Thank you to Joe McLaughlin for the report and Chris Wade for the photographs.
On Saturday 18th May 2024, Tamesis Club hosted a Merlin Vintage Series open event sponsored by Craftinsure. Despite an increasingly fickle and damp looking forecast a quality 7 boat fleet of vintage Merlins turned up to Tamesis Club to race for the Porteous Cup (overall, with vintage handicaps applied) and Southcott Cup (last race of the day, someone finally found the missing cup, wahey!).
The saving grace was Tamesis Club’s favoured Northerly wind direction which meant a clean-ish line of breeze down the river when it chose to turn up.
Racing was close throughout with Rob Cage & Nicola Scaddan (1692) and Andy Harris and Sarah Warren (607) taking a bullet each before lunch with 2nd places respectively. In the first race Hullabuloo was only thirteen seconds ahead of Crescendo. In the second race Crescendo was only eight seconds ahead of Hullabuloo.
The McLaughlin duo of Joe and Max (10 year old supercrew) in Lady Anne 1978 really wanted to write this report so decided that they would only settle for third place in all of the races for the day.
Not forgetting the delicious bacon butties on arrival, Merlin class captain Peter Impey and some talented friends laid on a cracking bbq for lunch, which was much appreciated by everyone including visiting friends and family whilst they watched the breeze fill in nicely for a while only to drop off again for the third race start and event decider.
At the start gun, it looked like a new order was emerging with Andy/Sarah over the line and Rob/Nicola back in the pack. Ollie Houseman & Egle in Luka (3650) rounded nicely ahead at the first mark with a clear lead and looked to be sliding away, only to make best friends with a large tree right outside the club and buried their tall rig with wind astern which made for a tricky recovery.
By this time order was almost resumed with Joe/Max finding a fast mode for a lap leading with the breeze up a nadgers and going nicely, only to be caught on the next run back past the club by the roll gybing duel of Crescendo and Hullabuloo. Places chopped and changed with close mark roundings, everyone dodging canoes, rowing fours and paddle steamers.
Rob and Nicola won out by eleven seconds in their beautiful boat to take home both trophies, with the Southcott Cup awarded for first place in the final race. Rob, visiting from Thames S.C. thanked all concerned for the organisation of the event and remarked on the close racing. There were some great prizes for all competitors, provided by Craftinsure, www.craftinsure.com Merlin Class insurers.
Andy Harris as Rear Commodore Sailing presented the prizes and thanked Race Officer Peter Fryer assisted by Pauline; on water judge Chris Simon; Robin Lince and Alexey Anatskiy for manning the club launch and all the volunteers and staff for manning the barbeque and bar.
The next Vintage open is at Banbury Sailing Club on 15th June 2024.
