Merlin Rocket National Championship sponsored by Aspire at Tenby Sailing Club - Day 1
by Roberta, Robert and Tiger Tiger 11 Aug 12:52 PDT
11-16 August 2024
![](/photos/merlinrocket/yysw487620.jpg)
Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby day 1 © Alistair Mackay
Rocketeers from all parts of the country descended on the picturesque South Wales town of Tenby for the 77th Merlin Rocket National Championships sponsored by Aspire Financial Services.
They were greeted by an efficient and friendly team from Tenby SC who got the 67 boats safely lined up on the prom in time for the sun to break through the mizzle. Free gin from In the Welsh Wind Distillery eased the class into what will be a fabulous week.
Sunday dawned with the eager teams launching into a sloppy south easterly sea. Many teams were rather too eager and fell foul of PRO Nigel Denchfield dreaded black flag which came out after the first start and stayed for the day. The fleet got away on the fourth attempt in a freshening breeze and substantial waves. Stu Bithell and Tom Pygall in their new Winder ship led from start to finish, followed by Christian Birrell and Sam Breary, Andy (Taxi) Davis and Oliver Meadowcroft, also in their new Winder, came in third, pipping Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell and Arran Holman and Hayden Sewell on the finish line.
By now the sun was shining and the wind was no longer freshening, leaving a soft wind and a sloppy sea state making the second race of the day very challenging. Keeping the boats going round the course was proving tricky especially in the pack. Taxi and Ollie led until the last windward mark when Christian and Sam got ahead, and they finished in that order. In third was Ben Saxton and Matt Rainback followed closely by Stu and Tom.
Back in the fleet the battles were plenty, of note where the many family teams that had some close fought finishes. Leaders in the Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets after two races today are Alex Warren and Jonty Freeman, Ben Jones and Helen Hilditch and Jon Steward and Christian Hill, respectively. Tonight's prize-giving should be a raucous affair following a record turnout for the crew's union. This week the prizes have been generously sponsored by Allspars, Becky Bettesworth, CF by L and L and In the Welsh Wind Distillery.
Tomorrow the forecast is for a more westerly wind and plenty of sunshine, hopefully the crews will be fighting fit in the morning following their previous night's excesses.
Results after Day 1:
Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | Founders | Beechers | Pts |
1st | 3788 | Christian Birrell | Sam Brearey | Parkstone YC | 2 | 1 | 3 |
2nd | 3824 | Andy Davis | Ollie Meadowcroft | South Staffs SC | 3 | 2 | 5 |
3rd | 3826 | Stuart Bithell | Tom Pygall | Parkstone YC | 1 | 5 | 6 |
4th | 3719 | Ian Martin | Chris Martin | Burghfield SC | 6 | 4 | 10 |
5th | 3791 | Jon Gorringe | Matt Currell | Parkstone YC | 4 | 11 | 15 |
6th | 3691 | Mike Calvert | Jane Calvert | Axe YC | 8 | 7 | 15 |
7th | 3807 | Tim Saxton | Holly McArthur | Itchenor SC | 10 | 6 | 16 |
8th | 3809 | Arran Holman | Hayden Sewell | Hollowell | 5 | 12 | 17 |
9th | 3802 | Simon Potts | Emma Clarke | Burghfield SC | 12 | 8 | 20 |
10th | 3782 | Ed Chapman | Faye Chatterton | Lymintong Town SC | 14 | 9 | 23 |
11th | 3801 | Matthew Biggs | Beka Jones | Bartley SC | 13 | 10 | 23 |
12th | 3812 | Thomas Stewart | Rob Allen | Waldringfield SC | 7 | 19 | 26 |
13th | 3775 | Chris Jennings | Pete Nicholson | Brightlingsea SC | 9 | 21 | 30 |
14th | 3696 | Alexander Warren | Jonty Freeman | Shoreham SC | 16 | 16 | 32 |
15th | 3666 | John Meadowcroft | Rory Gifford | Upper Thames SC | 17 | 20 | 37 |
16th | 3746 | James Wells | Anna Aylward | RYA | 15 | 25 | 40 |
17th | 3787 | Chris Martin | John Tailby | Bartley SC | 24 | 17 | 41 |
18th | 3710 | Jon Ibbotson | Robert Stewart | Burghfield SC | 26 | 18 | 44 |
19th | 3724 | Ed Bradburn | Samuel Bailey | South Staffs SC | 18 | 26 | 44 |
20th | 3645 | Steve Hall | Alison Hall | Royal Corinthian YC | 22 | 24 | 46 |
21st | 3727 | Mark Stockbridge | James Gifford | Upper Thames SC | 23 | 23 | 46 |
22nd | 3793 | James Goodfellow | Rick Cornes | Netley SC | 11 | 38 | 49 |
23rd | 3683 | Maddy Anderson | Tom Ballantine | Brightlingsea SC | 19 | 31 | 50 |
24th | 3806 | Ben Jones | Helen Hilditch | Shoreham SC | 20 | 32 | 52 |
25th | 3751 | Rupert Henderson‑White | Mary Henderson‑White | Brightlingsea SC | 31 | 22 | 53 |
26th | 3756 | Sophie Mackley | George Bender | Shoreham SC | 27 | 30 | 57 |
27th | 3731 | Andy Jones | Maddie Jones | Burghfield SC | 29 | 29 | 58 |
28th | 3711 | Sam Thompson | Leanne Thompson | RNSA | 34 | 27 | 61 |
29th | 3815 | Mark Barwell | Louise Johnson | Lymington Town SC | 21 | 41 | 62 |
30th | 3776 | Nick Craig | Kate Craig | Burghfield SC | 25 | 40 | 65 |
31st | 3779 | David Lee | Angela Bridges | Starcross YC | 30 | 35 | 65 |
32nd | 3816 | Phil Emery | Phoebe Paine | Whitstable YC | 35 | 33 | 68 |
33rd | 3804 | Ben Saxton | Matt Rainback | RYA | BFD | 3 | 69 |
34th | 3781 | David Hall | Emilie Hood | Blackwater SC | 42 | 34 | 76 |
35th | 3813 | Steve Harling | Eleanor Thomas | Starcross YC | 41 | 36 | 77 |
36th | 3733 | Jamie Morgan | Oliver Davenport | Northampton SC | 33 | 45 | 78 |
37th | 3796 | William Warren | Charlotte Fildes | Shoreham SC | BFD | 13 | 79 |
38th | 3817 | Geoff Kimber | Helen Kimber | Stone SC | 28 | 51 | 79 |
39th | 3658 | Matthew Shorrock | Ben Shorrock | Frensham Pond SC | RET | 14 | 80 |
40th | 3790 | Colin Brockbank | Sue brough | Wembley SC | 37 | 43 | 80 |
41st | 3757 | Tim Parsons | Andy Service | Lyme Regis SC | BFD | 15 | 81 |
42nd | 3766 | Andrew Dalby | Aimee Dalby | Burghfield SC | 38 | 44 | 82 |
43rd | 3770 | Jon Steward | Christian Hill | Fishers Green SC | 32 | 52 | 84 |
44th | 3794 | Julian Harms | Timothy Harms | Midland SC | 40 | 46 | 86 |
45th | 3749 | Colin Anderson | Sean Anderson | Bartley SC | 36 | 53 | 89 |
46th | 3662 | Nigel Hudson | Freya Hudson | Bartley SC | 39 | 50 | 89 |
47th | 3695 | Peter Slack | Immy Brown | Trent Valley SC | 48 | 42 | 90 |
48th | 3742 | Howard Eeles | Josh Oates | Bartley SC | 44 | 47 | 91 |
49th | 3747 | Clive Eplett | Megan Pascoe | Frensham Pond SC | BFD | 28 | 94 |
50th | 3547 | Tim Male | Rebecca Male | RYA | 43 | 55 | 98 |
51st | 3707 | Stuart Jenkins | Hannah Burt | Hampton Sailing Club | 46 | 54 | 100 |
52nd | 3690 | Guy Browne | Greg Martin | Trent Valley SC | 45 | 57 | 102 |
53rd | 3720 | David Chisholm | Andy Prince | Royal Burnham YC | BFD | 37 | 103 |
54th | 3821 | Gavin Willis | Bettine Harris | Bristol Corinthian YC | BFD | 39 | 105 |
55th | 3567 | Martin Smith | Karen Beston | Redditch SC | 47 | 58 | 105 |
56th | 3449 | Carl Whitehill | Sam Whitehill | RYA | 49 | 60 | 109 |
57th | 3767 | Ben Archer | Olivia Bellini | Parkstone YC | BFD | 48 | 114 |
58th | 3825 | Storm Nuttall | Isobel Stewart | Salcombe YC | BFD | 49 | 115 |
59th | 3663 | Nicholas Yannakoyorgos | Matteo Mancini | Fishers Green SC | BFD | 56 | 122 |
60th | 3582 | Florence Nicholls | Harvey Godel | Aldeburgh YC | BFD | 59 | 125 |
61st | 3528 | Richard Owens Taff | Stu Southan | Pembrokeshire Powerboating and Sailing A | RET | DNC | 132 |
61st | 3740 | Pat Blake | Jilly Blake | Lymington Town SC | DNC | DNC | 132 |
61st | 3814 | James Goss | Chris White | South Staffs SC | RET | RET | 132 |
61st | 3786 | Phil Hardisty | Teddy Dunn | Isle of Man YC | DNC | DNC | 132 |
61st | 3800 | Richard Bramley | Tony Cheal | Shoreham SC | DNC | DNC | 132 |
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