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Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championship at Looe Sailing Club - Day 2

by Team Fishers Green SC 12 Aug 2025 05:50 BST 10-15 August 2025

Day 2, Creation Covers Race Day of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Sailing Club, began with an excellent "what went well" session from Ben Saxton and Matt Rainback, finally unlocking the secrets of using the lowers and threading our way upwind in shifty conditions.

The fleet arrived at the boat park in high spirits, expecting classic Looe conditions: a solid Force 3-4 and big rolling waves. The legendary shore team launched us with trademark precision, sending boats crashing through the surf and out into the swell. We enjoyed a lively beat upwind, then hoisted kites for a thrilling surf back down to the committee boat.

No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey
No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey

Unfortunately, that's when the day's fortunes changed. The wind fizzled out, leaving the waves to roll in under grey skies. The fleet drifted, sails flogging, while the race team searched for any sign of breeze. After a couple of hours of bobbing about, some crews gambled on an early return to shore. At 14:30, the RO ended the suspense — racing abandoned.

The shore team once again showed why they're so highly regarded, guiding the fleet safely in through the swell. With chest-deep volunteers catching bows, heaving boats onto trolleys, and working shoulder-to-shoulder, every Merlin was brought ashore without incident.

No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey
No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey

So, no wind and no racing — but plenty of team spirit, time to prepare for the Crews' Union and Helms' Huddle, and a few last tweaks to some increasingly ambitious fancy dress outfits.

No change at the top of the leaderboard.

No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey
No wind on day 2 of the Merlin Rocket Aspire National at Looe - photo © Alex Pausey

Here's hoping for champagne sailing tomorrow.

A huge thank you to all our sponsors Aspire Financial Advisors, Creation Covers, Pinnell & Bax, Sailing Chandlery, ClamCleat, Winder Boats and Copperfish Distillery.

Results after Day 2:

PosSail NoHelmCrewBoat NameClubDivisionR1R2Pts
1st3759Thomas GillardRachael GrayRed MistressSheffield Viking SC Staunton Harold SCPlatinum112
2nd3827Dave WinderBeka JonesThe Return of the JediHollingworth Lake SCPlatinum459
3rd3796William WarrenAndy PrinceRobertaShoreham SCGold8210
4th3829Mike CalvertJane CalvertBack in BusinessAxe YCPlatinum3811
5th3824Andy DavisOllie MeadowcroftBonnieSouth Staffs SCPlatinum6612
6th3804Ben SaxtonMatt RainbackRockatrossRYAPlatinum21113
7th3809Simon PottsAlly Potts Burghfield SCPlatinum7714
8th3820Caroline GouldOlivia BellSkadiShoreham SCPlatinum14317
9th3807Tim SaxtonHolly McArthurBalooItchenor SCPlatinum15419
10th3803Chris GouldSophie MackleyBlack SwanShoreham SCPlatinum51520
11th3727Mark StockbridgeJames GiffordFragileUpper Thames SCGold111021
12th3793James GoodfellowGeorge MajorBorisBrightlingsea SCPlatinum17926
13th3710Jon IbbotsonRobert StewartParadigm ShiftBurghfield SCPlatinum161228
14th3814James GossChris WhiteSonicSouth Staffs SCPlatinum92130
15th3746James WellsAnna AylwardPoint n SquirtRYAPlatinum122032
16th3812Thomas StewartRob AllenMaumaharaWaldringfield SCPlatinum191736
17th3775Chris JenningsPete NicholsonNight FuryBrightlingsea SCPlatinum231437
18th3666John MeadowcroftRory GiffordEnchanted EveningUpper Thames SCPlatinum102939
19th3825Storm NuttallNigel WakefieldTeacupSalcombe YCSilver132841
20th3747Clive EplettMegan PascoeLearner DriverFrensham Pond SCSilver251843
21st3821Gavin WillisTre JacobsHappy EndingBristol Corinthian YCBronze271946
22nd3673Freddie PartonGiles GriffithDesperate HousewifeRORCBronze351348
23rd3799Paul RaysonChristian HillSimply ScrumptiousFishers Green / SalcombeGold341650
24th3815Mark BarwellLou JohnsonThe KrakenLymington Town SCGold183351
25th3786Richard LoveringOllie WellsSlippery DickHISCPlatinum262551
26th3724Ed BradburnSamuel BaileySublimeSouth Staffs SCGold203252
27th3749Ricky TaggAlan MannStanleySheffield University Sailing ClubSilver282452
28th3745Paul DeanRussell HallOutnumberedBroadwater Sailing ClubGold223153
29th3817Geoff KimberHelen KimberAuraStone SCSilver312354
30th3787Chris MartinJosh OatesQuicksilverBartley SCPlatinum213758
31st3779David LeeAngela BridgesThe Angels' ShareStarcross YCSilver243458
32nd3816Phil EmeryPhoebe PaineWild HorsesWhitstable YCGold382260
33rd3764Tom LonsdaleOliver GoodheadFancy LiquorWOSCGold303060
34th3754Tony CooperJess CooperDidley PokeFishers Green/King GeorgeSilver362763
35th3766Andrew DalbyAimee DalbyThe BearBurghfield / Lee on SolentSilver32.53668.5
36th3547Tim MaleRebecca MaleMoondance AssasinStaunton HaroldSilver294069
37th3684Tom LowRoman ArcherKeyser SozeParkstone YCBronze32.53870.5
38th3774Richard CoulterLouis LappagePantherFishers Green SCBronze462672
39th3748Nigel BrookeAlice AllenWhite TigerLymington Town SCSilver393574
40th3813Steve HarlingEmily BattertonPacemakerStarcross YCBronze374279
41st3662Nigel HudsonFreya HudsonAttack of the ClonesBartley SCSilver433982
42nd3707Stuart JenkinsPeter WalkerMonkey BusinessHampton SC and Upper Thames SCBronze404383
43rd3663Nicholas YannakoyorgosMatteo ManciniBronteFishers Green SCBronze424183
44th3704Jemma HorwoodNicola ScaddanFactory MaidTamesis SCSilver414687
45th3776Neal LillywhiteFreya LillywhiteMessy MontyBurghfield / SalcombeGold444488
46th3736Jonathan BloiceHarry BloiceMetachrosisWhitstable YCBronze454590
47th3660Peter SullivanRon WebbDjelibeybiPentewan Sailing ClubBronzeDNCDNC96

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