Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Brightlingsea Sailing Club

by Will Henderson 14 May 2024 08:29 BST 11-12 May 2024

On 11th and 12th May Brightlingsea S.C. hosted 23 Merlins for the Brightlingsea Merlin Open sponsored by Allen. The Open was held jointly with the Solo Eastern Area Championships. The weather could hardly have been better. The competitors were greeted by warm sunshine and a force 3 to 5 Easterly on Saturday with a quieter Force 1 - 2 on Sunday.

Three races were sailed on each day, all with triangle, sausage, triangle, sausage courses. On Saturday all the beats except for the last couple were across a strongly flooding tide. The reaches were perfectly set so that it was just possible to lay them with spinnakers up. That presented challenges for the skills and fitness of helms and crews. There were many weary bodies at the end of the day. All more than ready for liquid and solid refreshment. Superb homemade cakes were followed after a short interval for more liquid, by a sausage casserole.

Race 1 saw 3791 (Jon Gorringe & Mat Currell), 3726 (Will & Arthur Henderson) and 3775 (Chris Jennings & Pete Nicholson) tack onto port soon after the start and stretch away across the tide to round the first mark in that order, which was maintained until the end of the first sausage when 3775 gybed astutely and took over second place. Those positions were held until the finish.

Races 2 and 3 were similar stories, except that in race 2 3812 (Ollie Meadowcroft & Rob Allen) joined the party and pushed 3726 down to fourth place, and in race 3 3726 led around the course with 3775 beating 3791 for second place.

Sunday's lighter winds brought some relief for tired legs and brought other boats to the fore. In race 4 3812 (Ollie & Rob) cracked the start and the first beat to win the race comfortably. They were followed home by 3746 (James Wells & Anna Aylward) in second, 3799 (Paul Rayson & Christian Hill) in third and 3751 (Rupert & Mary Henderson-White) in fourth.

Meanwhile Saturday's stars languished in tenth (3791), sixth (3775) and thirteenth (3726). In race 5 Ollie & Rob won again. This time followed in second by the consistent Chris & Pete. 3782 (Ed Chapman & Amy Clay) were third and 3671 (David Conlon & Rebecca Bines) were fourth. 3791 (Jon & Mat) crept around in the lightest winds of the day to sixth.

That left all to play for in race 6 after which the second discard would apply. Jon & Mat were holding scores of 1, 1, 4, 10, 6; Chris & Pete 2, 2, 2, 6, 2; Ollie & Rob 8, 3, 8, 1, 1; Will & Arthur 3, 4, 1, 13, 14.

Jon & Will re-discovered their starting mojos, tacked onto port soon after the start and were well away in first and second, while Ollie & Rob and Chris & Pete were not among the front-runners. In an attempt to pass Jon & Mat, Will & Arthur went on a bad shift and were overtaken by 3751 (Rupert & Mary Henderson-White) and 3796 (Will Warren & Charlotte Stewart).

However, they recovered to second down the run. After that there was little change in the front group except that 3753 (Andy Bines & Sarah Conlon) overtook Will Warren & Charlotte for fourth.

In the final analysis, Jon Gorringe & Mat Currell's counters of three firsts and a fourth gave then a well-deserved first place overall. Chris Jennings & Pete Nicolson were second counting four seconds and Will & Arthur Henderson were third with counters of 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Prizegiving was held in the glorious sunshine outside the clubhouse. Custom hand-crafted plates were given to the helms and crews of the first three boats. Allen Brothers vouchers were awarded. The Club, its many volunteers and its staff were thanked for putting on an excellent weekend's sailing which was enjoyed by all.

The next event on the Allen SE Series is at Whitstable Yacht Club on 22nd and 23rd June combined with the next Craftinsure Silver Tiller Sea category meeting.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st3791Jon GorringeMatt CurrelParkstone SC114‑10‑617
2nd3775Chris JenningsPete NicholsonBurghfield SC222‑62(DNC)8
3rd3726Will HendersonArthur HendersonSalcombeYC341‑13‑14210
4th3812Ollie MeadowcroftRob AllenBroadwater SC‑83811(DNC)13
5th3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYA4‑11528‑1319
6th3751Rupert Henderson‑WhiteMary Henderson‑WhiteBrightlingsea SC6‑12‑1247320
7th3793James WilliamsRich CornesBurghfield SC573‑11‑17621
8th3796William WarrenCharlotte StewartShoreham SC‑11595‑12524
9th3782Edward ChapmanAmy ClayCMYC7‑10‑1093726
10th3799Paul RaysonChristianHillFishers Green SC/ Salcombe YC‑17673‑161430
11th3753Andy BinesSarah ConlonBrightlingsea SC18‑19‑1985435
12th3696Alex WarrenRob HendersonShoreham SC‑138‑11711935
13th3671David ConlonRebecca BinesBrightlingsea SC‑16‑1313124837
14th3702Duncan SalmonBeka JonesFishers Green SC‑151414‑1791047
15th3672Ben CleggAbi CleggBrightlingsea SC10156‑20‑221849
16th3756Sophie MackleyGeorge BenderShoreham SC12‑16‑1614101551
17th3770Jon StewardGrahamFishers Green SC14915‑1915(DNC)53
18th3553Flynn DaviesJo TribeBurnham SC‑2117‑2016131157
19th3745Paul DeanHannah BurtBroadwater SC‑22(OCS)1718191266
20th3817Geoff KimberHelen KimberStone SC19181815‑21(DNC)70
21st3715Richard CookeRussell HallFishers Green SC2020‑21‑21181775
22nd3578Nick YannakoyorgosHannah BakerFishers Green SC‑2321‑2222201679
23rd3247Clive EplettMegan PascoeFrensham Pond SC9(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNC81

Related Articles

Merlin Rockets at Parkstone
Craftinsure Silver Tiller & Allspars South-West Series weekend 19 boats enjoyed some truly epic sailing at Parkstone Yacht Club, for the combined one day Craftinsure Silver Tiller, two day Allspars South West series and PYC Easter regatta weekend. Posted on 21 Apr
Merlin Rocket Allen SE Series at Broadwater
The real highlight, as ever, was the legendary Broadwater lunch Broadwater Sailing Club delivered a warm and sunny welcome to kick off the latest round of the Allen South Eastern Series. Early arrivals were met with blue skies and a distinct absence of wind — although the bacon rolls provided ample compensation . Posted on 16 Apr
Merlin Rockets at South Cerney
Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars SW Series Round 2 The Merlin fleet headed to South Cerney for a four race open as part of the Allspars South-West Series and Craftinsure Silver Tiller circuit. The fleet were greeted with stunning sunshine, good breeze and a very friendly clubhouse. Posted on 10 Apr
Bartley SC have to postpone Merlin open meeting
Unexpected drop in water level makes the event unviable Sadly Bartley SC are having to postpone the Merlin Rocket open meeting on 30th March 2025 due to an unexpected drop in the water level making the event unviable. Posted on 28 Mar
Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Salcombe
David Greening is as good a race officer as any class could wish for The 2025 Salcombe Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series open meeting sponsored by Helly Hansen looked like it was going to be a long damp weekend with light winds, but this little haven in the South Hams had other things in mind. Posted on 25 Mar
Allspars sponsor Merlin Rocket South West Series
The series kicks off this weekend with a two-day opening event at Salcombe Yacht Club The Merlin Rocket Owners' Association is delighted to announce Allspars as the title sponsor for the 2025 South West Series. Posted on 19 Mar
Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Burnham
An opportunity to have 3 races that weren't sausage/triangle/sausage The Merlin Rocket fleet were welcomed at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham for the Allen South East Series 2025 by barista coffee, pastries and the opportunity to have three races that weren't sausage/triangle/sausage courses. Posted on 18 Mar
Helly Hansen to sponsor Merlin Rocket Week
Salcombe YC also announce Silver Tiller event Salcombe Yacht Club (SYC) is thrilled to welcome Helly Hansen as the official sponsor for Merlin Rocket Week (28th June - 4th July 2025) and The Merlin Silver Tiller (22-23 March 2025). Posted on 8 Mar
Winter Series at Fishers Green overall
24 races with 35 boats, won by a Merlin Rocket The highly anticipated winter series at Fishers Green Sailing Club kicked off when back when on the 1st December, a 24 race series. The winter series now certainly added to the list of ones to win at the green. Posted on 7 Mar
Merlin Rocket Class Training at Hayling Island
Perfect perching weather for 9 boats The Merlin class has been running organised class training since the Olympics were last held in Spain. If you're under 30 it's a while ago. Posted on 6 Mar