Is anyone else feeling a few aches and pains this morning?

Just a few, after an invigorating sail and two quick washes in lovely Rutland Water!  Fantastic conditions, the wind had died down to an ideal F2-3 for the last day of the training today, very good value as always.

But Sunday was a bit of a stonker, wasn't it!

The odd thing was that the Rutland bar served me an excellent pint of Cooking (wherever that comes from) on Saturday afternoon and then said there was no more proper beer, they wouldn't tap a new cask as it would not all get drunk.  With about 100 Merliners hanging around in the club on Sunday as well as a regatta of their own!!!  So off to the Wheatsheaf.

River sailing has distinct compensations for the lack of those hang-on-by-the-tips-of-your- toes-and-pray reaches

Did all Trinees go home or where their hangovers thaaaat bad?????????? Sorry, couldn`t make it but sure you all had a good time?????

Monday was another excellent training day - gentle but sufficient breeze; some top tuning tips from His Royal Trickiness; and a nail biting Pursuit Race to round off the event which was won in a photofinish by Mark Rahn and Mike Docherty sailng MissLaid no 3078, just ahead of John Donaghue crewed by the Whitworth factor.

The race was extremely gratifying to the training team - the overall improvement in level of boat handling and boat set up from Friday morning to Monday afternoon was fantastic.  Well done to all those who attended the course; thank you for your support of the event and your enthusiasm during it.

Very best wishes to all,

GGGGGGGG

The thanks should really be the other way around for the excellent training and the time and knowledge that everyone on the coaching team gave. My measure for improvement was the fact that I spent less time swimming this year than I did last.

Thanks once again

Nigel

Many thanks to Dan and all the trainers, it was a superb weekend!  The Merlin class really is extremely fortunate to have so many top sailors prepared to give up their time to help the rest of us raise our game.  Whether you are new to the class, or have been racing Merlins for years, the Rutland training weekend is an absolute must if you want to improve your performance.

Yes - Dave is right of course.
But after his performance on Sunday - leading for several laps and 5th overall - can I suggeast he is banned from future events!

Seriously Dave Lee has been to many training events and has made such improvements in the last few years he is credit to the whole training movement.
Well done to Dave and of course Olly Turner - who's uncle Jon has won a bit in the past!

Oops - feeling a bit dislexic this afternoon

Another enormous thank you to the training team and to the Chairman for his excellent idea to give a very nice prize to the last qualifying finisher on windy Sunday. He just managed to avoid presenting it to himself but we managed to snatch defeat and the prize from the jaws of victory by taking a dip and we loved every minute of it
Mike and Julie.

A great weekend all down the fleet.

This was the twentieth Race Training event run by the Merlins. Amazing.  Cathy Foster also came and gave a hefty contribution to the coaches.  Many of whom will now re-read the rules and terminolgy!  Room not water.  I understand that there were many compliments to our training team.

Congrats to Dave and Olly for an impressive 'trainee' performance with the big boys/girls race.

A super turn out of 27 trainees, the majority of which stayed and competed in the ST.  Special mention to 2069, Ian and Susie for even venturing forth in the turbulent winds on Sunday.

Well done to 3078, Mark and Mike who won the 'trophy' race on the training course beating off many newer boats.  Just goes to show that older boats have a great life and that my new purchase of 3379 is a definite good buy. Hope to see many of this era, 'Mature, <3391', at STs in the future.  (Remember the Nationals Challenge for older boats. Be there and have fun with us towards the back.) Andrew Mills in 3574 had His Royal Trickiness with him and came an excellent and tactically won second.

Thanks to all the trainers who, as ever, produced a friendly and open technical contribution to assisting us lesser mortals.

Thanks also to Jeremy W who put up with me. Great sailor.  Dont ask for feedback at the Nats, Andy Dalby, he gives it direct! So I advise giving up drink and conjugals in preparation.

I am told that Dave Winder is offering a new Winder to the first Mature boat that wins the Nationals. He may not remember that conversation though.

steve

Sorry Steve, your memory is going!!! It was John Donague in 3574.  I was in 3296 crewing Roger and though we led at one point we couldn't hold off the charge from the newer boats.

Heaven Sent 3511 had retired from the fray having lost the bush from the rudder gudgeon when it jumped its pintles on a reach on the Sunday leading to a brisk wash.

Just to add my thanks for all the enthusiastic help from all the coaches.  My starting has improved out of all recognition on the strength of the 4 starts on Sunday, the work in progress is the 1st beat.  Roll on Hayling!

Andrew

Many thanks to Dan and all his trainers it was a great week end and a real must for any newcomer to the Merlin. As we are new to the Merlin and the flappy thing up front we greatly appreciated all the help given, a special thanks to Jenny and Richard who sorted out our spinnaker gremlins. 

I now understand why the Merlin class goes from strength to strength.

I havn't been locked up for wife beating but Maureens black eyes did cause a few raised eyebrows at her work place !!

Thanks

Rod and Maureen

ah! Andrew, That boat was so far in front I could not see!  Well done John!