Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Week 2025 at Salcombe Yacht Club - Day 5

by Tim Fells 3 Jul 18:32 BST 29 June - 4 July 2025

The fifth morning dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a 5 knot SW sea breeze popped in at the surprisingly early time of 8.30, promising a good day's racing for the 102 teams.

Morning Race, Green v Black, Course 1,5,1,5

The neap flood tide held the fleet back with the line up split between the town and Portlemouth shores. In the last seconds there was a push at Watch House end which caught out three boats.

Initially the Portlemouth group had little wind off Smalls Beach which allowed Simon and Anna Blake who had started towards the town side to make an early cross on a nice right hander to take a good lead up past Mill Bay to round Blackstone first. They were then able to run down tide with their unique Superfast Jellyfish design flying in these light conditions. A worthy mention should be made for SYC Vice Commodore AJ Squire who was right in the leading group with daughter Laura.

On the run down to Saltstone, the Alexes were sliding up into second after having to retire from their previous race, with Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray, Caroline Gould and Livvy Bell, and Dave Winder and Beka Jones not far behind.

As a previous three-time winner of the week, Simon knows his way around the Ria like the back of his hand and was unlikely to put a foot wrong. Under a beautiful blue sky and pleasant breeze, presenting no problem areas on the race track, he came home comfortably ahead of the Alexes in second. Tom and Rachel managed to get past Caroline and Livvy to take third. Dave and Beka were fifth ahead of Anthony and Jo Gifford.

Afternoon Race, Red v Blue, Course 1,7,1,3

The breeze had built to a lovely 8-10 knots SW for the afternoon race and with an outgoing ebb tide, there was every chance of some BFD casualties. In fact there were 12 on the board, mostly at the Portlemouth end of the line where some youthful impetuosity led to carnage.

On the restart the fleet were line shy and those towards the Portlemouth end were able to tack on to port and cross the fleet. Mike and Jane Calvert led across to the Woodville Rocks and crossed back to Biddle point which should have been favoured. However, they ran into a hole allowing Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey to come in from the right on pressure to scrape round ahead. Rounding third after an all time stellar first beat was local hero Graham Cranford-Smith with Innis Armstrong.

On the run down to Blackstone, Tim Saxton and Holly McArthur, Will and Arthur Henderson, and David and Sarah Conlon were chasing hard. With good breeze all the way down to Gerston and back there was little place changing with Christian and Sam leading back into the harbour from Mike and Jane.

On the last run back down to Crossways, Will and Arthur found good pressure to jump past Mike and Jane to take second. Christian and Sam came home for their second bullet of the week to keep them in with an outside chance of the title. Tim and Holly took fourth ahead of David and Sarah. James Goss and Chris White rounded out the top six.

Going into the final day, Tom and Rachel are vulnerable having been BFD meaning a number of teams could win if they slip up again. They will need a fourth if Christian and Sam win and they are in the same race. Interesting!

Results after Day 5:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubFlightFleetR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10Pts
1st3829Mike CalvertJane CalvertAxe Yacht ClubBluePlatinum 34 2 5  317
2nd3788Christian BirrellSam BreareyParkstone Yacht ClubRedPlatinum8 1  2 6 118
3rd3827David WinderBeka JonesHollingworth Lake Sailing ClubGreenGold3  34  55 20
4th3803Chris GouldSophie MackleyShoreham Sailing ClubGreenPlatinum2  23  311 21
5th3726Will HendersonArthur HendersonSalcombe YCRedPlatinum7 6  5 4 224
6th3777George YeomanMark OakeyItchenor SCBlackPlatinum 5 10 83 9 35
7th3751Mary Henderson‑WhiteRupert Henderson WhiteBrightlingsea SCGreenGold6  57  810 36
8th3714Rob HendersonAlice MarkhamHISCRedGold9 11  10 2 739
9th3676AntonyGiffordJo GiffordRoyal Tay Yacht ClubBlackPlatinum 7 6 1311 6 43
10th3796William WarrenAndy PrinceShoreham Sailing ClubBlueGold 148 12 4  1452
11th3812Tom StewartRob AllenSalcombe YCBlackPlatinum 10 14 156 12 57
12th3759Thomas GillardRachel GraySheffield Viking Sailing ClubBlackPlatinum 1 1 1(BFD) 3 58
13th3666John MeadowcroftRory GiffordSalcombe YCBluePlatinum 221 15 9  1360
14th3823Alex JacksonAlex WarrenShoreham Sailing ClubGreenPlatinum1  71  (RET)2 63
15th3710Jon IbbotsonRobert StewartBurghfield Sailing ClubBlackPlatinum 18 11 1215 7 63
16th3678Stephen CrookSally TownendHollingworth Lake SCGreenGold12  159  1413 63
17th3749Ollie MeadowcroftPete GraySalcombe YCRedPlatinum5 2  4 1 BFD64
18th3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYABluePlatinum 1513 14 10  1264
19th3814James GossChris WhiteSouth Staffs SCBluePlatinum 49 5 (BFD)  676
20th3807Tim SaxtonHolly MacarthurItchenor SCRedPlatinum(DSQ) 3  7 11 477
21st3753David ConlonSarah ConlonBrightlingsea SCRedGold(BFD) 7  9 7 580
22nd3364Chris HaworthStuart AstonBristol Corinthian Yacht ClubBlackSilver 13 19 168 25 81
23rd3820Caroline GouldLivvy BellShoreham Sailing ClubGreenPlatinum(BFD)  811  104 85
24th3611Jen DoddsChris DoddsRYAGreenGold16  46  (DNF)8 86
25th3727Mark StockbridgeJames GiffordUpper Thames Sailing ClubBlueGold 610 8 (BFD)  1086
26th3691Rebecca VideloAlex PauseyFrensham Pond SCBlackBronze 8 17 2522 17 89
27th3764Tim FellsFrances GiffordSalcombe YCBluePlatinum 1612 10 2  BFD92
28th3755Jacintha HamiltonJames TaylorItchenor SCBlackSilver 27 22 2113 14 97
29th3724Ed BradburnJonny CoateSouth Staffordshire SCBlackPlatinum 12 13 147 (BFD) 98
30th3625Andrew HarrisSara WarrenTamesisRedSilver4 14  20 12 BFD102
31st3687Matt GreenfieldHannah GreenfieldChew Valley Lake Sailing ClubRedGold17 19  6 9 BFD103
32nd3692Steve ConroyAnna RaysonSalcombe Yacht ClubGreenSilver10  2333  1819 103
33rd3799Paul RaysonChristian HillSalcombe Yacht ClubGreenGold11  2825  2022 106
34th3781Dave HallEmilie HoodBlackwater SCBluePlatinum 2926 27 20  9111
35th3815Mark BarwellLouise JohnsonLymington Town SCGreenGold28  2516  1627 112
36th3700Robert Kennaugh Midland SCRedGold15 20  11 15 BFD113
37th3787Chris MartinJohn TailbyMidland SCRedPlatinum14 17  17 13 BFD113
38th3731Andy JonesMaddie JonesBurghfield SCBlueSilver (DNF)15 17 12  20116
39th3772Stewart MearsAlly HallRoyal Corinthian YCRedSilver18 22  26 35 16117
40th3745Paul DeanCatherine DeanBroadwater SCGreenGold20  2620  2328 117
41st3769Graham Cranford SmithInnes ArmstronSalcombe YCBlueSilver 1918 (BFD) 14  15118
42nd3716Steve LeneyGill LeneyBlithfield SCBlueGold 1124 22 (BFD)  11120
43rd3702Duncan SalmonHarriet SalmonSalcombe YCGreenGold37  2130  1715 120
44th3671Piers LambertSophie PenwardenBrightlingsea SCRedSilver29 25  29 24 18125
45th3780Sarah RichardsFeibuschLyminton Town SCGreenPlatinum32  2423  2620 125
46th3658Matthew ShorrockBen ShorrockFrensham Pond SCBlueGold 95 (FWY) (BFD)DNC 8126
47th3657Charles TavnerEmma TavnerHayling Island SCBlueSilver 3032 13 30  21126
48th3682John BurnFrankie BurnSalcombe Yacht ClubBlackSilver 28 27 2817 26 126
49th3715Richard CookeRussell HallFishers Green Sailing ClubRedSilver23 33  23 21 27127
50th3768Graham CookRob CageThames Sailing ClubBlack  23 12 18(BFD) 24 129
51st3672BenCleggAbi CleggBrightlingsea SCBlueSilver 3528 26 16  24129
