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Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Week 2025 at Salcombe Yacht Club - Overall

by Tim Fells 4 Jul 18:17 BST 29 June - 4 July 2025

The final day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week dawned to another day of blue skies with a light Southwester forming in the harbour and forecast to increase. The overall result was still up for grabs with both leading protagonists in the morning race.

Morning Race, Red v Black, Course 1,3,1,3,1,3

With the flood tide against, the fleet split to both ends of the line with Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray starting near the Watch House and Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey on the Portlemouth shore. Tom and Rachel were soon into a port hander and stretching away into the lead up past Woodville Rocks at which point they crossed the tide with a comfortable lead over the Portlemouth side boats.

They looked to be on their way to a clear lead at Blackstone but Tom Stewart and Rob Allen who had carried on up through Crab Pots came in on a lovely righty to take the lead with David and Sarah Scanlon in third.

By the leeward mark, Tom and Rachel had won inside boat and were away, stretching out on the beat back up to Blackstone. David and Sarah were going very well battling with Tom and Rob for second until the top of the third beat when Simon and Anna Blake came from the town side to join the fight along with Will and Arthur Henderson.

Tom and Rachel continued with their demonstration sail to come home far ahead for their fourth bullet and to comprehensively take the title for the fifth consecutive year. A truly sensational performance.

On the final beat to the finish, Will and Arthur won the inside berth off Fisherman's to cross over and take second at the Watch house, closely followed by Tom and Rob in third and Simon and Anna in fourth. Doing very well coming up the town side, Christian and Sam jumped into fifth ahead of Tim Saxton and Holly McArthur.

Afternoon Race, Green v Blue, Course 1,4,1,3,1,3

A perfect Salcombe afternoon to finish off the week with wall to wall sunshine and a moderate Southwesterly with some punchy gusts. With the start of the ebb flowing the fleet lined up for a clean start and a right hander gave those at the town end the advantage. Tim Fells and Fran Gifford were in the prime spot and consolidated their control of the right side to round Blackstone ahead.

On the long run down to Yalton, Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley reached across some big gusts to jump up into the lead from Tim and Fran with Mary and Rupert Henderson-White tight behind. These three teams had a close battle around the next two laps with each taking a turn in the lead. Mary and Rupert led onto the last run but Tim and Fran were able to gybe across the tide in pressure to secure inside boat at Crossways and lead back to take the win, a great way to sign off their partnership.

Mary and Rupert were an impressive second ahead of Chris and Sophie in third which was enough to secure them second overall. Dave Winder and Beka Jones completed a very consistent run of top five results to take fourth, with Mike and Jane Calvert fifth and Alex Jackson and Alex Warren sixth to secure them fourth overall.

And so ends another fantastic week of Merlin Rocket racing in the beautiful and challenging Salcombe Ria. We have again witnessed a performance of the highest order by Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray. Given the depth and quality of talent in the fleet, they are sailing on a different level and it has been an absolute privilege to witness. Can anyone challenge them? We will find out when the 2026 edition of this great event comes around on 5-10 July.

Overall Results:

PosFlightFleetSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12Pts
1stBlackPlatinum3759Thomas GillardRachel GraySheffield Viking SC 1 1 1(BFD) 3 1 7
2ndGreenPlatinum3803Chris GouldSophie MackleyShoreham SC2  23  3‑11  313
3rdRedPlatinum3788Christian BirrellSam BreareyParkstone YC‑8 1  2 6 15 15
4thGreenPlatinum3823Alex JacksonAlex WarrenShoreham SC1  71  (RET)2  617
5thBluePlatinum3829Mike CalvertJane CalvertAxe YC 34 2 ‑5  3 517
6thRedPlatinum3749Ollie MeadowcroftPete GraySalcombe YC5 2  4 1 (BFD)7 19
7thRedPlatinum3726Will HendersonArthur HendersonSalcombe YC‑7 6  5 4 22 19
8thGreenGold3827David WinderBeka JonesHollingworth Lake SC3  34  ‑55  419
9thGreenGold3751Mary Henderson‑WhiteRupert Henderson WhiteBrightlingsea SC6  57  8‑10  228
10thRedPlatinum3807Tim SaxtonHolly MacarthurItchenor SC(DSQ) 3  7 11 46 31
11thBluePlatinum3814James GossChris WhiteSouth Staffs SC 49 5 (BFD)  6 933
12thBlackPlatinum3777George YeomanMark OakeyItchenor SC 5 ‑10 83 9 9 34
13thRedGold3753David ConlonSarah ConlonBrightlingsea SC(BFD) 7  9 7 58 36
14thRedGold3714Rob HendersonAlice MarkhamHISC9 11  10 2 7‑12 39
15thBluePlatinum3764Tim FellsFrances GiffordSalcombe YC 1612 10 2  (BFD) 141
16thBlueGold3727Mark StockbridgeJames GiffordUpper Thames SC 610 8 (BFD)  10 741
17thGreenGold3611Jen DoddsChris DoddsRYA16  46  (DNF)8  842
18thBlackPlatinum3676Antony GiffordJo GiffordRoyal Tay YC 7 6 1311 6 ‑16 43
19thBlackPlatinum3812Tom StewartRob AllenSalcombe YC 10 14 ‑156 12 3 45
20thBluePlatinum3666John MeadowcroftRory GiffordSalcombe YC 2‑21 15 9  13 1049
21stGreenPlatinum3820Caroline GouldLivvy BellShoreham SC(BFD)  811  104  1750
22ndBlueGold3796William WarrenAndy PrinceShoreham SC ‑148 12 4  14 1250
23rdBlackPlatinum3710Jon IbbotsonRobert StewartBurghfield SC ‑18 11 1215 7 10 55
24thBluePlatinum3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYA ‑1513 14 10  12 1160
25thGreenGold3678Stephen CrookSally TownendHollingworth Lake12  159  1413  ‑1663
26thBlackPlatinum3724Ed BradburnJonny CoateSouth Staffordshire 12 13 147 (BFD) 23 69
27thBlueSilver3731Andy JonesMaddie JonesBurghfield SC (DNF)15 17 12  20 1478
28thRedPlatinum3787Chris MartinJohn TailbyMidland SC14 17  17 13 (BFD)18 79
29thBlackSilver3364Chris HaworthStuart AstonBristol Corinthian 13 19 16SCP ‑25 11 83
30thBlackSilver3755Jacintha HamiltonJames TaylorItchenor SC ‑27 22 2113 14 13 83
31stRedSilver3625Andrew HarrisSara WarrenTamesis4 14  20 12 (BFD)34 84
32ndBlackPlatinum3738Simon BlakeWilfie BlakeRoyal Brighton YC (DNF) 9 19(BFD) 1 4DNC85
33rdRedGold3700Robert KennaughAndrew ProsserMidland SC15 20  11 15 (BFD)24 85
34thGreenSilver3692Steve ConroyAnna RaysonSalcombe YC10  23‑33  1819  1888
35thBlueGold3658Matthew ShorrockBen ShorrockFrensham Pond SC 95 (Fwy) (BFD)  8DNC1589
36thBlackBronze3691Rebecca VideloAlex PauseyFrensham Pond SC 8 17 2522 17 ‑30 89
37thGreenGold3799Paul RaysonChristian HillSalcombe YC11  ‑2825  2022  1391
38thBlueSilver3769Graham Cranford SmithInnes ArmstronSalcombe YC 1918 (BFD) 14  15 3096
39thBlueGold3716Steve LeneyGill LeneyBlithfield SC 1124 22 (BFD)  11 2997
40thRedGold3687Matt GreenfieldHannah GreenfieldChew Valley Lake SC17 19  6 9 (BFD) DNC103
41stBluePlatinum3781Dave HallEmilie HoodBlackwater SC ‑2926 27 20  9 21103
42ndGreenGold3815Mark BarwellLouise JohnsonLymington Town SC‑28  2516  1627  20104
43rdBlueSilver3652John BellSuzie BellHampton SC (BFD)27 19 21  17 24108
44thRedSilver3671Piers LambertSophie PenwardenBrightlingsea SC‑29 25  29 24 1814 110
45thBlackGold3683Maddy AndersonIsobel StewartSalcombe YC (BFD) 16 3124 18 21 110
46thRedSilver3772Stewart MearsAlly HallRoyal Corinthian YC18 22  26 ‑35 1628 110
47thGreenGold3745Paul DeanCatherine DeanBroadwater SC20  2620  23‑28  22111
48thGreenPlatinum3780Sarah RichardsFeibuschLyminton Town SC‑32  2423  2620  19112
49thGreenGold3702Duncan SalmonHarriet SalmonSalcombe YC‑37  2130  1715  31114
50thGreenSilver3806Ben JonesHelen HilditchSalcombe YC   1821  2823  27117
51stRedGold3659Julian ParryGeorge BenderHollingworth Lake SC19 23  27 22  26 117
