Merlin Rocket Nationals at Whitstable Sailing Club Overall

The final day dawned like all the others at this championships, balmy with a light breeze from the south west. The question was would the breeze hold or would the sea breeze cancel it out.

After one general recall the fleet set off on a strong flood tide. Those who were crafty or lucky enough to find the main Swale channel were swept up to the mark in stronger tide. A gentle race ensued until the last run when those to the left of the course benefited from more pressure and came up inside those from the right and many of the front runners were caught Simon Blake and Richard Whitworth who had led from the start managed to squeeze round the leeward mark ahead of the pack as the wind shifted to make the final beat a fetch. The most spectacular recovery was made by Phil Emery who had to do turns at the first windward mark and by going very low on the reaches and left on the run went from 40th to 4th. William Warren was third. Mike Calvert, who had won the championship the previous day retired. Will Rainey who finished second overall finished 20th. It was one of those days.

Overall Results: