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Merlin Rocket Open at Bartley Sailing Club

by George Bender 11 Sep 2025 03:08 PDT 7 September 2025

Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series and Youth Championships all in one day

18 Merlin Rockets gathered at Bartley in anticipation of a strong wind event only to find gentle breeze, threatening to wane further.

Of course, this was good news for two teams in particular. Firstly the Calverts, known to be prime snigglers, and secondly the Davis's with twelve year old Harry making his Merlin racing debut and bringing the average crew weight down a smidge. The Calvert's boat, new this year (and controversially not a new shape but rather a new build of an old design), proved fast in the light stuff, which got them into pole over Andy and Harry in race 1.

Bartley Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series and Youth Championship - photo © Andrea Hardiman
Bartley Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller, HD Sails Midland Circuit, Classis Series and Youth Championship - photo © Andrea Hardiman

Dave Winder and Beka Jones were also making themselves known near the front off the back of impressive performances so far this year at Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week and at the nationals in Looe. With Dave's new boat (I believe he gets discounts on them somehow) 'Return of the Jedi', this meant we had three brand new boats, battling it out at the front.

Harry Davis - First 25 and Under crew at the Bartley Merlin Rocket Open - photo © Andrea Hardiman
Harry Davis - First 25 and Under crew at the Bartley Merlin Rocket Open - photo © Andrea Hardiman
During lunch the fleet kept careful watch over the flags along the dam, pleading with them to make up their minds and to grace us all with some wind we could work with. It picked up a bit for race 2 (as requested) but a large shift meant the course was a bit processional. Mike and Jane got ahead and stayed there while team Davis had a close battle with team North (Dave and Beka), which the northerners prevailed through.

With the wind building into race 3, it looked like some more kicker and, dare I say it, rake would be needed. At last, the breeze (most of us) were hoping for.

Rich Adams and George Bender had a great start and held it together in the face of being hunted down by team Stealth (Mike and Jane). Sadly the course gave little room for tactical decision making and with building breeze and some tight reaches, Mike and Jane dropped back to fourth after team North and team Stella (Rob Kenneaugh and Andrew Prosser) came through.

The event was not only a Craftinsure Silver Tiller but also the Youth Championships, which Dave Lucas and Robyn Taylor won. Harry Davis of course won the first youth crew and we will be watching his sailing career with great interest!

Nobody would have wanted the job of setting a course in Sunday's wind, so we commend the race officers for getting three races away and for the safety crews who were certainly required for one unfortunate mast breakage. Thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday to allow the event to go ahead.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmCrewBoat NameFleetClassDivisionClubR1R2R3Pts
1st3829Mike CALVERTJane CALVERTBack in BusinessModernPlatinum Axe SC11‑42
2nd3827Dave WINDERBeka JONESReturn of the JediModernGold Hollingworth SC‑6224
3rd3765Rich ADAMSGeorge BENDERThree DeeModernGold Bartley Sailing Club4‑815
4th3824Andy DAVISHarry DAVISBonnieModernPlatinumU26 crewSouth Staffs SC23‑85
5th3700Rob KENAUGHAndrew PROSSERBrazilianModernGold Midland SC5‑938
6th3779David LEEAngela BRIDGESThe Angels ShareModernSilver Starcross SC36(DNF)9
7th3787Chris MARTINJosh OATESQuicksilverModernGold Bartley SC‑115510
8th3730Paul HOLLISPaula MASONBlood Sweat and BeersModernSilver Redditch SC94(DNF)13
9th3716Steve LENEYGill LENEYCarbon FootprintModernGold Blithfield SC‑77714
10th3567Colin ANDERSONKaren BESTONFat Boy SlimClassicGold Redditch SC8(DNF)917
11th3742Howard EELESJustin GEMSpeed MachineModernBronze Bartley SC‑1212618
12th3581David LUCASRobyn TAYLORPrologueClassicBronzeU26 Helm /CrewBartley Sailing Club‑13101020
13th3547Peter MALETim MALEMoondance AssasinClassicGold RYA‑14111122
14th1097Stuart JENKINSNicola SCADDANFlinkidinkVintageBronze Hampton SC1013(DNC)23
15th3690Guy BROWNEGreg MartinGeneral LeeModernBronze Trent Valley SC‑16161228
16th3624Simon HARDIMANMillie HARDIMANStab in the DarkModernBronzeU26 crewBartley Sailing Club1514(DNC)29
17th3805Mark REDDINGTONZachary EELESNermalModernSilverU26 crewBartley Sailing Club(DNF)15DNC34
18th2805Ian LAINGAndrew HuntBlonde on BlondeVintageBronze Hollingworth SC(DNF)17DNC36

What's coming up

The next HD Sails Midland Circuit combined Classic Series is at Trent Valley Sailing Club on Sunday 21st September.

The next Craftinsure Silver Tiller is at Blithfield Sailing Club on Sunday 28th September.

The Craftinsure Silver Tiller Dinner takes place at Lymington Town Sailing Club on Saturday 18th October, bookings opening soon. Save the date!

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