52ndBlackSilver3682John BurnFrankie BurnSalcombe YC ‑28 27 2817 26 27 125
53rdGreenSilver3725Andrew SquireLaura EvansSalcombe YC‑36  3329  1921  23125
54thBlueSilver3657Charles TavnerEmma TavnerHayling Island SC 3032 13 30  21 ‑33126
55thRedSilver3715Richard CookeRussell HallFishers Green SC23 33  23 21 27‑37 127
56thBlack 3768Graham CookRob CageThames SC 23 12 18(BFD) 24 (BFD)DNC129
57thBlueSilver3672Ben CleggAbi CleggBrightlingsea SC 3528 26 16  24  129
58thBlueSilver3825Storm NuttallNicola BassSalcombe YC 3116 ‑35 27  28 28130
59thRedSilver3633Timothy HarmsMillie LittleHampton SC22 ‑41  40 25 1925 131
60thBlackSilver3684Tom LowPaul NebelParkstone YC 33 29 3218 ‑34 20 132
61stBlackSilver3790Colin BrockbankRichard EastmondWembley SC 22 (DNF) 3019 32 29 132
62ndRedSilver3748Nigel BrookeSuzie BrookeLymington Town34 29  ‑36 30 2319 135
63rdBlackSilver3569Ben LulhamSamantha LulhamBlakeney SC 20 30 ‑4123 29 33 135
64thRedSilver3705Geoff WrightJo LordBlithfield SC31 ‑37  34 33 2622 146
65thGreenSilver3766Andrew DalbyElsa Dalby 26  ‑3828  2731  34146
66thRedBronze3627Ali WallaceCatriona WallaceSouth Cerney SC13 34  33 32 (BFD)35 147
67thGreenSilver3615Stuart BatesLydia BourneHollingworth Lake30  3224  3130   147
68thBlackBronze3622Christian HamiltonMike HamiltonBlackpool F'wood 24 20 22(BFD) (BFD) 31DNC149
69thGreenGold3756Tom LonsdaleEmily BattertonWest Oxford27  3118  (DNF)(BFD) DNC25153
70thBlackSilver3539Dan AlsopBen AlsopLyme Regis SC 34 37 ‑38DNE 16 15 154
71stBlueBronze3760Jerry IbbersonJustine DavenportAbersoch SC 1730 31 (BFD)  (BFD)DNC26156
72ndRedSilver3670Mark McKeeverAlex HomerMidland SC21 38  37 ‑39 2239 157
73rdBlackPlatinum3826Stuart BithellKatherine BithellParkstone YC     31  DNCDNCDNC160
74thRedSilver3794Jukian HarmsTony WilcockMidland SC(BFD) 39  24 29 (BFD)17DNC161
75thBlackGold3547Peter MaleTim MaleRYA 36 35 ‑4326 33 32 162
76thBlueSilver3647Hywell Bowen‑PerkinsLucy PenwardenSalcombe YC 2145 (RET) 34  29 37166
77thBlackBronze3686Kevin RoseTim WilliamsUpper Thames SC 25 ‑43 3929 39 36 168
78thBlueBronze3706Kevin AndersonSadie KempSalcombe YC ‑4336 38 28  31 35168
79thBlueSilver3648Antonia WrightJamie WrightShoreham SC 2631 37 25    DNC171
80thGreenBronze3677Timothy BarrChris MartinTamesis24  3634  34   DNC180
81stRedBronze3463John CowperHannah HutchinsHunts SC38 42  ‑44 37 2540 182
82ndGreenBronze3511Andrew MillsEllie MillsBronze35  ‑3939  3636  36182
83rdBlueBronze3697Richard PageEmily HoarHampton SC 42‑43 42 37  30 32183
84thBlackBronze3813Steve HarlingEleanor ThomasStarcross YC 40 40 3533 35 (DNF) 183
85thGreenBronze3675Rob HatleyLucy HatleyTamesis SC39  4136  (DNF)38  38192
86thBlueBronze3589John HollandsSarah RolfeHampton SC 39‑46 40 38  36 40193
87thRedSilver3582Ed GibbonsMolly Embser‑KayBrightlingsea SC25 35  48 38   DNC198
88thBlueBronze3333John AdamsRoss Warwich‑HallerTamesis Club 3847 41 (DNF)  33 39198
89thBlackBronze3483David PrickettBernard PrickettRYA 41 42  35 40 41 199
90thBlackBronze3693Jon BuckleyJonathan CarrStarcross YC 37 ‑47 4736 37 43 200
91stBlackBronze3654Geoffrey CoxJohn CoyteSYC   46 4231 41 42 202
92ndRedSilver3704Jemma HorwoodBen HughesWembley SC33 44  (DNF) 40 (BFD)38DNC207
93rdBlackBronze3599Nigel CooperLucy CooperSalcombe YC 44 45 ‑4639 43 44 215
94thRedBronze3479John McCormickRichard HoylandStoke Gabriel40 48  45 (DNF) 34 DNC219
95thBluePlatinum3776Neal LillywhiteFreya LillywhiteSalcombe YC 32(DNF) (Fwy) 32  BFDDNCDNF220
96thGreenSilver3773Alan WarrenBill CarrollShoreham SC(BFD)  3432  (DNF) DNCDNCDNF222
97thRedBronze3368Ian LaingAndrew HuntHollingworth Lake(BFD) (DNF)    41DNC3545DNC225
98thBlueBronze3586Kieron MasonBelinda MasonBlithfield SC (DNF)  44 (DNF) DNC32DNCDNF232
99thGreenBronze3800Richard BramleyTony ChealShoreham SC(BFD)  4843  (DNF)42 DNCDNF237
100thGreenBronze3621Tristram SquirePeter SlackSalcombe YC   4445  (DNF) DNCDNCDNC245
101stRedBronze3707Stuart JenkinsNicola ScaddanHampton SC  40  (DNF)  DNCDNCDNCDNC248
102ndGreenBronze3660Peter Sullivan     (BFD)   DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC260

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