Speed Sails win the GP14 Nationals
by Tom Jeffcoate, Speed Sails 13 Jul 2009 03:52 PDT
3-5 July 2009
Speed GP14 sails have taken 6 of the top 8 places at the 2009 Nationals with Matt Mee and Speed Sails sailmaker, Chris Robinson, claiming victory with a race to spare. The long weekend saw a range of conditions but the duo showed excellent speed and consistency to win ahead of the current World champions and a host of former champions.
As well as a full set of Speed sails the pair were competing in a Speed hull completing the double for Speed kit and it was this combination that also helped Ian Southworth & Dave Hayes to 3rd overall in their return to the class after a long time out.
In the first major championships for the new epoxy hulls there were strong performances by Simon Potts & Drew Nickless who finished 4th overall and Carl Jeffs & Jim Toothill who were lying 2nd at the half way point before slipping back to 7th.
Mike Senior and Luke Shaw have been going well in 2009 already having notched up the Welsh, Midland and Northern Championship titles with Speed sails. They couldn’t quite maintain their winning ways in a very strong fleet though as they finished 6th overall. Justin Jones and Lucy Evans rounded out the top 8 for Speed Sails.
Full results can be found here.
With the Masters and Inland championships still to come in 2009 Speed Sails are once again making the boats and sails to beat. It is not too late to get a new set of sails for the last 2 UK majors of the year; anyone interested should speak to Andy Davis in the Speed sail loft. We are also taking new boat orders for delivery this September and following high demand for 2nd hand boats can offer some great part exchange deals. Please speak to Steve Parker for more information on new boats or to check out the second hand boats currently available - please click here.
Merlin sailors annual pilgrimage to Salcombe
This week sees the Merlin Rocket fleet descend on Salcombe en masse for Merlin Rocket Salcombe week which started yesterday. The week is incredibly popular with entries regularly exceeding the 100 boat limit. After back-to-back victories in 2007 and 2008, Speed Sails are back in force again. Defending champions Andy Davis & Ellie Bremer unfortunately suffered a broken mast while in 2nd in their race but Chris Robinson is keeping up his winning ways and, sailing with William Warren, currently leads the event. Silver Tiller champions Matt Biggs & Rob Kennaugh have also made a good start to the event with a 3rd in their first race. Salcombe’s notorious reputation makes predicting the overall winner difficult but the Speed Sails boats are once again showing the extra pace needed to win.
Latest results can be found here.
For more information on the latest Speed Merlin sails please visit the Merlin Rocket page of the website or contact Andy Davis / Chris Robinson when they return next week on 01922 455503 / 
