Ranelagh Open 2005
Andrew Harris and Sara Warren of Tamesis won the Merlin Open at Ranelagh on Sunday 23 January
in a moderate northeasterly wind that gave near perfect conditions.
With an 11.30 start and beat towards Hammersmith, Lawrence Tosh and Chloe sailing Headcase (3650)
set the early pace rounding the windward mark in 1st Place followed closely by William Warren and
Jilly Blake (3643) and Andrew Harris and Sara Warren (3599). With a 1.5 mile run back against the
tide the 20 boat fleet split, with 19 boats choosing the Surrey bank and Harris/Warren singularly
electing the Middlesex shore. Having made good ground Harris/Warren gybed back at Fulham FC to
find themselves 100 yards in front by the leeward mark.
Showing rare nerve Harris/Warren sailed the rest of the race leading the field, despite increasing
pressure from Warren (2nd), Duncan Salmon and Ian Garwood (3rd) and Colin Brockbank and Martin
Hughes (4th). Further down the field Rob Wilder and Berry Ritchie showed some canny river sailing
technique to move through the fleet to finish 6th behind Lawrence Tosh in 5th.
Andy Jones
See full results.
