Merlins face epic fury at Midland

When Edgbaston Reservoir is full, waves can wash onto the rigging area at Midland Sailing Club and those of the 16 Merlin Rocket entry who still thought it a good idea to go sailing watched the water lap round their feet and pondered their life-choices.

Conditions on Sunday 15th March did not much resemble the Met office's 'light winds', as the South Westerly gusts whipped white horses across angry grey water and onto the lee shore.

16 Merlin Rockets attended the Merlin open at Midland Sailing Club - photo © Julian Harms

Still, as Brutus might have said "There is a tide in the affairs of men and women, which taken at the flood leads on to fortune" and 11 boats took to the water with the wise advice of the 5 crews who remained on shore ringing in their ears. After all, this was the first event of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller, the Vintage series, HD Sails Midland Circuit and also a Classic Series event so an early low score on the board could pay dividends as the season progressed.

Race Officer Paul Young and his team set a teasingly short line on a course which remained the same for all three races. This gave the competitors ample opportunity to sample the full joys of sailing in a gusty south Westerly 4 to 6 on the constrained and tree lined waters.

A clean start to Race 1 of the Merlin open at Midland Sailing Club - photo © Julian Harms

In Race 1, Rich Adams crewed by Ashanti Lennox, hit the start line at the committee boat end with the bang, sailing with height and speed in clear air to windward of the fleet congestion below. They retained the initiative on the shifty beat and rounded the windward mark some 40 metres ahead of the fleet. Spinnakers were obviously a mixed blessing. Rich and Ashanti left theirs in the chute for the time-being and extended their lead to around 100 metres by the end of the next two fraught off-wind legs. They went on to hold this position to the end of the race.

Behind them there was much place-changing on the snakes and ladders of wind lanes and gusts ('Just seen 40 knots' said the cheery race officer). After an early navigational error local heroes Rob Kennaugh and Andrew Prosser fought back through the fleet to 2nd, and the tight nip and tuck of the remainder of the leading bunch resolved into Dave Winder and Beka Jones 3rd, followed by James Wells crewed by Anna Aylward and Ed Bradburn with Nick Hydon in 4th and 5th places.

Rich and Ashanti lead the fleet in Race 1 at the Merlin open at Midland Sailing Club - photo © Julian Harms

After some professed nerves onshore, new boat owner and Lark class refugee Sam Bailey and stand-in crew showed flashes of brilliance, leading the charging pack for a while before experiencing control issues in the testing conditions. More to come from this boat over the coming months, I think. Onshore observers of Race 1 took some encouragement from the fact that even superstars can be a bit rusty as Caroline and Chris Gould took time to come to terms with sailing together again, amid rolly gybes, wheelbarrow turns and lost footing right in front of the club house.

There was no let-up in the conditions for Race 2 and Rich and Ashanti again led round the windward mark with both Dave Winder and Ed Bradburn close behind. On the next broad reach across the reservoir a squall compressed the leading boats of the fleet and spectators watched a developing scene reminiscent of six 'riders of the apocalypse' converging on the turning mark. Even with the brave dive for the inside berth by Rich and with more than 25 kts across the deck, six intact Merlins emerged from the rounding for the brutal beat in as fine a display of boat handling as you could hope to see.

Close racing in Race 2 of the Merlin open at Midland Sailing Club - photo © Julian Harms

Rob and Andrew's tight rounding in 6th place placed them in clear air and to windward of the pack and set them up for a masterful display of upwind sailing. They led out of the next mark, with the now more familiarly composed Caroline and Chris on their transom. This was a gladiatorial contest which Rob lost and tight cover to the finish gave Caroline a hard-fought win in Race 2. There were only 6 race finishers.

The often vicious and always unpredictable conditions took further toll on the fleet and only five boats came to the final start line for Race 3. Rob and Andrew again stamped their authority on the fleet to take the lead from Caroline and Chris. However, it was not to be their day. As the Goulds picked up a huge gust of the run down towards the final turning mark, Rob and Andrew caught the same breeze mid-gybe and messily capsized, allowing James and Anna into second place. Caroline and Chris went on to take the win and the meeting, a first female helm victory at the Midland Mug which was first presented in 1951, with Rob and Andrew's pair of 2's insufficient to beat Rich and Ashanti's Ace and 3.

Challenging conditions during the Merlin open at Midland Sailing Club - photo © Julian Harms

Special mention must go to David Lucas and Robyn Tailor who retired from Race 1 considering conditions too much but then went out to sail both races 2 and 3. They finished on the podium in Race 3 leaving them with a 6th overall and the Bronze fleet prize. This was just reward for their courage and persistence.

Podium Results:

1st 3820 - Caroline and Chris Gould
2nd 3765 - Rich Adams and Ashanti Lennox (Gold Fleet winner)
3rd 3700 - Rob Kennaugh and Andrew Prosser

Silver Fleet winner: 3633 - Tim Harms and Amelia Little
Bronze Fleet winner: 3581 - David Lucas and Robyn Tailor

This was sailing which was fierce, spectacular and highly entertaining. Credit to all on the water for their skills in very tight racing in testing conditions and only one collision of note. Midland SC did a fine job of managing a safe and efficient event, and all retired to the warmth of the clubhouse for beer, lasagna and tall tales of daring, missed opportunity and near-death experience.

A fine start to the 2026 Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller Series. Next stop Wembley SC on the 22nd March.

Overall Results: