Banbury Sailing Club 

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Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Open 2005 Report

Where would you find Delirium leading from Rong Number while Loosed Canon had shot their bolt but were ahead of Smart Tart?

Where else but at Banbury SC in the Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Open held on Sunday, 20th March where an overcast spring morning saw 33 boats venture out in a gentle south-easterly breeze to do battle for the Banbury Cross trophy.

The first race saw The Phantom Menace (David Winder & Jill Blake) take the lead for the first two laps only to lose out in the second half of the race to Delirium (Richard Whitworth & Elena Bremmer) and to come in second with Nice and Spicy (Matthew Winder & Chris Robinson) 3rd and Rong Number (Glen Truswell & Paul Davies) 4th.

The second race was run back to back (make them earn their lunch!) in a building breeze which was going more easterly.  Delirum lead from start to finish closely pursued by Loosed Canon (Tom Stewart and Pete Horn) in second, Rong Number third and Smart Tart in fourth place and meant that Delirium had the meeting sown up before lunch.

After the usual excellent Banbury lunch, the fleet took to the water again over a new course as the breeze had swung southerly and dropped.  This time, the lead swapped throughout the race between Rong Number, Delirum and Time & Tide (John Bell & Graham Williamson) with Time & Tide holding on to take the gun from Rong Number and Delirum with Smart Tart consistently holding onto fourth place.

After a leisurely tea, Elizabeth Dearns, Commodore of Banbury SC, presented the Banbury Cross Trophy to Richard Whitworth & Elena Bremmer of Hollingsworth Lake SC in Delirum.  This is the third time that Richard has won the trophy in the last four years – he went on holiday last year!  In second place, were last year’s winners, Glen Truswell & Paul Davies of Salcombe YC in Rong Number and third place went to Tom Stewart and Pete Horn of Royal Harwich YC in Loosed Canon.  The Old Boats Prize (Boat 3400 or less) went to Shared Affair sailed by Steve Ward and Alastair Simpson of Shustoke SC.

Thanks to John Green, the PDO and all the Banbury members who made the day possible by working in the duty team, behind the bar and in the kitchen.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year.

Richard Turner
Merlin Rocket Fleet Captain
Banbury Sailing Club

FULL RESULTS