Merlin Rocket River Championships 2025 at Upper Thames Sailing Club

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC - 26 May 2025 © Simon Smith / www.flickr.com/photos/sipics

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC ©Tony Ketley

Ollie Meadowcroft and Alex Pausey, Merlin Rocket River Champions - Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC © Tony Ketley

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC © Tony Ketley

With a breezy forecast for the three day event held over the Bank Holiday weekend fourteen boats entered the Merlin River Champs, held as part of Bourne End Week.

Day 1 - 24th May

Race 1 was held in 10 - 15 mph, Ollie Meadowcroft and Alex Pausey sailing 2040, Robin Hood, a 60 year old boat from the home club Upper Thames Sailing Club, mastered the challenging shifts and gusts to lead from the start and take win from Mark Stockbridge and Charlie Cotter in 3727.

The second was an impressive result in a modern wide Merlin, which even in stronger winds is not always a match for the older narrower designs with their lower wetted area and taller rigs. Third was ex Merlin National Champion Pat and Jilly Blake in 901.

The second race was the same strong shifty conditions and Mark and Charlie led the fleet home from Ollie and Alex, in third this time was Rob Cage and Chris Martin in 1692 from Thames SC.

Day 2 - 25th May

Sunday dawned with a 15 - 24 forecast, unusually strong for the upper reaches of the Thames and so it proved with a couple of the Merlins adding a swim to their exercise count for the day. Rob and Chris led until they rolled it in on the run, capsizing to windward. Rising above the chaos Ollie and Alex made it look all too easy and got another bullet - again followed by Mark and Charlie. Third was Mark Barwell and Lou Johnson in 1493.

The second race of the day was equally windy, again with the a couple of capsize even at the top of the fleet. Ollie and Alex and Mark and Charlie taking top spots in that order again, third was Rob and Chris in 1692.

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC - 26 May 2025 - photo © Simon Smith / www.flickr.com/photos/sipics

Day 3 - 26th May

The final day was a little less full on in terms of breeze but still windy against what we normally see on the River. 2040 again showed great boat handling skills and boat-speed to win race 5 of the Regatta, again followed by Mark and Charlie, but they were unfortunately OCS, so third went to Rob and Chris.

The last race of the event sailed in a gusty 10-15 mph with the usual shifts and holes in the wind. Ollie and Alex again showed superb skills to lead off the start line and take the win despite 1692 briefly taking the lead mid race when they found a gust downwind to briefly get in front, but both 2040 and 3727 soon get back to the front.

At the finish it was 2040 followed by 3727, with 1692 in third.

Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of Bourne End Week, we look forward to seeing you in 2026 as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the class.

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC - photo © Tony Ketley

Overall Results:

Bourne End Week at Upper Thames SC - 26 May 2025 - photo © Simon Smith / www.flickr.com/photos/sipics