Merlin Rocket HD Sails Midland Series and Silver Tiller at Midland Sailing Club

Fifteen boats ventured out to Midland Sailing Club to sail in conditions only those with sufficient mettle can tolerate on Sunday 18th May.

Where helms and crews alike struggle to believe that the wind does not have some kind of personal vendetta against them alone, where we put genuine thought and time into thinking about what heinous crimes we might have committed to receive such an ungodly backer or to find ourselves alone in such a total hole with fresh breeze just a few boat lengths away.

This being Midland Sailing Club, nobody really knew what the wind was doing. Large patches of breeze appeared and disappeared and the phrase 'shifty' gets sort of trampled on.

Sailing like this, where convincing leads can evaporate in moments and spinnakers can be hoisted on any leg (more on that later), and the only real guarantee of consistency is the tea and lunch and safety cover, provides ruthless testing of everybody's perseverance, so well done to all who came along to compete.

None of this is to say that the event was not enjoyable.

The sun was shining and despite being up and down there was still plenty of wind to fit three races in, including a break for some homemade chilli.

Some locals to Edgbaston reservoir had decided to grace their surroundings with some drum and bass music which many helms were seen to be enjoying in between races. I even saw Tom Gillard dancing but he asked me not to tell anyone (oops).

Nobody envied the race officers Steve and Mike, tasked with setting a course in breeze which blows its very nose into the concept of a 'fair beat'. Managing to use the whole lake, the racing was anything but processional and we commend them for managing the racing as well as they did.

Merlin Rocket HD Sails Midland Series and Silver Tiller at Midland SC - photo © MSC

Everyone knows what to expect when they see Tom Gillard and Rachael at Merlin events and Midland was no exception. Even if the first beat doesn't see them in pole, they soon find their way through. Mark McKeever and Khiaan Paul-Schild who led race two for a while commented, "It's like being hunted down by a big red shark."

In retrospect a strange experience to have on one's day off. Some people go to church on Sundays.

In race three Matt Biggs and I (George Bender) received an X-rated backer and filled with water and put some serious miles on the sponge present. Matt commented that we could really do with a bailer. I realised he was talking about the inanimate plastic device and not an addition to the crew, but I was still nonetheless hurt as I really was bailing (with the sponge) as best I could.

Merlin Rocket HD Sails Midland Series and Silver Tiller at Midland SC - photo © MSC

It was reported that on the way down ('down'?) to mark 5 a spotlight of breeze appeared exclusively around Colin Anderson and Josh Dates.

It so happens that the spinnaker will help the boat move downwind regardless of the direction the bow is pointing.

Alas for Colin and Josh, they began reversing downwind when the run became a beat.

Meanwhile on the way up ('up'?) to mark 7, Rob Kennaugh and Andrew Prosser decided the beat was actually broad enough to hoist the spinnaker. Needless to say Rob continued to bleat on about this endlessly. I thought I would distil the nonsense into a haiku:

Merlin Rocket HD Sails Midland Series and Silver Tiller at Midland SC - photo © MSC

The event can be summarised by Rachael's comments that it was good practice for Salcombe, with the sunshine to match!

We'd like to thank all the volunteers at Midland who gave up their time to help the day go smoothly. Bacon sandwiches, teas, lunches, safety cover, race management not to forget the bar afterwards too.

See you all soon the next Craftinsure Silver Tiller is at Brightlingsea Sailing Club on 21st May and 1st June and the next HD Sails Midland Circuit is at Mumbles Yacht Club on 19th and 20th July.

Merlin Rocket HD Sails Midland Series and Silver Tiller at Midland SC - photo © MSC

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