basking in the south Wales sunshine while flying around the Tenby harbour, what is there not to love. Great race management finishing the fleet at the windward mark to give us a pleasant sail much closer to home after a magnificent day. Teams helping each other up beach, tales of heroics or mishaps while getting suitably refreshed on Tenby finest ale.

A Huge thank you to our sponsors Aspire Financial Advisers, Allspars, Becky Bettesworth, CF by L and L, In The Welsh Wind and GK Engineering.

Bring on the rest of the week.

Results after Day 2:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubFoundersBeechersClyde QuaichWest CountryPts
1st3788Christian BirrellSam BreareyParkstone YC21317
2nd3826Stuart BithellTom PygallParkstone YC152311
3rd3824Andy DavisOllie MeadowcroftSouth Staffs SC328215
4th3809Arran HolmanHayden SewellHollowell5121523
5th3719Ian MartinChris MartinBurghfield SC6451025
6th3807Tim SaxtonHolly McArthurItchenor SC1067932
7th3791Jon GorringeMatt CurrellParkstone YC41114635
8th3691Mike CalvertJane CalvertAxe YC87131139
9th3775Chris JenningsPete NicholsonBrightlingsea SC9219847
10th3782Ed ChapmanFaye ChattertonLymington Town SC14962251
11th3802Simon PottsEmma ClarkeBurghfield SC128191453
12th3812Thomas StewartRob AllenWaldringfield SC71923756
13th3696Alexander WarrenJonty FreemanShoreham SC1716201366
14th3787Chris MartinJohn TailbyBartley SC2517111669
15th3666John MeadowcroftRory GiffordUpper Thames SC1620181771
16th3801Matthew BiggsBeka JonesBartley SC1310252876
17th3804Ben SaxtonMatt RainbackRYABFD34477
18th3793James GoodfellowRick CornesNetley SC1138102382
19th3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYA1525152782
20th3724Ed BradburnSamuel BaileySouth Staffs SC2126171882
21st3683Maddy AndersonTom BallantineBrightlingsea SC2031221285
22nd3751Rupert Henderson‑WhiteMary Henderson‑WhiteBrightlingsea SC1822162985
23rd3645Steve HallAlison HallRoyal Corinthian YC2224212693
24th3710Jon IbbotsonRobert StewartBurghfield SC27183025100
25th3757Tim ParsonsAndy ServiceLyme Regis SCBFD151221114
26th3733Jamie MorganOliver DavenportNorthampton SC19452630120
27th3816Phil EmeryPhoebe PaineWhitstable YC35333319120
28th3815Mark BarwellLouise JohnsonLymington Town SC23412734125
29th3756Sophie MackleyGeorge BenderShoreham SC28303237127
30th3658Matthew ShorrockBen ShorrockFrensham Pond SCRET142820128
31st3731Andy JonesMaddie JonesBurghfield SC30293435128
32nd3779David LeeAngela BridgesStarcross YC31353633135
33rd3727Mark StockbridgeJames GiffordUpper Thames SC2423RET24137
34th3770Jon StewardChristian HillFishers Green SC32522936149
35th3796William WarrenCharlotte FildesShoreham SCBFD133142152
36th3711Sam ThompsonLeanne ThompsonRNSA34275146158
37th3747Clive EplettMegan PascoeFrensham Pond SCBFD283531160
38th3806Ben JonesHelen HilditchShoreham SC33325348166
39th3781David HallEmilie HoodBlackwater SC42344644166
40th3749Colin AndersonSean AndersonBartley SC36534041170
41st3814James GossChris WhiteSouth Staffs SCRETRET2415171
42nd3766Andrew DalbyAimee DalbyBurghfield SC38444545172
43rd3794Julian HarmsTimothy HarmsMidland SC40463849173
44th3742Howard EelesJosh OatesBartley SC44475232175
45th3817Geoff KimberHelen KimberStone SC29514254176
46th3547Tim MaleRebecca MaleRYA43554139178
47th3662Nigel HudsonFreya HudsonBartley SC39503953181
48th3813Steve HarlingEleanor ThomasStarcross YC41365451182
49th3720David ChisholmAndy PrinceRoyal Burnham YCBFD373743183
50th3790Colin BrockbankSue broughWembley SC37435552187
51st3821Gavin WillisBettine HarrisBristol Corinthian YCBFD394738190
52nd3776Nick CraigKate CraigBurghfield SC2640DNCDNC198
53rd3695Peter SlackImmy BrownTrent Valley SC4842PI555198
54th3825Storm NuttallIsobel StewartSalcombe YCBFD494350208
55th3767Ben ArcherOlivia BelliniParkstone YCBFD485047211
56th3707Stuart JenkinsHannah BurtHampton Sailing Club46545657213
57th3740Pat BlakeJilly BlakeLymington Town SCDNCDNC4440216
58th3567Martin SmithKaren BestonRedditch SC47585860223
59th3690Guy BrowneGreg MartinTrent Valley SC4557RET59227
60th3663Nicholas YannakoyorgosMatteo ManciniFishers Green SCBFD564956227
61st3582Florence NichollsHarvey GodelAldeburgh YCBFD595758240
62nd3449Carl WhitehillSam WhitehillRYA4960DNCDNC241
63rd3528Richard Owens TaffStu SouthanPembrokeshire Powerboating and Sailing ARETDNCDNCDNC264
63rd3786Phil HardistyTeddy DunnIsle of Man YCDNCDNCDNCDNC264
63rd3800Richard BramleyTony ChealShoreham SCDNCDNCDNCDNC264

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