Merlin Rockets Return to Cookham Reach Sailing Club

The Jacobs travel from their home club Upper Thames to Cookham by water for the Cookham Reach Merlin Open © Merlin Rocket class

Saturday 17th October and 11 Merlin Rockets headed to Cookham Reach Sailing Club for the first time since 2018 for the combined Rowsell Sails Thames Series, Craftinsure Vintage Series and Classic Series event. The penultimate event of the year and all was to play for.

Bacon butties, tea and coffee welcomed sailors who mainly arrived by road. However, the family Jacobs arrived by river towing their two Merlin Rockets down river from Upper Thames Sailing Club, a tradition Pat Blake says that used to be the norm back in the day.

PRO Clive Church welcomed visiting sailors and explained the format for the day. With the wind coming from the north, the start line would be further upstream from the club, and each race would consist of multiple laps (nine to be precise of a windward - leeward course).

Of the 11 boats taking to the start line ten were vintage and one was modern. Would the late entry of the modern merlin of Mark Stockbridge and Christian Hill at 8pm on the Saturday night be the right call? The breeze was up at times, maybe it would. Only time would tell.

Race 1 and 2 before lunch followed a similar pattern, clear starts and plenty of short tacking. Fortunately for Mark and Christian, they managed to break free after the first buoy leaving plenty of short tacking and port/starboard calls throughout the chasing packs. Their day went pretty smoothly from what your report writer could see with two race wins and the overall event wrapped by lunchtime.

In both races it was Mark Barwell and Louise Johnson, in their recently restored 1962 MK 12, that managed to wriggle there way through to second place, despite Oliver and Emily Houseman in 3560 and Peter Slack and Lyla Jacobs in 578 ready to capitalise on any misfortune of an unlucky shift. There was plenty of place changing. Mark and Louise manage to keep their bow in front to claim two seconds, with Oliver and Emily claiming a second and a third. With Peter and Lyla claiming a third and then a second. It would be all to play for after lunch.

Race 2 Start during the Cookham Reach Merlin Open - photo © Pippa Kilsby

Sailors were greeted ashore, a jacket potato topped with meat or vegetable chilly followed by a fruit pie and custard, the perfect warming lunch after what was feeling like the first sailing day of autumn.

Clive Church was not letting anyone get too comfortable in the club house and promptly sent everyone afloat once the plates were empty.

Race 3 and things were hotting up. Mark and Christian, although they had already won came out to play, excited to see who would take first vintage boat and second, third and fourth on the Thames series. There could be no mistakes.

After a general recall, the fleet were off, on the same course as race one and two. This time Mark and Christian didn't get away and for lap one, three boats of Mark and Christian, Mark and Louise, and Oliver and Emily were cross tacking with plenty of place changes. Unfortunately for Mark and Louise their rudder fitting decided to get a bit bent out of shape, seeing them retire from the race. All they could do was now sail home and wait to see what happened. If Mark and Christian took the win, they would be first Vintage and second in the Thames. If Oliver and Emily, or Peter and Lyla won, Mark and Louise would drop a place maybe two.

Battle between the top three during the Cookham Reach Merlin Open - photo © Patrick Blake

The battle was on, and clearly Oliver and Emily were keen to try and take the win with Emily flying the spinnaker for the first time on the day and what an excellent job she did. Mark and Louise could see the leeward mark from the club house, it was close, one lap with Oliver and Emily in front, the next lap with Mark and Christian in front and all the time Peter and Lyla were chasing too. Eventually Mark and Christian took their third bullet of the day followed closely by Oliver and Emily and then Peter and Lyla who said an excellent three series race day.

The fleet sailed back to the club to be welcomed by tea, coffee and cake - just perfect. Mark Stockbridge, thanked Clive and his team for an excellent day's racing and those ashore in the galley for keeping everyone well fed. We hope we can come again soon!

Results:

First Rowsell Sails Thames Series: Mark Stockbridge and Christian Hill
Second Rowsell Sails Thames Series and First Craftinsure Vintage: Mark Barwell and Louise Johnson
Third Rowsell Sails Thames Series and Second Craftinsure Vintage: Oliver and Emily Houseman
Fourth Rowsell Sails Thames Series and Third Craftinsure Vintage: Peter Slack and Lyla Jacobs

If all goes to plan the Rowsell Sails Thames Series and Craftinsure Vintage and Classic Series conclude on Sunday 25th October at Ranelagh Sailing Club.

Overall Results: