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Ovington 2021 - ILCA 3 - LEADERBOARD

Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 - Week 4

by Nick Woodhead 17 Feb 06:56 GMT 15 February 2026

After three character-building winter rounds held across November, December and January, the final round of the Blithfield Barrel Winter Series arrived with a forecast that at last promised something more decisive. That optimism was enough to draw 35 boats to the line, contributing to an impressive 56 different boats that competed across the full Blithfield Barrel winter series.

The forecast suggested a southerly breeze veering west, with talk of gusts touching 23 knots. In reality, Blithfield delivered something far more familiar: a light and fickle wind that peaked at around 10 knots, with the much-anticipated breeze only filling in once all boats were back on their trailers.

Race One

The opening race got away cleanly, with a long start line and a pronounced sag through the middle. As it turned out, the pin end was probably the favoured place to start, although this was far from obvious at the time, with many of the faster boats bunched together at this pin end.

Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 - week 4 - photo © Ian MacDonald
Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 - week 4 - photo © Ian MacDonald
First around the windward mark were Charlie Chandler and Olly Hopkins in the Osprey, followed closely by the now-familiar Merlin Rocket gaggle, led once again by James Wells. The Osprey stretched away convincingly on the water and sailed an excellent race, but on corrected time the Merlins and Larks were ahead, particularly Stuart Hydon, sailing faultlessly in the Lark.

Despite leading on the water, the Osprey could not make sufficient ground to overcome the handicap spread, and Hydon once again emerged on top, continuing the consistency that had defined his winter campaign.

Series flashback - Round One (November):

The opening Barrel immediately set the tone, with unstable breezes and close corrected times rewarding consistency over outright pace.

Race Two

Race two began in even lighter airs, with another clean start and a necessary course change as the wind continued to play its usual tricks. For a moment it was alarming to see boats starting at the committee-boat end laying the windward mark straight off the line, before the breeze resumed direction halfway up the beat and restored a proper upwind leg.

Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 - week 4 - photo © Ian MacDonald
Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 - week 4 - photo © Ian MacDonald
A Merlin Rocket rounded first, followed by the Osprey, then three more Merlins in close company, with the Finn not far behind.

With conditions marginal and fading, the race team shortened the course, aiming to condense the fleet and allow a fair, prorated finish.

The forecast gusts finally arrived but only once every boat was ashore and derigged, a frustration familiar to anyone who sails winter handicap racing in the UK.

Series flashback - Round Two (December): December's racing proved equally demanding, with places gained and lost on small wind shifts rather than raw speed.

Series flashback - Round Three (January): January saw the front of the fleet begin to settle, with consistency across races becoming increasingly decisive.

Throughout the day, race officer Steve Leney ran excellent racing in challenging and changeable conditions. He was ably supported by his team on the committee boat, the rescue craft, and onshore, whose combined efforts ensured safe, fair racing and well-judged course management.

The format of two back-to-back races proved popular and might be retained next season.

Round Four Results: (Races 7 & 8)

1. Stuart & Nick Hydon - Lark 2495
2. James Wells & Anna Aylward - Merlin Rocket 3746
3. Samuel Bailey & Holly Evans - Lark 2536

Overall Winter Series Results

Perhaps coincidentally — or perhaps not — the overall series standings mirrored the final round results, underlining the importance of consistency across a winter that demanded adaptability in every race.

1. Stuart & Nick Hydon - Lark 2495
2. James Wells & Anna Aylward - Merlin Rocket 3746
3. Samuel Bailey & Holly Evans - Lark 2536

Prizes for both the February Barrel race and the overall Blithfield Barrel Winter Series winners were presented at the end of the day by club Commodore Peter Slater, bringing the series to a fitting close.

Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 Prize Giving - photo © Nick Woodhead
Blithfield Barrel 2025/26 Prize Giving - photo © Nick Woodhead

A final mention must also go to the Blithfield galley team, whose lasagne followed by bread-and-butter pudding provided a thoroughly warming and much-appreciated end to the day — and to the winter series as a whole.

After four rounds that tested tactical discipline, cold-weather resilience and patience in equal measure, the Blithfield Barrel Winter Series once again demonstrated why it remains such a valued fixture in the winter sailing calendar.

Overall Results:

PosClassSail NoHelmCrewPYClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
1stLARK2495Stuart HydonAnn Biglin/Nick Hydon1060Shustoke/Dittisham‑1‑41111116
2ndMERLIN ROCKET3746James WellsAnna Aylward983Hooe Point Sailing Club2337(DNC)(DNC)2219
3rdLARK2536Samuel BaileyHolly Evans1060SSSC61512(DNC)(DNC)3.5431.5
4thMERLIN ROCKET3824Andy DavisHarry Davis/Kate Phillips/Laura Birch983SSSC8726(DNC)(DNC)8334
5thMERLIN ROCKET3724Ed BradburnJonny Coate983SSSC7662(DNC)(DNC)111143
6thFINN26Matthew Webb 1049Blithfield‑98‑139859948
7thK1180Richard Sims 1065Carsington55921.564(DNC)(DNC)50.5
8thSUPERNOVA1270Alastair Reid 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)16359121459
9thILCA 7 / Laser14Paul Keeling 1104Blithfield‑1811‑171633171565
10thRS200927Huw HopkinsHolly Alfs1050Chasewater1020(DNC)(DNC)47152177
11thSCORPION1984Steve McCarthyDelyth Hopkins1042Blithfield/Chase410(DNC)(DNC)98RET1279
12thMERLIN ROCKET3700Robert KennaughAndrew Prosser/Ashanti983Midland S. C.3284(DNC)(DNC)10DNC84
13thZENITH100Peter Slater 1050Blithfield2022‑231710RET(RET)22103
14thSUPERNOVA1332Nick Woodhead 1075Blithfield2221‑251971025‑28104
15thJAVELIN579Cliff SagarAndy Edmonds928Blithfield2513115(DNC)(DNC)2329106
16thGP1414094Robert SwinnockEsther & Wouter Swinnock1141Blithfield23282123116(DNC)(DNC)112
17thMerlin Rocket3814James GossChris White983SSSC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC22710135
18thFINN5John Greenwood 1049Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)78DNCDNC3.58140.5
19thRS 400732Tom ChadfieldJo Lord/Andy Chadfield942Blithfield33252020(DNC)(DNC)2223143
20thOSPREY1316Sam McKayJames Vyse932Chase1114410(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC153
21stSOLO6049Olly Saunders 1139Shustoke16121013(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC165
22ndLARK2508Ollie GoodheadKatie Keith1060SSSC(DNC)(DNC)1915DNCDNC1316177
23rdENTERPRISE22901Paul YoungKhiaan Paul Schild/Ashanti Lennox1137Midland SC1923(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC2013189
24thILCA 6 / Laser Radial222775Oscar Johnson 1154Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)1518DNCDNC2620193
25thPHANTOM (pre 1100)1012Paul Egerton 1035Blithfield14182627(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC199
26thOSPREY1363Rob BurdetAli Raynard932Blithfield15RET1821.5(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC202.5
27thFLYING FIFTEEN3563Jim WattersonAndy Watterson1028Blithfield27272225(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC215
28thPHANTOM1345Karl Morley 998Blithfield3131(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC2425225
29thK1100Paul Sennett 1065Blithfield3029RET26(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC227
30thK1181Chris Swallow 1065Burton(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC55238
31stOSPREY1345Charlie ChandlerOlly Hopkins932Tewkesbury SC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC66240
32ndMERLIN ROCKET3801Sam ThompsonMike Senior983RNSA(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC147249
33rdSOLO4315Harry Marrow 1139Shustoke139(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC250
34thSCORPION2026Chris MartinJohn Tailby1042Bartley(DNC)(DNC)1211DNCDNCDNCDNC251
35thNATIONAL 123447Amicia HopkinsDavid Moore1095Swarkestone Sailing Club1215(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC255
36thSOLO6055Jonathan Swain 1139Carsington(DNC)(DNC)1414DNCDNCDNCDNC256
37thCONTENDER678Tom Hooton 969Burton2826(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC33DNC258
38thSOLO5704Jamie Cuxson 1139Shustoke1717(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC262
39thILCA 7 / Laser179604Nick Williams 1104Blithfield2116(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC265
40thZENITH151Steve Hendon 1050Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC1627271
41stSUPERNOVA1243Samantha Bunn 1075Blithfield2419(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC271
42ndSUPERNOVA1237Keith Walker 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC2124273
43rdSUPERNOVA1251Andrew Mellor 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC3017275
44thSUPERNOVA1189Nick Williams 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC2918275
45thOK3Jack Hodgkins 1095SSSC(DNC)(DNC)2424DNCDNCDNCDNC276
46thMERLIN ROCKET3629Jamie CuxsonHarry Marlow983Shustoke(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC1831277
47thZENITH121Steve Ward 1050Bartley(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC1932279
48thMERLIN ROCKET3670Mark McKeeverAshanti Lennusc983Midland S.C.2924(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC281
49th42053966Jack HodgkinsOlly Hately1110SSSC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC2726281
50thTOPPER44484Millie Eaton 1363Shustoke2630(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC284
51stSUPERNOVA1328Rob Swinnock 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC3130289
52ndILCA 7 / Laser214682Michael Papp 1104Staunton Harold(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC2834290
53rdZENITH149Adrian Tattersall 1050FBYC & PYC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC3233293
54thCONTENDER666Bill Hooton 969Burton32RET(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC294
55thSUPERNOVA1066Julian Bassett 1075Blithfield(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC19304
56thRS600810Jake Williams 921Notts County(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC342

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