Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - Day 3

by Tim Saxton 25 Aug 20:12 BST 22-28 August 2026

Day 3 at the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and today was ClamCleat Tuesday!

Monday had definitely been too windy to race, which meant 3 races in the plan for Tuesday. Forecast was for an ESE average 16kts gusting 20, perfect conditions for Portland Harbour.

The race team, led by Peter Saxton & Heinzey, did a great job setting square lines and good length beats which provided plenty of tactical options and opportunities to gain or lose throughout each race. The Merlin class is renowned for attracting a top collection of dinghy talent, and the closeness of today's racing proved as much, leading to a lot of smiles as we came ashore.

Second start and everyone was very well behaved on day 3 of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Rob O'Neill

The flatter water meant those who worked the hardest upwind were rewarded with a little extra pace. Jon Gorringe & Toby Lewis gave a perfect demonstration of this to lead at the first mark of race 3, which they held comfortably to the end of the race, followed by Tom Stewart & Rob Allen showing some great pace in their new boat and Taxi & Becky Caiger third. Mark Stockbridge and James Gifford led home gold fleet in a strong 7th position, which was then followed up by two more strong races which see them move up the overall results sheet.

The right hand side began to be more favoured for races 4 and 5 as the forecast right shift materialised and the Portland wind bend began to appear. After issues which forced a retirement from the first race, Ben Whaley & Chris Martin showed their hiking prowess to win race 4 followed by Arran Holman and Tom Pygall who spent the whole day in a very effective low and fast mode.

Chris Martin and Josh Oates clear the windward mark on the second beat of the first race on day 3 of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Rob O'Neill

After another quick turnaround race 5 was off. Taxi and Becky and Arran and Tom continued their fine speed and form to finish first and second in race 6 followed by Tom & Rob just behind them. Just as in the other races positions 4 to 15 were tight throughout the race with an exciting amount of place changing right until the finish.

Overall Taxi and Becky move into the overall lead, 4 points ahead of Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray who had a more difficult day with a few boat issues. Ben & Chris are equal on points with Tom & Rach, and Arran & Tom just one further back. Slightly further down another bunch is forming, with 7th to 11th separated by just 5 points. All to play for in the remaining 3 days.

Jon Gorringe and Toby Lewis well ahead of the fleet and went on to win, no wonder they are both look so happy on day 3 of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Rob O'Neill

Sam & Leanne Thompson & Roman & Ben Archer both sailed remarkably consistent days to maintain their Silver & Bronze fleet leads.

Wednesday's forecast is a more sedate 7-10 knots, so likely racing in Weymouth Bay again, with the Ranelagh Trophy race followed by the Crews' Race.

Mark Barwell and Lou Johnson flat out planing on the last reach on day 3 of the Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at the WPNSA - photo © Rob O'Neill

A huge thanks as always to our amazing sponsors Aspire Financial Advisers, Barton Marine, ClamCleat, P&B and Winder Boats.

Results after Day 3:

