Report by Sophie Mackley

Twenty Merlin Rockets arrived at Parkstone Yacht Club on Saturday 18 April for an intense double-header: round four of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller and round two of the Allspars South West Series. Set against the shallows and tidal complexities of Poole Harbour, the day of orienteering rewarded those who knew where and where not to go.

The fleet got away cleanly in race one, with Arran Holman and Tom Pygal leading at the windward mark, closely pursued by Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley. What turned out to be a refreshingly uneventful reach gave way to a punishingly long beat up the harbour against a strong tide. The apparent safe option out of the tide proved costly as increased pressure in the channel shuffled the pack and Ian and Chris Martin and Stuart and Kat Bithell led the fleet round the windward mark followed by Storm Nuttal and Sally Wakefield. The wind didn’t settle on the long run back down the harbour and after a game of snakes and ladders the fleet converged on the last mark as one. At the finish the Martins retained their lead from Stu and Kat, with Arran and Tom rounding out the podium.

By the second race, the breeze had built but remained patchy. The leaders at the windward mark bore away hard but those reaching across to the stronger tide in stronger pressure (maybe they had learnt from the first race!) reaped the rewards. Rebecca Vidello and Rob Henderson did this to greatest effect and lead the fleet to the bottom of the harbour, back upwind through the weed and shallows and then to a shortened downwind finish. They secured a well-earned victory ahead of Stu and Kat Bithell, while Caroline Gould and Tom Lonsdale completed the top three.

After waiting for the club boats to start the Merlin’s were away for the decisive third race with the overall still wide open. Once we had worked out that M * J s/t was a slightly more conventional sausage–triangle course, you would have thought navigation would become little less of a lottery but a few local obstacles put paid to that. Arran and Tom again showed early pace, rounding the windward mark first and leading downwind. Caroline and Tom, Chris and Sophie, and Ed Bradburn with Ollie Goodhead all mounted strong challenges, but Arran and Tom held firm to take the win, with Gould and Mackley second. Third place was ultimately decided in the protest room, where Jon Gorringe and Lorna Glen were awarded the position.

Overall Stu and Kat Bithell were on equal points for Arran Holman and Tom Pygal but counting a first gave Arran and Tom a well-earned victory. Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley were third. Rebecca Vidello and Rob Henderson topped the Gold Fleet standings, while Tom Low and Ed Low claimed Silver Fleet honours in their striking new Rockatross. Bronze Fleet went to Roman Archer, crewed by his father Ben Archer. You would have thought that coming from Hollingworth Julian Parry and Sally Townend would win furthest tavelled, but they didn’t factor in Alistair McDonald and Steven McCann who came all the way from Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Merlin Rocket fleet now looks ahead to the next fixtures at Burghfield Sailing Club on Saturday 25 April, followed by Fishers Green Sailing Club on Sunday.