Merlin Rocket Women's Championship 2024 at Parkstone Yacht Club
by Megan Pascoe 16 Sep 19:35 BST
14-15 September 2024
Abbie Croft and Jane Calvert - Merlin Rocket Women's Championship © Graham Williamson
Me again! Sorry, spoiler alert, you can tell where myself and Rebecca finished at the Women's Champs in Parkstone at the weekend. I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning.
We always like going to see the Parkstone Merlin fleet, they always look after us. The event which is in its second year starts with a day's training. This year ran by Mike and Jane Calvert, Graham Williamson and Chris Gould. Thank you to Creation Covers for providing the tea and biscuits, always an important part of training.
We spent the day learning how to tack and gybe, getting over complicated about centreboard angles, learning what rake to put in. I'm still not sure when to pull lowers on but I think Lou Johnson is going to explain to Mark so we can all ask him next event.
The knowledge that those four have about sailing and Merlins is off the scale and its credit to them that they came and shared it. The Women's Champs is special as so many ladies from other classes come and join, Merlin crews team up and ex-Merlin sailors come back to the class.
Sailing is a sport for everyone but I think there are still barriers to a lot of ladies in the sport as a full weekend's childcare is hard to find. Must say thank you to the number of husbands who made it possible.
Saturday night the Parkstone Merlin fleet had invited Sarah Ayton along to talk. It was fascinating to look back on her Olympic campaign and what she achieved and how she achieved it. Big thanks to Kelly Aaron and Jon Gorringe who seemed to house half the fleet on Saturday night.
An early start on Sunday when the racing side of the event began, but then a wait for the wind. It wasn't too long until the fleet headed to the top triangle for the racing. Race officer Sam was tasked with holding four races before the water ran out and she just made it, although a Merlin board is quite long.
The first race saw the more established Merlin pairings at the top with Carloine Gould and Livvy Bell winning from Mary Henderson-White and Pippa Kilsby. Rebecca Videlo and Megan Pascoe in third. It was great to see Jude Willamson back on the circuit with Fran Gifford in the front finishing fourth. The top triangle is a tricky place to sail as the shifts are large and not easy to pick out. The second race showed this.
The second race also proved that there's some real talent in the fleet as even those that put themselves at the front due to a shift could stay there. Mary and Pippa went away to win the race. Second was a new pairing of Storm Nuttall and Sally Wakefield. Much more to come from these two. Third was two Wembley crews, Hannah Burt and Suzy Brough. They won the coaches prize for that performance.
Fourth and fifth were Sarah Davies/Mark Stockbridge and Kat Kimber Bithell/Tom Pygall. Full credit to both ladies as they had done very little Merlin helming before this.
The third race was one of those where you wanted to be bounced at the start and forced to tack. The really annoying races where you get a great start and that boat that starts last and tacks but gets an almighty right hander a minute later and then is leading by miles. That was myself and Rebbeca being bounced. We were closely followed by Andrea Downham and Lou Johnson who hadn't eaten enough pies to get down the last reach but continued the upward form and in the last race finished third.
Great to see Andrea back in a Merlin.
The last race was as competitive as all the ones before. Caroline/Livvy finished with a bullet followed by Mary/Pippa. Storm/Sally were in fourth. Good to see British Sailing's Bee Harris and Catrin Williams in sixth.
The fleet retired to the bar for prize-giving. Alex Willis and Amelia Little won the endeavour prize in a boat kindly on loan from class Chairman Stuart Jenkins. You never know we might persuade Alex to leave her Osprey again. Mary and Pippa sailed a very consistent four races to win. Second to fifth was separated by 4 points. Caroline and Livvy in second. Rebecca and Megan in third. Jude and Fran in fourth. Storm and Sally in fifth.
Special thanks to Ben and Louisa Archer for organising and always turning on the hospitality. To Caroline and Lou for organising boats and people and prizes, never and easy task. To all the boat owners for lending boats. To Parkstone for hosting a great event. To the sponsors Box PR, Creation Covers and In The Welsh Wind.
The women's champs will be back next year so if you are reading this thinking it sounds fun get in touch with the class. No Merlin experienced required.
www.merlinrocket.co.uk
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 3735 | Mary Henderson | Pippa Kilsby | Brightlingsea SC | ‑2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 2nd | 3820 | Caroline Gould | Livvy Bell | Shoreham SC | 1 | ‑7 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
| 3rd | 3793 | Rebecca Videlo | Megan Pascoe | Frensham Pond SC | 3 | 6 | 1 | ‑7 | 10 |
| 4th | 3728 | Judith Williamson | Frances Gifford | Hayling Island SC | 4 | 4 | 3 | ‑5 | 11 |
| 5th | 3780 | Storm Nuttall | Sally Wakefield | Salcombe YC | 6 | 2 | ‑8 | 4 | 12 |
| 6th | 3826 | Katherine Louise Kimber Bithell | Tom Pygall | Parkstone YC | 5 | 5 | 5 | ‑8 | 15 |
| 7th | 3815 | Andrea Downham | Louise Johnson | Thorney Island SC | ‑11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| 8th | 3727 | Sarah Davies | Mark Stockbridge | Parkstone YC | ‑12 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 26 |
| 9th | 3684 | Bettine Harris | Catrin Williams | Bristol Corinthian SC | 10 | 10 | ‑11 | 6 | 26 |
| 10th | 3791 | Karen Oldale | Kelly Aaron | Parkstone YC | 7 | 8 | ‑12 | 11 | 26 |
| 11th | 3803 | Abigail Croft | Jane Calvert | Axe SC | 9 | ‑13 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
| 12th | 3637 | Hannah Burt | Suzy Brough | Wembley SC | ‑13 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 28 |
| 13th | 3707 | Alex Willis | Amelia Little | Hampton SC | 8 | 11 | 10 | ‑13 | 29 |