MERLIN ROCKET RESULTS
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Results / Midland Circuit Open Meeting

Bartley S.C.
09/05/2021 - 09/05/2021
Silver Tiller:
Multi-Day Silver Tiller:
Vintage:
Regional: M
Classic:

Report by Simon Potts.

A heavy wind was forecast for the Bartley Green SC Open meeting on Sunday 9th May, the first event in the Midland Circuit 2021. The duty officer Steve Ward and Fleet Captain Mark Reddington stood strong and ran back-to-back races before and after lunch. The wind was set to be gusty and shifty for the day, with sunshine of course. Bartley always delivers.

Four races were sailed with great care and attention to setting the optimum course. It was a good job there was a lead boat, the courses were very complicated (and testing!).

13 entries in total, with seven home boats. Two didn’t like the look of the breeze and the conditions for the day so their boats stayed wrapped up in the car park. (Very competent sailors) This meant the rescue crews had 5.5 boats each to care for, meaning they were very busy all day.
It was very clear from the start Andy “Taxi” Davis and Pippa Kilsby were on form and gagging to go racing, by rocketing into the lead in the first race, only to be the first to capsize. True to form, they didn’t make that mistake again and smashed the rest of the races. Matt Biggs professionally perched all day, proving all those physiologists wrong. There is no need to put too much effort in when you know your way around the pond. Simon Potts and James Dawes tried hard to miss the first race due to vehicle malfunction. Thankfully the AA were speedy enough to let them take advantage of Taxi and Pip’s “whoopsie” in race 1. Pottsy then reverted to his captain splash ways, keeping the spectators entertained by race 4. The new kids on the block, James Goss & Chris White showed their stunning pace in a new Winder, which is thankfully still in one piece after a small incident at a leeward mark… Pete Ballantine and Rob Allen demonstrated they were the tallest and fittest by making hiking look very easy, even in race 4.

The only boat that survived the day without capsizing was the two Big Bens (Ben Eaves and Ben Hollis) in Back to the Future. I hear they had nearly 190 kg on board, why would they capsize? Confident they would not swim after a big lunch; they casually launched. Unfortunately, they lost grip on the slimy slipway before the boat also managed to slide off its trolly. Thankfully they were holding onto the boat, so they stayed with it when it took off downwind towards a nicely bobbing metal edged pontoon. Although they were firmly wedged into the corner of the jetty and the slopey slimy concrete bank, somehow, they managed to get out of one precarious place without a scratch, Great work team Ben - amazing seamanship! The PRO must have been busy spectating, because as soon they got sorted the racing sequence got underway.

Colin and Sean Anderson capsized at the finish of the last race. Paul Hollis and Michelle Evans made the best capsize of the day. Mark Reddington had a great day showing how a Merlin works to George Faraday, George’s first sail in a Merlin. We hope to see you on the water again George. Great work Mark. Nigel and Freya Hudson did not stop smiling whilst they were on the water for the morning. Howard managed to take the track off his mast in one piece, that will be re attached by Phil “Dirty-Hands” Scott ready for next week. Jemma Horwood and Anna Aylward managed a good first race then retired on a high for an early lunch.

The results speak for themselves, well sailed Taxi & Pip. More importantly well done to Team Bartley for a very warm welcome and a great days sailing. We all look forward to seeing you again on 19th September for the Craftinsure Silver Tiller 2021.

2021 Merlin Rocket Open. Bartley Sailing Club. OPEN MEETING Overall

Sailed: 4, Discards: 1, To count: 3, Entries: 14, Scoring system: Appendix A

Rank HelmName CrewName SailNo Fleet Club Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 R4 Total Nett
1st DAVIS Andy KILSBY Pippa 1 Gold South Staffs SC (3.0) 1.0 1.0 1.0 6.0 3.0
2nd BIGGS Matt JONES Becka 3801 Gold Bartley SC 2.0 2.0 (4.0) 3.0 11.0 7.0
3rd POTTS Simon DAWES James 3802 Gold Burghfield SC 1.0 (5.0) 2.0 5.0 13.0 8.0
4th BALLANTINE Pete ALLEN Rob 3812 Gold Salcombe YC (5.0) 3.0 3.0 2.0 13.0 8.0
5th GOSS James WHITE Chris 3814 Silver South Staffs SC 4.0 4.0 (5.0) 4.0 17.0 12.0
6th EAVES Ben HOLLIS Ben 3583 Silver Bartley SC (15.0 DNF) 7.0 6.0 6.0 34.0 19.0
7th ANDERSON Colin ANDERSON Sean 3749 Silver Bartley SC 6.0 6.0 (15.0 DNF) 7.0 34.0 19.0
8th HOLLIS Paul EVANS Michelle 3730 Silver Bartley SC (15.0 DNF) 8.0 7.0 8.0 38.0 23.0
9th REDDINGTON Mark FEREDAY George 3805 Silver Bartley SC 7.0 9.0 8.0 (15.0 DNC) 39.0 24.0
10th HUDSON Nigel HUDSON Freya 3662 Bronze Bartley SC 8.0 10.0 (15.0 DNF) 15.0 DNF 48.0 33.0
11th EELES Howard EELES Bradley 3742 Bronze Bartley SC 9.0 (15.0 DNF) 15.0 DNS 15.0 DNC 54.0 39.0
12th HORWOOD Jemma AYLWARD Anna 3704 Silver Wembley SC 10.0 (15.0 DNS) 15.0 DNS 15.0 DNC 55.0 40.0
13th SMITH Martin BESTON Karen 3567 Bronze Blithfield SC (15.0 DNC) 15.0 DNC 15.0 DNC 15.0 DNC 60.0 45.0
13th LENEY Steve LENEY Gillian 3716 Gold Blithfield SC (15.0 DNC) 15.0 DNC 15.0 DNC 15.0 DNC 60.0 45.0

 


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