Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals at Whitstable - Day 5

A full on stomping day 5 at the Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket nationals © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket nationals prize winners ©Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

A full on stomping day 5 at the Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket nationals © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

A full on stomping day 5 at the Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket nationals © Nick Champion / www.championmarinephotography.co.uk

Winder Champagne Race

Day 5 of the Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals in Whitstable Bay, will be one remembered as one of those full on stomping days. With the ebb tide running east and wind coming for the SW to WNW, the seas were the classic Whitstable short chop that would sort the Cavaliers from those that like the rock and roll of full on sailing.

The Champagne Race where the first 21 boats helms and crews get a bottle of champagne each would be the first race of the day with Race 4 to follow afterwards.

So with a steady force 4 gusting 5, 47 Merlins launched to see who would be crowned king of the windy conditions. Would 3626 (Glenn Truswell/Olly Turner) prevail or would one of the other heavy airs specialists catch them on the hop?

Now with 5 boats in the hunt, it was all to play for and in today’s conditions, no prisoners would be taken.

With rigs raked, the fleet showed that it was game on and charged up the first beat with the back enders soon starting to fall away. At the windward mark the first white knuckle ride commenced. With 3703 (Richard Whitworth/Sally Townend), 3626, 3670 (Steve Goacher/Andy Tunnicliffe), 3691 (Mike Calvert/Chris Downham) and 3684 (Andy David/Ellie Bremner) giving no quarter, the race was to go to the wire.

As the gusts came through, they took their toll on the fleet, but the front pack managed to hold on and with 3701 (Tom Stewart/Liam Dempsey) and 3661 (Graham Scroggie/Ben Scroggie) in hot pursuit, any mistakes and these two would have them.

So it was that the race progressed and several fell by the wayside, but the front group charged on relentlessly. Coming into the finish would it be 3703, 3626 or 3670. At the finish 3703 took it from 3626 and then 3670 followed by 3691 and 3684. So P&B Sails had broken the Hyde grip of the last two days. So if 3703 was to win this year, should the anthem be Mustang Sally!

As the breeze was building the fleet were sent ashore till it abated.

The Dinghy Store Race

After about an hour, 40 out of 57 Merlins launched for the second race of the day. This would prove to be more of the same but in stronger winds. With no quarter being given and the Championships entering the critical phase, this race was to prove to be the one that would set the tempo for tomorrow’s climax.

Five teams were still in the hunt and having had one big race today, it would be a case of attrition, yet trying to get the best out of all components without exceeding the limits. 3705 (Matt Biggs/Rob Kennaugh) having been black-flagged the day before would not be taking part.

One boat that was out to prove a point was 3684, without a win in this year’s championships, and only an outside chance of winning the event, who’d bet against them.

So the race got underway in a force 5 from the west. Rigs were raked as far aft as they’d go and crews hiked for all they were worth. Over the course of the race, several of the front runners 3684 (Willie Warren) and 3661 broke their masts and so would take no further part in the day’s sleigh ride.

With many capsizes and retirements, it was to prove that 3684 had broken her duck of the week and the two front runners though getting counters saw 3703 finish 3rd and 3626 getting their discard in 6th. So it was that 3712 (John Gorringe/Peter Horn) came 2nd, 4th 3691 and 5th 3662 (Dave Winder/Pippa Taylor).

Of the fleet of 57 boats, only 27 completed the last race. How many will be able to rebuild and make that final last push tomorrow in moderate conditions. I suspect it will come down to how many spare masts the fleet carry.

So with one race to go, one point separate the first two of 3626 and 3703 but 3626 has the better grand total. Will we see a match race and possibly 3684 sneak second from 3703 or will it be the Black Flag that has the last laugh? So if 3703 was to win this year, should the anthem at the prize giving be Mustang Sally in recognition that girlies crewed the two winning boats today!

No one sail loft has dominated this year and we have seen Goacher Sails, Hyde, North One Design, P&B, Rowsell and Speed Sails all represented in the top five. P&B and Speed Sails are the more prolific as less boats are carrying the other brands, but

Holt Plate in Association with North Sails

Allen Race 4

Well with the conditions experienced today, it is ironic that we have a fittings manufacturer sponsoring today’s Race 4. With big breeze and 3666’s (Dan Parsons/Hamish Kilburn) strangle hold on the series looking likely to be threatened, today would be the day where that happens. Would 3672 (John Cooper/Hilary Bradshaw) show that experience can overcome youth and survive the conditions or would something else befall either of these two teams.

So the scene was set and with only a few months in the Merlin as a team and Dan new to the boat this spring, and JC ex Chairman and merlin sailor of more years than the combined age of Hamish and Dan, all bets were off. However, 3666 were to show how nimble they were around the boat and come home with a 21st and 11th in the Championship fleet to record a 12th and 1st in the really windy race of the Holt Series to consolidate their position as winners of the Holt Plate at their first attempt, which is no mean achievement. However, in recognition of JC being a pensioner, as they say if you stop using it you’ll lose it, this is a great example of how to buck one’s age.

3712 (John Gorringe/Peter Horn) one of the front runners, showed that you can buck the trend and as one of the front runners, managed to achieve 2nd on handicap which with a handicap of 930 is impressive and were only stopped by 3666 on a handicap of 1000.

One boat that was seriously in contention for the podium was 3690 the General Lee (Andy Dalby/Fran Gifford), having scored a 3rd in Race 5, but the wheels came off and resulted in mast failure so carrying race 4 as their discard.

Second is still up for grabs and 3650 (Laurence Tosh/crew) gaining a 2nd and 4th today, have played themselves into contention for brides maids. However, if they falter 3700 (Phil Emery/Sophie Mackley) or 3672 will hang them out to dry.

The forecast is for southwesterly force 3 and sun, so the form guide for the Holt could see 2nd to 5th go to the wire.

Final report will be posted hopefully Friday evening subject to delays on the water.

Results after Day 5: