Merlin Rockets Open the Season at Banbury

by Richard Turner on 29 Mar 2006 The first Silver Tiller Open of 2006 held at Banbury Sailing Club, welcomed 38 boats from all over the country to a reservoir full of water, a brisk south westerly wind and all the latest fliers on display along with a good sprinkling of older boats.

The first race saw the fleet cleanly away with Loosed Canon (Tom Stewart & Chris Downham) just making it first round the windward mark hotly pursued by Djelibeybi (Will Rainey & Rachel Williamson), Mr Brightside (Andy Davis & Tom Jefcote) and Business as Usual (Mike Calvert & Alex Jackson). Loosed Canon managed to hold on to this lead for the next three laps to win while all changed behind with Storm Cloud (Glen Truswell & Jim Lowbridge), Djelibeybi (Will Rainey & Rachel Williamson) and Attack of the Clones (David Winder & Matt Calvert) coming through for the three places.

The second race was run back to back and again got away first time with Chris Lewns & Jane Beaumont in 3666 making a good start. They were first around the windward mark and managed to hold this lead over for the rest of the race over Mr Brightside (Andy Davis & Tom Jefcote) to take the gun at the finish. Mr Brightside (Andy Davis & Tom Jefcote) came in second, Storm Cloud (Glen Truswell & Jim Lowbridge) third and Loosed Canon fourth.

After refuelling on an excellent lunch with the aim of taking on extra ballast to cope with the wind which had been increasing, the fleet came out to a new course as the wind backed more southerly and then decreased as the rain came down. The race situation was quite open with Loosed Canon and Storm Cloud both tied on5 points but with four other boats (3666, Mr Brightside, Attack of the Clones and Filthy / Gorgeous) still able to take the Banbury Cross Trophy if they achieved a win in the last race.

With the leaders keen to achieve a good start inevitably the first start led to a general recall before the fleet got away cleanly second time around. To put the matter beyond doubt, Loosed Canon led from the off and held on to take the gun and the meeting. Business as Usual took second followed by Storm Cloud, Filthy / Gorgeous and Attack of the Clones.

The Banbury Cross trophy was presented by David Glanville, Commodore of Banbury SC, to locals Tom Stewart & Chris Downham in Loosed Canon representing Northampton SC. Glen Truswell & Jim Lowbridge in Storm Cloud came in second place and Mike Calvert & Alex Jackson in Business as Usual in third. To emulate the prize structure on the Midland Circuit, prizes were also awarded to Richard Dee & Liese Scott in Shooting Tsar from Midland SC as the first Prime of Life boat (more than 10 years old and less than 20) and also to Ian & Ruby Levin in Busy Be from Banbury SC as the first Mature boat (more than 20 years old).

Thanks to the duty crew ably led by Club President, Dave Cornish, the catering team who kept everybody fed and Norman behind the bar. Without such helpers the day would not have been possible nor as enjoyable for everyone.

After the presentations, many of the fleet proceeded on to Midland SC for an evening of fun and games before the second Silver Tiller of the weekend to be held at Midland SC on the Sunday.

Final overall positions:
1st Loosed Canon 3655 Tom Stewart Chris Downham Northampton SC 1 (4) 1 2pts
2nd Storm Cloud 3543 Glen Truswell Jim Lowbridge Beaver SC 2 (3) 3 5
3rd Business as Usual 3626 Mike Calvert Alex Jackson Lyme Regis SC 5 (8) 2 7
4th Mr Brightside 3647 Andy Davis Tom Jefcote Bartley SC (9) 2 6 8
5th Filthy / Gorgeous 36?? Richard Whitworth Elena Bremmer Hollingsworth Lake SC (7) 5 4 9
6th Attack of the Clones 3662 David Winder Mat Calvert Holliworth Lake SC 4 (7) 5 9
7th TBD 3666 Chris Lewns Jane Beaumont Whitstable YC 10 1 (14) 11
8th Djelibeybi 3660 Will Rainey Rachel Williamson Cookham Reach SC 3 (11) 10 13
9th Artemis 3653 Judith Massey Phil Dalby Papercourt SC (16) 6 7 13
10th Stab in the Dark 3550 James Davies Lou Johnson Weston SC 6 12 (DNC) 18
11th Poached Salmon 3644 Duncan Salmon Ian Garwood Wembley SC (13) 9 9 18
12th Unfinished business 3549 Peter Smith Nicki Smith Blithfield SC 8 (13) 11 19
13th Zeno 3659 Julian Parry Pippa Taylor Hollingsworth Lake SC 11 10 (DNC) 21
14th Ambience 3602 Chris Martin Rob Kennaugh Midland SC (18) 14 8 22
15th Nearly all Over 3665 Matt Biggs Dave Crochett Blithfield SC 12 (16) 13 25
16th Nice and Spicy 3590 Matthew Winder Clair Stopps Hollingworth Lake SC (23) 15 16 31
17th Carbonator 3639 Steve Leney Gill Leney Blithfield SC (38.0 RAF) 17 15 32
18th Shooting Tsar 3517 Richard Dee Liese Scott Midland SC 15 (DNC) 18 33
19th Aunt Fanny 3604 Bob O'toole Claire Langholz Parkstone YC (22) 22 12 34
20th Tight One 3555 Andy Dalby Animal Trent Valley SC 14 20 (31.0 DNF) 34
21st Headcase 3650 Lawrence Tosh Andy Madderson Banbury SC 17 (DNC) 17 34
22nd Bah Humbug 3598 Jim Hopton Peter Hopton Shustoke 19 18 (DNC) 37
23rd Chambulls 3580 Mark Fuller Bejamin Hariage Hampton SC 20 19 (DNC) 39
24th Smoked Salmon 3518 Julian Harms Samual Harms Midland SC (21) 21 21 42
25th Delierium 3637 Alan Broadbent Russell Hall Wembley SC (24) 23 20 43
26th Steppenwolf 3542 David Fowler Daniel Greenwood RYA 25 (DNC) 19 44
27th Love on the Rocks 3489 Richard Turner Eric Banning Banbury SC (29) 27 22 49
28th Busy Bee 2056 Ian Levin Ruby Levin Banbury SC (28) 28 23 51
29th Acushla 3465 Shane Deppe Bruce Deppe MSBSC 26 (35.0 DNF) 25 51
30th Thin Ice 3497 Jan Holland Richard Craddock Midlands SC (30) 26 26 52
31st Moonshine 3085 Tim Bury Pat Kunzler Banbury SC (31) 30 24 54
32nd Snakey B 3671 Natt Fuller Alan Fuller Hampton SC (38.0 DNF) 24 31.0 DNF 55
33rd After Hours 3585 Roy Reuter Jack Deance Cookham Reach 27 31 (DNC) 58
34th Sir Topaz 3530 Mike Colles Jason Trott Midland SC (32) 29 31.0 DNF 60
35th Time Zulu 3569 Steve Watson James Hodgets Midland SC 38.0 RAF 25 (DNC) 63
36th Tirnanog 3445 Brendon OConner Janet OConner Midland SC (DNC) 35.0 DNF 31.0 DNF 66
37th Galactic Gnu 3346 Mike Hendry Kate Hendry Hampton SC 33 35.0 DNF (DNC) 68
38th White Whale 3389 Jon Embrey Jenny Jones Banbury SC 38.0 DNF 35.0 DNS (DNC) 73