Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Midland SC

by Mike Anslow on 29 Mar 2006 After a hard Saturday’s sailing at Banbury followed, in a few cases, by some serious partying the crews of 33 boats entered the Silver Tiller event at Midland Sailing Club on 26 March – the best turnout there for over 20 years. They were greeted by a southwesterly blowing up to force 4 with occasional showers.

Race Officer, Ian Smith, got the fleet away first time with Glen Truswell (3543) taking an early lead. Truswell and another three boats broke away from the pack, but he lost out as the race progressed. Mike Calvert (3626) beat Richard Whitworth (3670) in a very tight finish, with Julian Parry (3659) in third and Truswell fourth.

In Race 2 Truswell and Midland Circuit hero, Matt Biggs (3665), pulled away from the rest to concentrate on their own private battle. Truswell led for much of the race, but Biggs took advantage of a shift up a beat to take the gun. Dave Winder (3662) was third and Whitworth fourth.

Going into the final race the meeting was wide open, with any one of 4 or 5 boats standing a chance of winning. A wind bend at the pin end of the line caused two general recalls and by the time the fleet got away two of the contenders had been black flagged. Whitworth broke into the lead followed by Calvert and Chris Martin (3602). Calvert and Martin chased Whitworth hard and exchanged places a couple of times, but they were unable to catch the leader. All three finished within 10 seconds with Whitworth taking the gun and with it the trophy. Martin got through Calvert up the last beat to finish second, and Chris Haworth (3663) was fourth.

Leading Overall positions:
1. 3670 Richard Whitworth and Elena Bremer Hollingworth Lake SC 3 points
2. 3626 Mike Calvert and Alex Jackson Lyme Regis SC 4 points
3. 3543 Glen Truswell and Jim Lowbridge Beaver SC 6 points
4. 3659 Julian Parry and Pippa Taylor Hollingworth Lake SC 8 points
5. 3662 Dave Winder and Matt Calvert Hollingworth Lake SC 10 points

Prime of Life Boats prize (10 – 20 years old)
3437 Whyte Mischief David and Chris Homer Midland SC

Mature Boats prize (20 – 30 years old)
3375 A Fistful of Dollars Keith Garret and Sam Williams Midland SC