Allen Brothers Merlin Rocket Inland Championship 2025 at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham © Patrick Blake

If you ever wanted more evidence that social media and those little electronic devices in our pockets are bad for us, then look no further that the Merlin Inlands. At the beginning of the week all chat and posts had been of the horrendous and un-sailable forecast, however, it turned out to be pretty much perfect all weekend. Hard work yes but not at all scary and very race-able. It didn't even rain!

With race officer Nigel Denchfield ably assisted by local Grafham members including Tony Johnson and Dave Philpott, the courses were excellent, particularly given the slightly shift conditions. Lines were square, generally with a hint of port bias due to pressure coming in from the left of the course before it reached the right hand side.

Format:

• 3 back to back races each day, target race length circa 1 hour
• Course options triangle sausage triangle (TS3) or sausage triangle sausage (ST3) plus or minus a lap
• Wind - circa 12 knots for races 1 and 6 with 15 to 18 knots for races 2 through 5

Day 1 of the Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham - photo © Martyn Denchfield

Saturday

Race 1 got away cleanly with event favourites Andy Davis (Taxi) and Ollie Meadowcroft in 3824 and Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray in 3759 starting at opposite ends of the line, each working their respective side. Tom and Rachael rounded first followed by Chris Jennings ably crewed by Pete Nicholson, both teams coming in from the left. Taxi and Oli came in on the starboard lay, seemingly sailing further than everyone else but going half as fast again. By the bottom of the run they had overhauled Chris/Pete and were hunting down Gilly and Rach. By the second windward mark Taxi and Oli had the lead which they comfortably held to the finish. Chris and Pete in 3775 held third while teams of Chris and Sophie plus the two Alexs clawed their way back to fourth and fifth respectively.

Watch the action from onboard 3700:

Race 2 and the wind hand increased a little to around 15 knots with some dark clouds looming overhead. This time both front runners started close to the pin working the left-hand side of the first beat. Rob Kennaugh sailing 3700 with Andrew Prosser and Alex Jackson in 3823 with Alex Warren were the two furthest left and benefited from the left hand pressure and a favourable shift and were in the leading pack at the first mark. The first run was heavily starboard bias giving little opportunity to make gains, those who had clear air were able to sail straight for the leeward mark and extend. Hats off to the race team and support boats for such a quick course change, rotating the mark anti clockwise 30 degree. Up the next beat Taxi and Gilly displayed their upwind prowess closing on all teams, eventually overhauling everyone. On the final downwind leg Gilly lead wit Taxi just behind, both teams hoisted and continued on starboard gybe. The Alex's were third and quickly gybed to take advantage of what they though was better pressure away from the lee of the club and a port bias leg. It worked, they were able to call starboard on Gilly on the approach to the finish and gybe inside them for the hook finish. Caroline and Livvy in 3820 this time got the better of Chris and Sophie in 3803, their mortal on the water enemies through marriage.

Watch the action from on board 3700:

Race 3 and the wind had freshened a little further with teams starting to look tired. This seemed to suit George and Pete in 3777 who nailed the start at the pin and hit the left hard. They rounded with a mighty lead with the usual suspects playing catchup. Over the course of the race Taxi and Oli slowly ground them down, having the slight edge on boat speed sailing faster and free'er. Selfishly they didn't let George and Pete have their moment of glory and pipped them to the finish. Gilly and Rachael we in the hunt as ever finishing a very close third. William Warren had a belter of a second beat and finished fourth, one spot ahead of his son Alex Warren who was making a guest appearance sailing with myself.

Day 1 of the Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham - photo © Martyn Denchfield

Sunday

The weather picked up from where we had left it, a fresh 15 to 20 knots from the left of the lake. Race 4 was a blustery affair with some teams struggling with rigging issues, namely the Alex's and Caroline and Livvy who both retired. We were rather busy re-rigging the kite lines on the 'beach' so didn't have much awareness of what unfolded. Results though show Taxi and Olli with a dominant win ahead of George and Pete, now with two second places back to back. Tom Stewart utilising Rob Allens leverage to finish third with Chris and Sophie fourth while Gilly and Rachael were back in fifth.

Race 5 and feeling fresh from the beach holiday, the Alex's blasted out off the pin squeezing out Gilly/Rach and Taxi/Alex. I appreciate as author this may come across narcissistic, but I assure you it won't ever happen again, hence I want it recorded in print. Gilly/Rach tacked off to clear his air and headed to the right. Taxi put in a hitch to clear his air but then worked left again. Taxi/Ollie and Alex/Alex continued to battle for the lead for the remaining laps with Taxi having the edge upwind and the Alex's arguably a little faster downhill. An uncharacteristically bad call from Taxi, gybing on to port on the last run left the door open for the Alex's to take their second race win. But with Taxi/Ollie in second and Gilly/Rach a lowly ninth, the event was Taxi and Ollie's with a race to spare.

Watch the action from on board 3700:

Race 6. On paper we could finish second overall if we beat Gilly and Rachael. After an even first beat Chris and Sophie lead by a slim margin, Tom Stewart and Rob Allen second and we rounded third with Gilly/Rach fourth. Chris and Gilly opted to gybe inside on the first run, spotting more pressure. We did not. Realising our mistake and discussing it quite openly, we stubbornly held on hoping for it to fill back in from the left, but it didn't. Chris and Sophie extended, sailing a smart tactical race with loose covers over the chasing boats. Gilly/Rach finished second yet again and with it second overall. Taxi and Olli were in cruise mode, visibly not hiking as hard yet still managing to finish third, how very irritating.

Start of race 6 at the Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham - photo © Martyn Denchfield

Massive thanks to the club for hosting us, all those involved on the water, behind the bar and in the kitchen and to Allen for sponsoring the event. This was one of the best events I've been to in years, thank you on behalf of the class.

There is still time to enter the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Looe from 10th to 15th August. All details on the official 2025 calendar portal.merlinrocket.co.uk/events

Andy Davis and Ollie Meadowcroft win the Allen Merlin Rocket Inlands at Grafham - photo © Martyn Denchfield

Overall Results: