Vintage Merlin Rockets at Dorchester Sailing Club

A great turnout for the Vintage Merlin Rocket circuit © Les Martins

A beautiful arrangement of clinker-built boats, lovingly restored © Les Martins

Vintage Merlins proving that 60yr old boats can still race © Les Martins

In among the aftermath of all the flooding around Abingdon & Oxford, 13 boats showed up for the Dorchester-on-Thames Vintage Merlin Meeting event on Saturday 28th July. The sky was peppered with cumulus & sunshine, the lake was topped up, and even the winds obliged with a constant 2-3 with the occasional gust to 4.

The first race was a general handicap, the second a pursuit race based on the times and positions of the first race, then finally a general handicap. The course set by OOD Colin Moss utilised the whole lake, including our infamous island, and worked well with the wind.

A couple of capsizes occurred and there were a few other near misses in the gusts and windshifts, but no damage was done. Lunch of freshly made Chilli on Jacket puds with hot chocolate covered balls to follow was taken after race one.

Cream teas preceded the prize giving after race three, and cups & wine were presented by Dave Musson, Commodore.

Thanks to Angela & Louise for the food. Thanks also to the AOD’s who manned the race box and the two safety boats, Angus, Jim, Les, George & Karin (who also helped out in the kitchen).

Overall results
1, 2529, Fat Marce, Ben Marshall/Alex Caine
2, 507, Spriteful, Chris Barlow/Lois Barlow
3, 685, Bow Belle, Denis Lockwood/Christine Broadley
4, 1066, Tensixtysix, Tim Bury/Pat Keunzler
5, 36, Terrapin, John Gardiner/Lyn Gardiner
6, 607, Crescendo, Berry Ritchie/Barry Mourant
7, 2120, Les Sables, Jeremy Wright/Dave Musson
8, 1952, Warrior, Paul Seamen/Eileen Barry
9, 2121, Half Cut, Sandy Lavelle/Pat Jones
10, 1, Kate, Mervyn Allen/Leonie
11, 252, Gannet, Garry Rucklidge/Trish Stevenson