Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club - Round 1

Mark Stockbridge and Tre Jacobs, report authors - Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

The Merlin Rocket fleet were welcomed at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham for the Allen South East Series 2025 by barista coffee, pastries and the opportunity to have three races that weren't sausage/triangle/sausage courses.

This "around the cans" style racing would put the fleet's navigation skills to the test—often realising you have just led half the fleet on a lovely scenic detour.

Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham (in its third year) - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Race 1

Race 1 started in enough wind for a Merlin to plane upwind at the RCYC. A short start line and the majority of the fleet deciding that the port committee boat end was favoured led to a crowded start and an individual recall. The fleet split up the first beat, with most boats going left to try avoiding the flooding tide.

Going right with clearer air seemed to also work with both sides coming out very even. Alan Krayling and Pete Nicholson led the way around the top mark with us (Mark Stockbridge and Tre Jacobs) in hot pursuit.

The longer downwind leg up the river offered many opportunities to overtake with changing wind strength and sail changes required to navigate through the slalom course around the cans. Ben Harden and Steve Hall, closely followed by Paul Rayson and Chris Hill, made good use of local knowledge to move up into first and third respectively.

Paul/Chris got upgraded to second as Alan/Pete were to find the individual recall was for them, leaving Mark/Tre in third.

Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Race 2

Race 2 started in similar wind with a committee boat start up the river. This race would prove to be a navigation test for the fleet as it consisted of 3 upwind/downwind laps, with one upwind having a reaching leg in the middle. The race got away without incident, with the majority of the fleet choosing to stay close to the south bank to avoid the still flooding tide.

Ben/Steve led and most of race that followed was spent looking at the course cards hunting for the next mark. While battling for the lead with Ben/Steve, we (Mark/Tre) quickly realised we had no idea where we were going as the course Mark had written down was for 2 laps not 3...

Fortunately for us most of the fleet were also confused, with many crews trying to decipher their shorthand to tell which mark was next while trying to read mark names to figure out were they were on the chart. Ben/Steve crossed the line first followed by Mark/Tre and Alan/Pete only to find out later that they had led the majority of the fleet round the incorrect course. Oops.

This resulted in Paul/Chris taking the win as the team that managed to navigate the course correctly the fastest.

Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Race 3

The course for this race was handed out to each boat by a very helpful safety boat. I think there was a general groan from all of the crews as they realised, they were going to have to have to pay for the very fun but very long downwind in race 1. The course was for three upwind/downwind legs, with each downwind exploring a new leeward mark, followed by a long upwind back to the club finish line.

The start was another crowded committee boat end, finding a clear lane was key with several boats tacking out quickly in search for clearer air. With the tide beginning to switch it became apparent that the previous tactic of staying close to the southern shore was less effective and reacting to the shifts more important. Ben/Steve and company were making the northern bank look to have been the better choice; however Mark/Tre broke cover for the southern shore to take the lead before ceding this to Alan/Pete and James/George giving chase in third while Paul Dean / Hannah Burt pulled through into fourth.

We (Mark/Tre) had rounded the final leeward mark overlapped with Alan/Pete but a technical hiccup led to us trying to sail upwind with 3 sails after the final leeward mark. Not fast. This was resolved after the use of several profanities before refocusing on the final upwind turned fetch and finally a square beat after what turned out to be the final turning mark.

This final upwind offered close racing with several battles developing throughout the fleet. A shortened course was welcomed by most (though not communicated to everyone). Fortunately, the RO sorted out any confusion. In the end it was Mark/Tre who found the go button to take the win in the final race, followed by James/George, Alan/Pete, and Paul/Hannah.

Mark Stockbridge and Tre Jacobs finish ahead of Ben Harden and Steve Hall - Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Overall, once much head scratching and number crunching had taken place, it was Paul/Chris who walked away as even winners, with Mark/Tre in second and Ben/Steve in the final podium spot taking this from James/George on countback. The racing had been excellent, and it was great to see three youth sailors out in the fleet. The RCYC ran fantastic courses that allowed for close racing throughout the fleet.

Huge thanks to everyone involved in running the races.

The next event in the Allen South East Series is at Broadwater Sailing Club on Sunday 12th April.

Paul Rayson and Chris Hill, winners - Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com

Overall Results:

Merlin Rocket Allen South East Series at Royal Corinthian, Burnham - photo © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com