52nd3738Simon BlakeWilfie BlakeRoyal Brighton Yacht ClubBlackPlatinum (DNF) 9 19(BFD) 1 133
53rd3652John BellSuzie BellHampton Sailing ClubBlueSilver (BFD)27 19 21  17136
54th3825Storm NuttallNicola BassSalcombe Yacht ClubBlueSilver 3116 35 27  28137
55th3725Andrew SquireLaura EvansSalcombe Yacht ClubGreenSilver36  3329  1921 138
56th3683Maddy AndersonIsobel StewartSalcombe Yacht ClubBlackGold (BFD) 16 3124 18 141
57th3806Ben JonesHelen HilditchSalcombe Yacht ClubGreenSilver   1821  2823 142
58th3659Julian ParryGeorge BenderHollingworth Lake Sailing ClubRedGold19 23  27 22 DNC143
59th3569Ben LulhamSamantha LulhamBlakeney Sailing ClubBlackSilver 20 30 4123 29 143
60th3684Tom LowPaul NebelParkstone Yacht ClubBlackSilver 33 29 3218 34 146
61st3633Timothy HarmsMillie LittleHampton Sailing ClubRedSilver22 41  40 25 19147
62nd3615Stuart BatesLydia BourneHollingworth LakeGreenSilver30  3224  3130 147
63rd3766Andrew DalbyElsa DalbyBurgbados Yott ClubGreenSilver26  3828  2731 150
64th3748Nigel BrookeSuzie BrookeLymington Town SCRedSilver34 29  36 30 23152
65th3790Colin BrockbankRichard EastmondWembley Sailing ClubBlackSilver 22 (DNF) 3019 32 155
66th3670Mark McKeeverAlex HomerMidland Sailing ClubRedSilver21 38  37 39 22157
67th3826Stuart BithellKatherine BithellParkstone Yacht ClubBlackPlatinum     31  DNC160
68th3705Geoff WrightJo LordBlithfield SCRedSilver31 37  34 33 26161
69th3627Ali WallaceCatriona WallaceSouth Cerney Sailing ClubRedBronze13 34  33 32 BFD164
70th3622Christian HamiltonMike HamiltonBlackpool and Fleetwood YCBlackBronze 24 20 22(BFD) BFD 170
71st3648Antonia WrightJamie WrightShoreham Sailing ClubBlueSilver 2631 37 25  DNC171
72nd3547Peter MaleTim MaleRYABlackGold 36 35 4326 33 173
73rd3686Kevin RoseTim WilliamsUpper Thames SCBlackBronze 25 43 3929 39 175
74th3706Kevin AndersonSophie AndersonSalcombe Yacht ClubBlueBronze 4336 38 28  31176
75th3539Dan AlsopBen AlsopLyme Regis Sailing ClubBlackSilver 34 37 38DNE 16 177
76th3756Tom LonsdaleEmily BattertonWest OxfordGreenGold27  3118  (DNF)BFD 180
77th3677Timothy BarrChris MartinTamesisGreenBronze24  3634  34 DNC180
78th3647Hywell Bowen‑PerkinsLucy PenwardenSalcombe Yacht ClubBlueSilver 2145 (RET) 34 DNC29181
79th3760Jerry IbbersonJustine DavenportAbersoch SCBlueBronze 1730 31 (BFD)  BFD182
80th3813Steve HarlingEleanor ThomasStarcross YCBlackBronze 40 40 3533 35 183
81st3511Andrew MillsEllie MillsBronzeGreenBronze35  3939  3636 185
82nd3463John CowperHannah HutchinsHunts SCRedBronze38 42  44 37 25186
83rd3697Richard PageEmily HoarHampton SCBlueBronze 4243 42 37  30194
84th3794Jukian HarmsTony WilcockMidland SCRedSilver(BFD) 39  24 29 BFD196
85th3582Ed GibbonsMolly Embser‑KayBrightlingsea SCRedSilver25 35  48 38 DNC198
86th3589John HollandsSarah RolfeHampton Sailing ClubBlueBronze 3946 40 38  36199
87th3693Jon BuckleyJonathan CarrStarcross YCBlackBronze 37 47 4736 37 204
88th3675Rob HatleyLucy HatleyTamesis SCGreenBronze39  4136  (DNF)38 206
89th3483David PrickettBernard PrickettRYABlackBronze 41 42  35 40 210
90th3333John AdamsRoss Warwich‑HallerTamesis ClubBlueBronze 3847 41 (DNF)  33211
91st3654Geoffrey CoxJohn CoyteSYCBlackBronze   46 4231 41DNC212
92nd3599Nigel CooperLucy CooperSalcombe YCBlackBronze 44 45 4639 43 217
93rd3479John McCormickRichard HoylandStoke Gabriel Boating AssociationRedBronze40 48  45 (DNF) 34219
94th3776Neal LillywhiteFreya LillywhiteSalcombe Yacht ClubBluePlatinum 32(DNF) (FWY) 32DNC BFD220
95th3704Gemma HorwoodBen HughesWembley Sailing ClubRedSilver33 44  (DNF) 40 BFD221
96th3773Alan WarrenBill Carroll07979Shoreham Sailing ClubGreenSilver(BFD)  3432  DNF DNC222
97th3586Kieron MasonBelinda MasonBlithfield SCBlueBronze (DNF)  44 DNFDNC 32232
98th3368Ian LaingAndrew HuntHollingworth Lake SCRedBronze(BFD) (DNF)  DNCDNC41 35232
99th3800Richard BramleyTony ChealShoreham Sailing ClubGreenBronze(BFD)  4843  DNF42 237
100th3621Tristram SquirePeter SlackSalcombe Yacht ClubGreenBronze   4445  DNFDNC 245
101st3707Stuart JenkinsNicola ScaddonHampton SCRedBronze  40  (DNF)DNC DNC 248
102nd3660Peter Sullivan  GreenBronze   (BFD) DNCDNC DNC 260

Related Articles

Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 4
Random gusts from every direction, including vertical Past the halfway stage and the weather served up another wind direction for the fourth day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week. Posted on 2 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 3
South-Westerly establishes itself after a windless dawn The third day dawned with light cloud and absolutely no wind in the harbour. As often happens at Salcombe, by the time the fleet started to launch a South-Westerly had started to establish itself and by the 10.30 start time there was 4-5 knots. Posted on 1 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 2
First start gets away on the top of the tide With the rest of the UK cooking in 30+ degrees, Salcombe has been veiled in sea mist for the last few days. Monday was the day when this was meant to clear but competitors woke to find the race track still shrouded in mist. Posted on 30 Jun
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 1
Over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers are in the picturesque South Devon Ria The ever popular Salcombe Merlin Week, sponsored by Helly Hansen, Craftinsure and Creation Covers, has again attracted over 200 of the UK's top dinghy racers to the picturesque South Devon Ria. Posted on 29 Jun
Delivery to Salcombe Week - Final Call!
Devon's calling, and P&B are answering This weekend finds members of our Sail Loft team at Salcombe Yacht Club, for Merlin Salcombe Week. We'll be making the most of the conditions, the surroundings and the chance to catch up with other sailors who share our passion for competitive sailing. Posted on 26 Jun
Merlin Rockets in the Upriver Race at Ranelagh
A simple windward-leeward 6 times then head for home; what could be simpler? Ranelagh Sailing Club Upriver Race on Sunday in glorious sunshine with the forecast of decent breeze and the promise of bacon rolls and tea on arrival and lunch afterwards was all the encouragement nine vintage/classic Merlin Rockets needed. Posted on 25 Jun
Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hampton
On arrival competitors and the duty team were provided with bacon rolls Following on from the Silver Tiller at Queen Mary Reservoir on Saturday, the double-header continued on Sunday at Hampton Sailing Club on the River Thames, with an entry of twelve boats including visitors from Midland, Parkstone and Plymouth. Posted on 18 Jun
Merlin Rockets at Queen Mary
Double black diamond descent in the Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series A keen fleet of Merlin Rocket crews descended upon the Queen Mary reservoir on Saturday 14th June for another episode of the exciting event in the ever hotly contested Craftinsure Silver Tiller series. Posted on 17 Jun
Merlin Rocket Week runners and riders
Who's in your flight? Who's sailing when? With Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Salcombe Week just around the corner and the sacred PDF of doom (AKA the flights list) finally released, the WhatsApp groups are already ablaze. Sails are being tweaked, excuses rehearsed... Posted on 16 Jun
Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham
Forecast paints utterly the wrong picture - it didn't even rain If you ever wanted more evidence that social media and those little electronic devices in our pockets are bad for us, then look no further. At the beginning of the week all chat and posts had been of the horrendous and un-sailable forecast. Posted on 13 Jun