Merlin Rocket Inlands cancelled due to Foot and Mouth
by Alan Fuller 29 Sep 2007 13:47 BST
29-30 September 2007
The Merlin Rocket Inlands have been cancelled due to Foot and Mouth © Alan Fuller
A major sailing event this weekend has had to be cancelled, at the last minute, due to Foot and Mouth control restrictions applied on Friday. The staff of Queen Mary Sailing Club found themselves locked out of the club, by Thames Water, when they arrived for work on Friday morning.
The Merlin Rocket association, was planning to hold their annual National Inland championship over the weekend. This is a major event in the calendar, with sponsorship from Fullers Brewery, Craftinsure.com, Speed Sails, Pinnell & Bax and Dynamic sails.
In excess of 60 boats were expected. The organisers had to act quickly to contact as many competitors as possible, as many would be starting their journeys from all over the UK on Friday night. One unfortunate competitor was so organised that he had left his boat in the sailing club compound on Thursday night, and now it is locked in and he has no idea when he will be allowed to collect it.
Event organiser Alan Fuller said ‘Clearly we are disappointed, but there is nothing we can do, Foot and Mouth is a serious issue. We will now be looking into the alternative dates and venues.’