Please select your home edition
Edition

Classic & Vintage Merlin Open at Banbury Sailing Club

by Stuart Jenkins 24 Jun 11:26 UTC 22 June 2024
Vintage and Classic Merlin Rockets at Banbury © Banbury Sailing Club

On Saturday 15th June 2024 despite the forecast of heaving rain and strong winds three Merlins braved the conditions to attend Banbury Sailing Club's Annual Vintage and Classic Merlin Event which is also part of the Classic Vintage Racing Dinghy Association (CVRDA) circuit. Racing with the Merlins were a suitability aged Wayfarer, Albacore, International Moth and Mirror Dinghy.

The format for the day was two races back-to-back with a third after lunch weather permitting! The race officer set a course which used the entire length of the lake with good long runs allowing the Merlins to get the best out of their spinnakers.

The first race saw Peter and Tim Male in 3547 Moondance Assassin getting away well from the line to take the lead chased by Stuart Jenkins & Nicola Scaddan in 3054 After Myth and Richard Burton & Nicky Burton-Moore in 2037 Lady Hyperion. These positions remained unchanged for the entire race.

By the start of the second race the wind had increased but was still very comfortable for the mature craft. Peter and Tim (3547) pulled out a good lead again closely chased by Stuart and Nicola (3054) and Richard and Nicky (2037). Towards the end of the race the wind increased considerably with big gusts and squalls crossing the lake. The long beat turned into a fast-planing reach as the wind swung ninety degrees. A massive gust at the southern end of the lake caused the Moth, the Mirror and Merlin 3054 to all capsize. The Albacore retired but Merlins 3547 and 2037 were still upright along with the Wayfarer. 3547 crossed the finish line first. With only 20 metres to the finish another big gust crossed the lake capsizing 2037, a narrow Mark 9b design merlin. 3054 a Smokers Satisfaction design merlin had now been righted and the water sailed out. This was 3054 chance to beat 2037 to the line, but another immense gust 3054 was over again. With the crew of 2037 struggling to right the boat, 3054 was quickly righted and the water planed out. Sadly, the safety boat had to assist the recovery of 2037 leaving 3054 to take second place in race two.

Once ashore the Banbury Race and Support Team produced a magnificent lunch for all the competitors, but with no takers for race three the rest of racing was abandoned because of the extreme conditions.

At the prize-giving a special award was presented to Nicky Burton-Moore (sailing 2037) awarded a prize for 1st junior and 1st ever capsize.

Thank you to Banbury Sailing Club for a fabulous day. The next Classic and Vintage event is at Shustoke Sailing Club on 1st September.

Classic Merlin
1st 3547 Moondance Assassin, Peter and Tim Male

Vintage Merlin
1st 3054 After Myth, Stuart Jenkins & Nicolas Scaddan
2nd 2037 Lady Hyperion, Richard Burton & Nicky Burton-Moore

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