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Merlin Rocket National Championship sponsored by Aspire at Tenby Sailing Club - Overall

by Megan, Clive, Matt and Ben 17 Aug 05:00 PDT 11-16 August 2024

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.

Wednesday night saw lots of tactical AP over A drinking which seemed to pay off. Thursday brought a mix of entertainment. The most important being the golf competition organised by Geoff and Helen Kimber. At the time of writing, it's a secret who won but they seemed to enjoy it. It is a tradition that everyone who can hack at a ball seems to enjoy. Onto today. Wind was forecasted to appear from the South West at 1pm and it was actually on time. We had a nice float out. Rick was showing us his lovely red fluffy Tenby crab in the boat park and the comment was you can't leave Tenby without crabs!

The race in the end was nice, with a discard coming in points and places were up for grabs. I'm afraid we didn't see much of the front end of the fleet. Matt and Ben Shorrock said it was play the shifts. The front 4 and 5 were quick. Even Ben Saxton managed to spin at the spreader mark and finished 2nd. Mike and Jane Calvert were having a great end to the week adding the Silent World trophy to their cabinet. The platinum leaders Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey were fighting hard as were Stuart Bithell and Tom Pygall. It came down to a single point in the end with Christian and Sam just taking it.

It is really impressive watching this generation sail. Taxi Davis and Ollie Meadowcroft took 3rd overall sailing a very consistent series. Alex Warren and Jonty Freeman did enough today to secure the gold fleet. Massive congratulations to Phil Emery and Phoebe Paine taking silver fleet with Phoebe dragging her grandad round. Bronze fleet was taken by Jon Steward and Christian Hill; a great pairing. Top prize for the day goes to Anna Aylward for jumping in for a swim on the way home but forgetting to warn James or the safety boat. Wooden spoon for James Wells unimpressive man-overboard drill.

Many thanks to the Denchfield's for a great race officering week. To Tenby sailing club you delivered again. I was always told Tenby was one to do and they weren't mistaken, although if you please firm-up the sand it would be appreciated. Very special thanks to Mark Barwell, Lou Johnson, Chris Martin and the entire Merlin family for organising and taking trolleys down to the water. Someone kept pulling the plug out leaving trolleys miles away. This event doesn't happen without sponsors so thank you to all especially In The Welsh Wind Gin for some great gin tasting yesterday and prizes.

Well done to Christian and Sam again. Frensham will sign off as we have dinner to eat and more importantly prize-giving to go to. See you at the next one.

The 2024 Merlin Rocket Nationals Championships were generously sponsored by Aspire Financial Advisers, Allspars, Becky Bettesworth, CF by L and L, In The Welsh Wind and GK Engineering.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Merlin Rocket nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

PosSail NoHelmCrewClubR1 FoundersR2 BeechersR3 Clyde QuaichR4 West CountryR5 HowardR6 Winter TrophyR7 Ranelagh TrophyR8 Top_Hat TrophyR10 Silent WorldPts
1st3788Christian BirrellSam BreareyParkstone YC213122‑84‑915
2nd3826Stuart BithellTom PygallParkstone YC152311‑7‑11316
3rd3824Andy DavisOllie MeadowcroftSouth Staffs SC & UTSC32‑823426‑822
4th3804Ben SaxtonMatt RainbackRYA(BFD)34445‑143225
5th3691Mike CalvertJane CalvertAxe YC871311‑43‑2512143
6th3807Tim SaxtonHolly McArthurItchenor SC10679‑23RDG6‑18647
7th3809Arran HolmanHayden SewellHollowell512156‑13‑1371349
8th3719Ian MartinChris MartinBurghfield SC64510‑1512‑17121160
9th3791Jon GorringeMatt CurrellParkstone YC4111465(DNC)1610‑2266
10th3775Chris JenningsPete NicholsonBrightlingsea SC9‑21988‑215191472
11th3802Simon PottsEmma ClarkeBurghfield SC128‑1914719‑2911576
12th3812Thomas StewartRob AllenWaldringfield SC719237(RET)610(RET)1284
13th3683Maddy AndersonTom BallantineBrightlingsea SC20‑31‑22121918413490
14th3814James GossChris WhiteSouth Staffs SC(RET)(RET)2415911920795
15th3787Chris MartinJohn TailbyBartley SC‑251711161316‑302110104
16th3782Ed ChapmanFaye ChattertonLymington Town SC149622(DNC)10(DSQ)2321105
17th3801Matthew BiggsBeka JonesBartley SC131025‑28(DNC)14316AL5109
18th3696Alexander WarrenJonty FreemanShoreham SC16.516‑2013201511‑2418109.5
19th3666John MeadowcroftRory GiffordUpper Thames SC16.5201817‑21719‑4517114.5
20th3757Tim ParsonsAndy ServiceLyme Regis SC(BFD)1512211822208‑32116
21st3796William WarrenCharlotte FildesShoreham SC(BFD)1331‑4212918926118
22nd3793James GoodfellowRick CornesNetley SC11‑38102310243415‑47127
23rd3727Mark StockbridgeJames GiffordUpper Thames SC2423(RET)2416201514(UFD)136
24th3645Steve HallAlison HallRoyal Corinthian YC222421‑2614‑26231716137
25th3710Jon IbbotsonRobert StewartBurghfield SC27183025‑388‑31315144
26th3751Rupert Henderson‑WhiteMary Henderson‑WhiteBrightlingsea SC18221629(UFD)1722‑3324148
27th3724Ed BradburnSamuel BaileySouth Staffs SC212617181136‑3822(AL5)151
28th3746James WellsAnna AylwardRYA152515‑27‑4227262719154
29th3658Matthew ShorrockBen ShorrockFrensham Pond SC(RET)142820(UFD)50322620190
30th3756Sophie MackleyGeorge BenderShoreham SC283032‑3722‑45213731201
31st3816Phil EmeryPhoebe PaineWhitstable YC35333319‑4134‑492525204
32nd3733Jamie MorganOliver DavenportNorthampton SC19‑452630363524‑4843213
33rd3747Clive EplettMegan PascoeFrensham Pond SC(BFD)28‑35313228332835215
34th3781David HallEmilie HoodBlackwater SC4234‑46‑442829272927216
35th3815Mark BarwellLouise JohnsonLymington Town SC23‑412734313937‑4033224
36th3711Sam ThompsonLeanne ThompsonRNSA3427‑51‑464031283929228
37th3776Nick CraigKate CraigBurghfield SC2640(DNC)(DNC)DNC2342528230
38th3749Colin AndersonSean AndersonBartley SC36‑53404126371238(AL5)230
39th3731Andy JonesMaddie JonesBurghfield SC3029343530‑403636(DNC)230
40th3770Jon StewardChristian HillFishers Green SC32‑52293624‑48433236232
41st3806Ben JonesHelen HilditchShoreham SC3332‑53‑482533414645255
42nd3779David LeeAngela BridgesStarcross YC31353633(DNC)‑43404338256
43rd3662Nigel HudsonFreya HudsonBartley SC395039‑533541‑523537276
44th3766Andrew DalbyAimee DalbyBurghfield SC3844454534‑494530‑51281
45th3813Steve HarlingEleanor ThomasStarcross YC4136‑5451(DNC)32354740282
46th3742Howard EelesJosh OatesBartley SC4447‑5232334739‑5048290
47th3547Tim MaleRebecca MaleRYA43‑554139(DNC)51444430292
48th3817Geoff KimberHelen KimberStone SC295142‑542742‑545252295
49th3790Colin BrockbankSue broughWembley SC37435552395225‑56(DNC)303
50th3786Phil HardistyTeddy DunnIsle of Man YC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNC1730474241309
51st3794Julian HarmsTimothy HarmsMidland SC40463849(DNC)4450‑51AL5314
52nd3825Storm NuttallIsobel StewartSalcombe YC(BFD)494350443846(BFD)50320
53rd3695Peter SlackImmy BrownTrent Valley SC4842AL555(DNC)46(DSQ)3444322
54th3821Gavin WillisBettine HarrisBristol Corinthian YC(BFD)39473829(RET)DNC53DNC338
55th3720David ChisholmAndy PrinceRoyal Burnham YC(BFD)373743(DNC)545649DNC342
56th3663Nicholas YannakoyorgosMatteo ManciniFishers Green SC(BFD)56495637‑58485749352
57th3767Ben ArcherOlivia BelliniParkstone YC(BFD)485047(DNC)UFD515446362
58th3740Pat BlakeJilly BlakeLymington Town SC(DNC)(DNC)4440DNC535341DNC363
59th3707Stuart JenkinsHannah BurtHampton Sailing Club46545657(RET)565555(DNC)379
60th3690Guy BrowneGreg MartinTrent Valley SC4557(RET)59(DNC)55576053386
61st3567Martin SmithKaren BestonRedditch SC47585860(DNC)(DNC)605856397
62nd3582Florence NichollsHarvey GodelAldeburgh YC(BFD)595758(RET)57595954403
63rd3449Carl WhitehillSam WhitehillRYA4960(DNC)(DNC)DNC5958DNC55413
64th3528Richard Owens TaffStu SouthanPembrokeshire Powerboating and Sailing A(RET)(DNC)DNCDNCRET60616157437
65th3800Richard BramleyTony ChealShoreham SC(DNC)(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC462

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