Pos	Fleet	Sail No	Boat Name	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	Pts
1	Platinum	3824	Bonnie	Andy Davis	Becky Caiger	South Staffs SC	2	4	3	‑10	1	10
2	Platinum	3759	Red Mistress	Thomas Gillard	Rachael Gray	Sheffield Viking SC / Staunton Harold SC	1	1	‑10	7	5	14
3	Platinum	3823	Gone with the wind	Ben Whaley	Chris Martin	Swanage SC	6	3	(DNF [42])	1	4	14
4	Platinum	3826	Dave	Arran Holman	Tom Pygall	Parkstone YC / Holywell SC	‑9	7	4	2	2	15
5	Platinum	3833	Didley Watsit	Jon Gorringe	Toby Lewis	Parkstone YC	7	6	1	4	‑17	18
6	Platinum	3771	Skip	Oliver Meadowcroft	Alex Pausey	Salcombe YC / Upper Thames SC	4	‑11	5	3	10	22
7	Platinum	3804	Rockatross	Sam Barker	Ben Rayner	Castle Cove SC	8	9	‑17	6	7	30
8	Gold	3793	Boris	James Goodfellow	George Major	Ardleigh SC	3	10	9	11	(DNC [42])	33
9	Platinum	3834	Grace	Thomas Stewart	Rob Allen	Waldringfield SC	15	‑22	2	14	3	34
10	Platinum	3827	The return of the jedi	David Winder	Beka Jones	Hollingworth Lake SC	5	8	‑14	8	13	34
11	Platinum	3807	Baloo	Timothy Saxton	Faye Chatterton	Itchenor SC	11	‑12	11	5	8	35
12	Gold	3727	Fragile	Mark Stockbridge	James Gifford	Upper Thames SC	14	‑19	7	12	6	39
13	Platinum	3829	Back in Business	Mike Calvert	Jane Calvert	Axe YC	10	2	13	‑22	15	40
14	Gold	3666	Ted	John Meadowcroft	Rory Gifford	Upper Thames SC / Salcombe YC	12	‑21	6	16	9	43
15	Gold	3746	Point n Squirt	James Wells	Lorna Glen	RYA	‑17	5	12	15	12	44
16	Gold	3683	Bluebird	Tom Ballantine	Dan Harris	Castle Cove SC	‑21	14	8	13	11	46
17	Platinum	3796	Roberta	William Warren	Andy Prince	Shoreham SC	18	15	21	9	(UFD [42])	63
18	Gold	3787	Quicksilver	Chris Martin	Josh Oates	Bartley SC	‑27	24	16	17	14	71
19	Gold	3815	The Kraken	Mark Barwell	Louise Johnson	Lymington Town SC / Upper Thames SC	19	17	19	‑21	16	71
20	Gold	3805	Nermal	Ed Bradburn	Ollie Goodhead	South Staffs SC	22	‑25	15	18	18	73
21	Gold	3710	Paradigm Shift	Jon Ibbotson	Robert Stewart	Burghfield SC	16	18	(RET [42])	19	20	73
22	Gold	3747	Learner Driver	Clive Eplett	Megan Pascoe	Frensham Pond SC	13	23	‑25	20	19	75
23	Silver	3801	Beltie	Sam Thompson	Leanne Thompson	RNSA	‑24	13	22	23	21	79
24	Gold	3779	The Angels' Share	David Lee	Angela Bridges	Starcross YC	20	‑28	18	24	22	84
25	Gold	3781	The Force Awakens	David Hall	Georgia Booth	Blackwater SC	23	16	20	‑27	26	85
26	Silver	3806	Blue Tit	Benjamin Jones	Helen Hilditch	Lymington Town SC	25	20	26	‑30	27	98
27	Silver	3825	Tea Cup	Storm Nuttall	Sally Wakefield	West Hoe SC	26	27	23	(RET [42])	24	100
28	Bronze	3767	One Love	Roman Archer	Ben Archer	Parkstone YC	28	‑35	24	25	25	102
29	Silver	3816	Wild Horses	Phil Emery	Hilary Bradshaw	Whitstable YC	‑31	31	29	29	29	118
30	Silver	3830	Amuse‑Bouche	Tom Low	Ed Low	Parkstone YC	34	(DNC [42])	31	31	23	119
31	Silver	3600	The Matrix	Mike Partridge	Claire Davis	Hayling Island SC	30	26	30	(RET [42])	34	120
32	Bronze	3760	Moz's Tale	Jerry Ibberson	Liza Hunt	SCYC	32	‑36	27	33	28	120
33	Silver	3488	Carrera	Ben Scroggie	Harry Scroggie	Parkstone YC	33	33	32	26	(DNC [42])	124
34	Silver	3626	Business As Usual	Tim Male	Rebecca Male	Staunton Harold SC	35	30	(RET [42])	28	31	124
35	Silver	3817	Aura	Geoff Kimber	Helen Kimber	Stone SC	‑38	32	28	35	32	127
36	Silver	3766	The Bear	Andrew Dalby	Elsa Dalby	Burghfield SC / Lee on Solent SC	29	‑34	34	34	30	127
37	Bronze	3707	Monkey Business	Stuart Jenkins	Peter Walker	Hampton SC / Upper Thames SC	(DNS [42])	DNC [42]	33	32	33	140
38	Bronze	3594	Summit Fever	Robin Clifton‑Dey	Michael Clifton‑Dey	Weymouth SC	36	37	36	‑38	35	144
39	Bronze	3813	Pacemaker	Steve Harling	Eleanor Thomas	Starcross YC	37	29	(DNC [42])	37	DNC [42]	145
40	Silver	3704	Factory Maid	Jemma Horwood	Nicola Scaddan	Tamesis SC	39	38	35	36	(DNC [42])	148
41	Bronze	3792	Seas The Day	Alistair McDonald	Steven McCann	Berwick SC / Yorkshire Dales SC	40 W	(DNC [42])	RET [42]	DNC [42]	DNC [42]	166