Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allen South East Series at Shoreham Sailing Club

Winward boat keep clear. Right? - Silver Tiller at Shoreham © Rob Rattray

A weekend of breeze hunting, wave riding, egg throwing and tactical wizardry

With the help of a little AI magic to keep track of the chaos, nineteen Merlins arrived at Shoreham on Saturday 8th August for the final sea event before the Aspire National Championships, greeted by a gentle but very sailable 5-8 knots on Saturday. Enough wind to race properly, not enough to relax. Classic Craftinsure Silver Tiller conditions: every shift mattered, every tack counted, and every mistake was punished immediately.

And with three of the class's most beautiful trophies on offer, the Lighthouse Litre for Saturday, the Sussex Flagon for Sunday, and the Chairman's Cup for the overall, the stakes were high and the motivation even higher.

Toni and Jamie Wright - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Rob Rattray

Race 1 - Finding the Rhythm (Lighthouse Litre Day)

With a steady 5-8 knots across the course, the fleet launched into Race 1 with purpose. James Goodfellow and George Major read the first beat beautifully, slipping into the lead and rounding the windward mark ahead of a tightly packed chase group. The reach was quick but twitchy, the chop making trimming a full time job.

Upwind, the game was all about spotting the micro shifts and keeping the boat rumbling through the lumps. Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley mastered it best, threading together the cleanest lanes to take the win. William Warren and Andy Prince held off a determined charge from Caroline Gould and Pete Nicholson to secure second and third.

Race 2 - Roger & James Take Control

Race 2 delivered the same steady breeze but a livelier mood. The fleet pushed harder off the line, and Roger Gilbert and James Stewart wasted no time asserting themselves. They hit the first beat with confidence, rounded cleanly, and never looked back. Alex and Chris kept them honest with a solid second, while James and George backed up their Race 1 form with another tidy third. The scoreboard tightened, and the Lighthouse Litre was still anyone's to claim.

Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Rob Rattray

Race 3 - Will & Andy Hit Their Groove

The final race of Saturday saw William and Andy shift into top gear. They launched off the start with intent, picked the perfect side of the first beat, and rounded ahead with a cushion they protected all the way to the finish. Smooth, fast, and confident sailing. Chris and Sophie added another strong result with second, while Alex and Chris continued their consistent day with third.

Will and Andy claimed the Lighthouse Litre and the overnight lead, a well earned reward for a sharp, disciplined afternoon. They ended the day on joint points with Chris and Sophie, leaving everything wide open for Sunday.

Finding a lane - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Rob Rattray

Saturday Evening - Eggs, BBQ & Sunshine

Saturday evening brought out the famous Shoreham egg throwing competition, a spectacle of questionable technique, heroic lunges, and eggs meeting tragic ends. Tom Low and George Bender proved themselves the true masters of yolk based athleticism, taking the win with a combination of precision, bravery, and possibly luck. The fleet then tucked into a fantastic BBQ, enjoying the last of the sunshine and swapping stories from the day.

Sunday - From Drifting to Dream Conditions (Sussex Flagon Day)

Sunday dawned with nothing. Not a breath. The fleet floated, the flags drooped, and optimism wavered. But the race team insisted the wind would fill, and they were right. Not long after launching, a steady breeze arrived, building throughout Race 4 into a glamorous 16 knot Shoreham special with surfable waves and big tactical gains.

First start on Sunday - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

Race 4 - Surfing into the Lead

The first race of the day got away cleanly, with Roger and James punching out early and rounding ahead. Caroline and Pete were already hunting for opportunities, and they found a beauty: a right hand lane stacked with pressure and a sweet lift. They used it perfectly, overtaking Roger and James. The fight wasn't over. As the breeze built, the beats turned into a tactical battleground, and the top three shuffled constantly.

Downwind, Caroline and Pete surged again, but Chris and Sophie mounted a brilliant comeback, rounding the final mark first. Their cover on Roger and James opened the door for Caroline and Pete to split, find pressure, and steal the win by half a metre.

Race 5 - Breeze On, Breeze Off

The wind held for the start, giving crews a chance to stretch out after Saturday's scrunching up in the bottom. Boats powered up nicely until the breeze quietly faded mid race. The fleet had to switch gears fast. Roger and James handled the transition best, sailing a calm, controlled race to take the win. James Wells and Anna delivered one of their standout performances of the weekend, reading the dying breeze perfectly to secure second. Chris and Sophie kept their scoreline sharp with third.

Second race on Sunday - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

Race 6 - The Final Chess Match

The last race began in a soft, patchy breeze, but the fleet got away cleanly. James Goodfellow and George Major nailed the first beat, rounding ahead with the pack stacked tightly behind them. Chris and Sophie, along with Roger and James, broke free, setting up a two boat showdown for the overall win. Behind them, the fight for third was fierce: James and George, James and Anna, Will and Andy, and Caroline and Pete all in the mix.

Caroline and Pete rolled the dice, splitting from the bunch to chase pressure and a right shift. Sitting in sixth, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Their gamble paid off, vaulting them into third and sealing their place on the overall podium.

Final Results - Chairman's Cup

Chris and Sophie claimed the Chairman's Cup with superb consistency across the weekend. Roger and James secured second, and Caroline and Pete completed the podium with a brilliant Sunday performance.

Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley, first overall - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

Fleet Prizes

Gold Fleet: James Goodfellow & George Major
Silver Fleet: Antonia Wright & Will Carroll
Bronze Fleet: Richard Coulter & Louis Lappage

SE Allen Prizes

Roland & Katie Whitehead
Stuart Jenkins & Ben Hughes
Tom Low & George Bender

Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Rob Rattray

Weekend Summary

Shoreham delivered everything that makes the Silver Tiller special: close racing, changing conditions, big tactical calls, and a fleet that knows how to have fun on and off the water. From Saturday's thoughtful, shift hunting battles to Sunday's full power surfing runs, every race asked something different of the sailors, and the class's stunning trophies added an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

Add in sunshine, a cracking BBQ, the legendary egg throwing antics, and a fleet full of smiles, and it was a weekend that captured the very best of Merlin Rocket sailing. The perfect warm up for the Champs, and one that will be talked about for a long time.

The next Craftinsure Silver Tiller is at Upper Thames Sailing Club on Sunday 6th September, part of our 80th celebrations!

The next Allen South East Series is at Itchenor Yacht Club on Saturday 3rd October.

SSC Committe Boat watching over the fleet - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Rob Rattray

Join us at the Aspire National Championships

CLASS BOATS AVAILABLE!

There is still time to join the fleet in Weymouth from the 22nd to 28th August - enter the Aspire National Championships here. portal.merlinrocket.co.uk/event/weymouth-and-portland-national-sailing-academy-national-championships

Looking to use one of the two class boats? Contact

Second race on Sunday - Silver Tiller at Shoreham - photo © Warwick Baker / www.warwickpics.com

Overall Results: