Please select your home edition
Edition

Merlin Rocket DeMay Series & Thames Series, sponsored by Craftinsure, at Upper Thames Sailing Club

by Nicola Scaddan 15 Sep 2022 09:07 UTC 10-11 September 2022
Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames © Rob O'Neill

The Merlin Rockets were at Upper Thames Sailing Club for the weekend of 10 and 11 September, with the De May Vintage event taking place on the Saturday, and the Thames Series racing on Sunday. There was a good turn-out on both days, with 12 boats sailing on Saturday and 15 on Sunday.

The wind on the Saturday was light and variable, which led the Race Officer to set laps consisting of a longer leg followed by a shorter one, to give the race box flexibility to shorten course as needed.

Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill
Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill

Following Race 1 there was a break for lunch and a one-minute silence held in memory of the Queen, the start and end of which were signalled by the firing of the Club's cannons.

Despite the challenging conditions, the racing was closely fought, and the event was won by Chris and Pippa Kilsby, sailing 1493 Katy Lou. The last race of the day was also for the Spade Oak Bowl, again won by Chris and Pippa.

Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill
Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill

Saturday night saw a well-attended Caribbean-themed social evening.

Sunday dawned with winds even lighter than on the Saturday, and a similar course to that of the Saturday.

In the first race, Charlie Morgan and Amanda Batten in Andromeda stretched out a good lead, only to be overtaken by Stuart Jenkins and Nicola Scaddan, sailing 1097 Flinkidink, on the final lap.

Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill
Merlin Rocket De May Series and Thames Series at Upper Thames - photo © Rob O'Neill

The second and third races, and therefore the day, were won by Rob Cage and John Reay in Hullabaloo, 1692.

The weekend was rounded off by prize-giving. Spot prizes, kindly provided by Craftinsure, were awarded, including one to the youngest crew, Emily Housman in 3560 Luka.

The next Vintage event is at Banbury Sailing Club on 24th September and the next Thames Series at Hampton Sailing Club on 9th October.

Overall Results:

PosBoatSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3
De May Vintage Series (Saturday)
1stKaty Lou1493Chris KilsbyPippa KilsbyThames SC(3)11
2ndHullabalou1692Rob CageJohn ReayThames SC1(3)2
3rdLuka3560Ollie HousemanEmily HousmanChew Valley Lake SC(5)24
4thKeto799John MeadowcroftKatie MeadowcroftUpper Thames SC(4)43
5thFlinkidink1097John BellNicola ScaddanHampton SC2(5)5
6thTiersel901Pat BlakeJilly BlakeCookham Reach SC66(DNF)
7thChindit578Alex PauseyRichard PauseyUpper Thames SC(8)76
8thRapport3247Alistair Patterson  9(10)7
9thBottle Rocket1951Guy JacobsLila JacobsUpper Thames SC(10)88
10thExequisite2266Chris RathboneSonia RathboneUpper Thames SC79(DNS)
11thLady Luck1477Sellena YatesBob YatesUpper Thames SC11(DNF)DNF
12thSatisfaction2604Jeremy SteinSarah PercivalUpper Thames SC(DNF)DNFDNS
Thames Series (Sunday)
1stHullabalou1692Rob CageJohn ReayThames SC(6)11
2ndLuka3560Ollie HousemanEmily HousmanChew Valley Lake SC(4)22
3rdFlinkidink1097Stuart JenkinsNicola ScaddanHampton SC1(5)4
4thSalmon en Croute3702Duncan SalmonRuth HanstaterWembley SC33(6)
5thAndromeda3259Charlie MorganAmanda BattenTamesis SC2(6)5
6thFragile3727Mark StockbridgeJake Gould 5(8)3
7thChindit578Andrew HarrisMatty KeyTamesis SC(DNS)47
8thSmartypants3506Graham WebbMary Webb (11)78
9thBottle Rocket1951Guy JacobsLila JacobsUpper Thames SC8(12)9
10thRapport3247Alistair Patterson  109(DNS)
11thSkip3771Alex PauseySophie Rouse‑JenningsUpper Thames SC910(DNS)
12thDeep Thought3451Martin WhitworthSue MackensieUpper Thames SC(12)1110
13thIf3686Kevin RoseEmily CharlesUpper Thames SC7(DNF)DNS
14thLady Luck1477Sellena YatesBob YatesUpper Thames SC13(DNF)11
15thKaty Lou1493Chris KilsbyPippa KilsbyThames SC(DNF)DNSDNS

Related Articles

Craftinsure Silver Tiller End of Season at Stone
Is this the first time that AI has been used to establish the winners? We made it, report 41 of 2024 and the final one from this year's Merlin Rocket season. Having asked the third placed finishers at each of the events it was probably time I wrote one myself. Posted on 28 Oct 2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE Circuit at Shoreham
A perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots The 19th of October saw 18 Merlin Rockets head to Shoreham Sailing Club for the final stop of the 2024 Merlin Rocket Allen SE circuit. The fleet were welcomed by a perfect weather window of sunshine and 8-15 knots. Posted on 21 Oct Merlin Rocket Felucca Trophy at Hollingworth Lake
Part of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller and the Northern Circuit The annual Felucca Trophy has just taken place at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October, with 16 Merlin Rockets going north to take part. Posted on 16 Oct Merlin Rockets of all ages at Hampton
A challenging day's sailing with a variable wind and strong stream Usually this is held over two days at the weekend but this year, with a strong stream in the Thames and a forecast of virtually no wind on the Sunday, we took the decision to hold both the De May series and the Thames series race concurrently. Posted on 14 Oct Merlin Rocket Women's Championship
A great event with training, a talk by Sarah Ayton, then competitive racing The Women's Champs is special as so many ladies from other classes come and join, Merlin crews team up and ex Merlin sailors come back to the class. Sailing is a sport for everyone but I think there are still barriers to a lot of ladies. Posted on 16 Sep Merlin Rockets at Upper Thames
David Battye was naturally itching to point his flag for inadequate stability This year's edition of the Upper Thames Sailing Club Merlin Rocket open meeting weekend (8th and 9th September) saw a temperamental forecast and every different flavour of weather, but often a noticeable lack of wind. Posted on 13 Sep Women Sailors - the Merlin Rocket Class Needs You
Second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club on 14-15 September The Merlin Rocket Class is renowned for its technical development and the high standard of its sailors, and now it is developing in other ways; the Merlin Rocket Class Association is running its second Women's Championships at Parkstone Yacht Club. Posted on 6 Sep Merlin Rocket Youth Championship 2024 at Itchenor
A great way see what young helms and crews can do 10 boats headed to Itchenor Sailing Club for the second year of the Merlin Youth Championships. It's not an easy boat to to own if you're under 25, so the youth champs is a great way see what young helms and crews can do. Posted on 2 Sep Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby overall
Every weather under the sun, but thankfully ending with sunshine From Frensham with love. Last day report from the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships in Tenby and what a week. We've had every weather under the sun. Thankfully we ended on sunshine which was a bonus, unlike Salcombe. Posted on 17 Aug Merlin Rocket Nationals at Tenby Day 5
23 knots with gusts and a 2-metre swell with waves on top Day 5 was wet and wild in Tenby, 23 knots with gusts and a 2-metre swell with waves on top, the visibility was varying from three miles to less than one, so after a three-hour postponement the race team hoisted AP over A, and the fleet relaxed. Posted on 16 Aug
This site and its contents are Copyright © 2024 Sail-World FishingBoating.World USA and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph contact the photographer directly.
If you have any questions about advertising or editorial then please contact our team. If you encounter any technical issues then please email techsupport@sail-world.com
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy