Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Fishers Green Sailing Club

All a bit tight during the Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green © Rob O'Neill

Next up on the Allen South East series was Fishers Green in the Lee valley. The forecast was light airs though a pleasant 19 degrees and spring was in the air as we turned up and rigged on the daisy filled lawn.

Local sailor Christian Hill got the bacon on and briefed us on what was going to be a challenging day on the water. Murmurs of " this is quite a tricky direction" from locals sent shivers down the spines. The forecast for light airs true to all websites looking for the best possibility although I think we all knew it was going to be a hard day at the office.

Soon after the start during the Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green - photo © Rob O'Neill

Race 1 got away after a recall and getting of the start line was tricky. New member to the fleet Mike Steel crewed by regular merlin sailor Nick Yannakoyorgos in 3677 and deserves a medal for rigging successfully a merlin with no dramas showed some good speed and came in from the right to round the windward mark 1st followed closely by 3820 Caroline Croft who had drafted in top female crew Sophie Mackley and 3793 James Goodfellow and George Major in 3rd. Mike & Nick gybed off and unfortunately sat in a bit of a hole whilst Caroline & Sophie and James & George found their pressure lane and sailed away. Where they continued to have a good battle. Duncan Salmon and Luke Moore 3702 picked some great shifts upwind to get up to 3rd. After an interesting exploration of the top of Fishers Green involving tactical calls to go high or foot of around islands it Finished Caroline & Sophie taking the win pushed by James & George in 2nd and Duncan & Luke in 3rd.

Caroline Gould and Sophie Mackleyduring the Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green - photo © Rob O'Neill

Race 2 started with a lot of line shy boats as the breeze dropped dramatically struggling to reach the start line. Really tricky first beat with not a great deal of separation meant on the run boats were side by side abreast. Halfway down the run and several place changes between James & George, Caroline & Sophie, Duncan & Luke and local legends Richard Coulter and Louis Lappage in Panther 3774. These 4 boats pulled away from the remaining fleet and had multiple place changing involving Rich & Louis tacking with the kite whilst 2nd and James & George unwinding themselves from navigation issues rounding marks whilst leading. Duncan & Luke decided to avoid any issues and took the win from a dizzy James & George and dizzier Rich & Louis.

Close racing during the Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green - photo © Rob O'Neill

Race 3 got away clean again with local sailor Jon Steward and race team going for a nice and simple windward leeward course. Still shifting over the place and 3775 Alan Krayling & Pete Nicholson decided to start well and round first with Rich & Louis close behind. After a couple of laps James & George got through to 2nd where they pushed Alan & Pete quite hard though at the finish it was Alan & Pete in 1st, another 2nd for the consistent James & George and despite a real push from Caroline & Sophie Ricard & Louis nailed another 3rd.

So after 3 races it was 3702 "Salmon en croute" Duncan & Luke overall winners. The fleet returned to de rig where mental rather than physical tiredness was clear to be seen. The sailing was all a blur as Fishers put on a brilliant chilli basking outside the clubhouse capped of with a prize-giving carried out by Paul Dean, who has devoted a huge amount of time and effort into the class recently not just on the Allen South East series but also putting on sessions dedicated to youth sailing in the class over the winter.

Duncan Salmon and Luke Moore win the Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Fishers Green - photo © Rob O'Neill

Really friendly club which always gets a good turnout for the merlin Allen South East series perhaps next year can we have a tad more wind. Special mentions to Jon Steward (who would have been sailing although back issue) and race team. Richard Coulter & Louis Lappage can claim the bragging rights and were 1st Fishers Green boat in 5th overall. All the Fishers Green members giving up their time for putting on a really enjoyable day. A big thank you to our sponsors Allen as ever for some great prizes and onto the next round which is Whitstable end of May 30th/31st.

Overall Results: