Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals 2009 preview

by Mark Barnes on 5 Aug 2009
Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals 2009 Form Guide.

One of the most open championships for years. There is no outright favourite and to add to the mix there are seven sailmakers in the running. Established lofts have this year been joined by Goacher and North Sails, but who will win is to close to call.

With less than two weeks to go, the fleet will be descending on Whitstable to hopefully get a full series in with sun and sea breezes but more likely mixed with rain if the Met Office is to be believed.

The form guide gives you a taste of who is in the running and what kit they are using. So the runners and riders are as follows:

3704 - Chris Lewns/Tom Pygall: They have the latest standard Winder MK4 boat and full on development program from North Sails One Design with C Tech mast. So they have one of the best packages available to any team at the Nationals. They have won one Silver Tiller this season and as they have progressed with their development program, have got faster. Against them is home club pressure. If they get cleanly off the start line and it does not blow old boots, these guys could be Whitstable Yacht Clubs First Merlin Rocket National Champions. They should place in the top 6 after finishing 10th last year. Rating 6 – 1.

3703 - Richard Whitworth/Sally Townend: They came back as a team last year and Sally arrived with an impact, being top girl and with Tricky Dicky 3rd overall. They have a new boat and will have one of the best prepared packages going to the start line. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4 boat, Chipstow mast and P&B sails. Having just won Shoreham ST, but without some key players there, they have got to be one of the favourites. The windier it gets the better they like it as was the case in Abersoch in 1998 when they won the windiest Nationals for years. They should place in the top 6 after finishing 3rd last year. Rating 6 – 1.

3701 - Tom Stewart/Liam Dempsey: Tom will be out to prove that he still has the goods, having only been stopped from winning last year by Roger Gilbert/James Stewart who are not attending. This team is running the latest standard Winder MK4, Chipstow mast and P&B sails. Both know how to get the best from the boat and this could be their year but with so many variants in rigs in the fleet, could prove to be one of the toughest years to win. They are one of the big 6 and multiple class championship form should give them the slight edge. They should place in the top 6. Rating 6 – 1.

3691 - Mike Calvert/Chris Downham: The Axemen cometh. One of the big 6. These guys are out to prove a point with Chris being bridesmaid twice with Tom Stewart and Mike having won the Nationals at Whitstable last time in 2002 with wife Jane. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4 boat, Chipstow mast and Rowsell sails. Good in all conditions and will be in the top group going into the last day. They should place in the top 6 after finishing 10th last year. Rating 6 – 1.

3685 - William Warren/Chris Robinson: Winners in 2006, and Shoreham’s current top boat. They have just won Salcombe, these guys are at their best, especially as Will has just done the ETAP (one stage of the Toure de France for Amateurs). They are running the latest standard Winder MK4 boat, Chipstow mast and Speed sails. Possibly the dark horses for the Nationals. They should place in the top 6 after finishing 7th last year. Rating 6 – 1.

3684 - Andy Davis Ellie Bremer: Taxi and Ellie lost Salcombe due to a broken mast but were pushed all the way by Will and Chris. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4 boat, Chipstow mast and Speed sails. Will Ellie be the top girl this year and will Andy fresh back from the Solo Nationals, be hungry for it, of course he will be. Good in all conditions. They should place in the top 6 after finishing 4th last year. Rating 6 – 1.

3626 - Glenn Truswell/Olly Turner: One of this year’s outright favourites, one of the big 6. Glenn is in what is rumoured to be his last full on season in the Merlin. He has done it all bar win one of the majors. Having missed out on Salcombe this year, they’ll be hard to beat one on one. They are running a modified Driver Let it Ride, Chipstow mast and Hyde sails. Having finished 5th last year and made a push this year with sail development, anything is possible. Should finish in the top 6. Rating 6 – 1.

3662 - David Winder/Pippa Taylor: David has built most of the boats in the hunt and knows how to make them tick. He and Pippa will be out to rectify their mixed bag of results last year, finishing 23rd. They are running the standard Winder MK5 boat, Chipstow mast and P&B sails. They should place in the top 8. Rating 8 – 4.

3707 - Alex Jackson/Ben Hollis: Alex and Ben will be in the running for the top 9 having seen Alex finish 7th last year with Chris Downham. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4, Chipstow mast and Dynamic Sails. Having put some good results together this year, they should place in front of some of the big six if they slip up. Rating 8 - 5.

3712 - Jon Gorringe/Peter Horn: A new team this year but Jon’s second after sailing last year with Toby Lewis. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4 a Chipstow mast and Speed/P&B sails. How they go will depend on the conditions but they should be in the front pack all week. They should place in the top 10 after finishing 15th last year. Rating 10 - 6.

3705 - Matt Biggs/Rob Kennaugh: Another team with a package to match any. They are running the latest standard Winder MK4, Chipstow mast and Speed sails. One could say they are one of the Inland waters specialists. Matt is the first to admit that the lumpy stuff (waves) is his stumbling block. However, he and Rob have been getting time in on the sea and so should be in the chase till the end. They should place in the top 10 after finishing 13th last year. Rating 10 - 6.

3670 - Steve Goacher/Andy Tunnicliffe: New to the Nationals this year. They had a good Salcombe and running the boat that came 3rd last year, a Winder Mk5 with Chipstow mast, but running his own Goacher sails. They have a chance to show how they have mastered the Merlin. An outsider for the top 10 if windy, but not to be discounted. They should place in the top 15. Rating 15 – 8.

3640 - Simon Blake/Phil Dalby: These guys finished 16th last year but should give a stronger showing this year. They are running Smart Make It So MK2, Chipstow mast and P&B sails. They should place in the top 15 after finishing 16th last year. Rating 15 – 10.

Reports will be placed daily. So who will perform, who will blow up and who will be unlucky.

Follow the reports and all will be revealed from the 15.08.2009 onwards.