The third round of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller series took place at Queen Mary SC on Saturday 1st April. A good turnout of 23 boats were enthused by a positive forecast and the prospect of back-to-back events, with Fran Gifford encouraging all and sundry to come to Ranelagh’s event on the Sunday, just down the road.
Slightly daunted by a four race day, the fleet got away at the first time of asking thanks to a remarkably square line in the shifting 9-10 knot breeze and set off for 4 laps of course J, a sausage/triangle affair with very well set reaching legs in particular. After a close fight, Dave Lenz and Rob Allen emerged to pip Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell with Alex Jackson and Phil Dalby chasing hard in third.
In a gradually building breeze race 2 got away cleanly with Will and Rob Henderson showing strongly, before being overhauled by Simon Potts and Lottie Fildes. Ever consistent Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson took third.
Race 3 was dominated by Simon and Lottie, with Matt Biggs and Beka Jones taking second and Alex/Phil taking third. By race 4 there was a little committee boat bias in the line, leading to a raft up on the right, before a big left shift after 10 seconds scuppered a few plans and saved other’s bacon (ahem). Chris and Pete led handily before deciding that the triangle was so much fun they’d sail it even when a sausage was called for, allowing Jon and Matt to take the lead, just. This was how it stayed, with Dave/Rob holding off Matt/Beka for third in the battle of the matching kites.
The fleet returned happy after a good day’s racing, if slightly dizzy from at least 16 laps. There was definitely a general at some point, I can’t recall which race!
Overall Jon & Matt took the win, with a very consistent series from Matt & Beka meaning they were second overall for the second Silver Tiller in a row (!) Dave & Rob were third in a tight battle with 5 points covering the first 6 boats.
First in Bronze fleet were John Holland and Ben Peerleg.
First in a tough battle for Silver fleet were Julian Harms and George Bender with Gold fleet taken out by Alex Warren & Jonty Freeman
The Craftinsure Silver travels to Wales next for the Inlands at Llangorse on the 22nd and 23rd April, which is combined with the Allen Inland Championships. Entries are now open - https://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/index.asp?pg=fixtures&eid=1177
Thank you to Rob Allen for the report and to Simon Winkley for the photos.
