Report by George Bender
Bartley Sailing Club host Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series and Youth Championships all in one day
18 Merlin Rockets gathered at Bartley in anticipation of a strong wind event only to find gentle breeze, threatening to wane further.
Of course, this was good news for two teams in particular. Firstly the Calverts, known to be prime snigglers, and secondly the Davis's with twelve year old Harry making his Merlin racing debut and bringing the average crew weight down a smidge. The Calvert's boat, new this year (and controversially not a new shape but rather a new build of an old design), proved fast in the light stuff, which got them into pole over Andy and Harry in race 1.
Dave Winder and Beka Jones were also making themselves known near the front off the back of impressive performances so far this year at Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week and at the nationals in Looe. With Dave's new boat (I believe he gets discounts on them somehow) 'Return of the Jedi', this meant we had three brand new boats, battling it out at the front.
During lunch the fleet kept careful watch over the flags along the dam, pleading with them to make up their minds and to grace us all with some wind we could work with. It picked up a bit for race 2 (as requested) but a large shift meant the course was a bit processional. Mike and Jane got ahead and stayed there while team Davis had a close battle with team North (Dave and Beka), which the northerners prevailed through.
With the wind building into race 3, it looked like some more kicker and, dare I say it, rake would be needed. At last, the breeze (most of us) were hoping for.
Rich Adams and George Bender had a great start and held it together in the face of being hunted down by team Stealth (Mike and Jane). Sadly the course gave little room for tactical decision making and with building breeze and some tight reaches, Mike and Jane dropped back to fourth after team North and team Stella (Rob Kenneaugh and Andrew Prosser) came through.
The event was not only a Craftinsure Silver Tiller but also the Youth Championships, which Dave Lucas and Robyn Taylor won. Harry Davis of course won the first youth crew and we will be watching his sailing career with great interest!
Nobody would have wanted the job of setting a course in Sunday's wind, so we commend the race officers for getting three races away and for the safety crews who were certainly required for one unfortunate mast breakage. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday to allow the event to go ahead.
