Day three of the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships arrived with competitors waking to the sound of some wind in the trees. Day one’s shifty conditions had some teams dazed and confused, while the light winds of Monday proved a heartbreaker for several of the heavier pairings. Would day three see something new? How many more times would it pay to go right?
As we arrived in the dinghy park conditions looked positive with an apparently nice moderate breeze on the race course. One top crew was heard reporting of white caps out to sea, however these turned out to be the head gear of the race team. It seems there was more wind in the dinghy park than in the bay. Nevertheless, the fleetlaunched on time and headed out for another two race day.
Race four started under a black flag with a light breeze and awkward chop. In the final two minutes of the start sequence the line appeared to be port biased, with Stu Bithell and Tom Pygall winning the pin. However usual service resumed with the right hand side of the first beat being favoured. Tim Saxton and Mary Henderson led at the first mark and seemed in an awful hurry leading from start to finish, they were never really challenged. Behindthem saw a tight tussle, with Ian and Chris Martin taking second. Mike and Jane Calvert finishing third ahead of Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey.
The race officer opted to postpone the start of race five, perhaps hoping for the rumoured 20 knots to kick in.Unfortunately, conditions were pretty similar to race four, only less stable. For once it was the left that paid on the first beat. Andy “Taxi” Davis and Jack Holden showed no quarter by rounding first ahead of a chasing pack. The race turned into a game of snakes and ladders with Merlin Rockets with lots of holes in the pressure. After a highly stressful race it was Dave and Vicky Lenz who took thebullet. Second went to Sarah Richards and Nigel Wakefield, making it a celebration day for Lymington Sailing Club. Third were the ever-consistent Mike and Jane Calvert. The fleet returned to shore for counselling.
This evening’s social involves one of the many highlights of a championship week at Mount’s Bay – a visit to St. Michael’s Mount. Thank you to Lord and Lady St Levanfor hosting us.
Wednesday’s forecast is a moderate wind from the west, however let’s just ignore that and wait to see what happens. What we do know is that the plan is for two championship races followed by the most anticipated race of the week, the Crew’s Race.
The overall championship remains wide open and only time will tell which team will bring it on home.
