 | Merlin Rocket
Silver Tiller Open Meeting
FULL RESULTS Sunday
22nd April 2007
at Banbury Sailing Club
Thirty-two boats ranging in age from 25 years old right through
to just a few months found a light SSW breeze which allowed the race officer
to set a course with two good beats up the reservoir and lots of spinnaker
gybing on the way back down. The first race saw a general recall before the
fleet got away cleanly the second time around on a long beat up the lake from
the northern end right up to the SW corner. Glen Truswell & Paul Davies in
Storm Cloud (3543)took an early lead from Richard Whitworth & Ellie Bremmer in
Filthy / Gorgeous (3670), Julian Parry & Holly Scott in Zeno (3659) and the
Phantom Menace (3611) of Roger Tayler & Sally Townend. By the third lap,
Filthy / Gorgeous had taken the lead from Storm Cloud, Zeno and Phantom Menace
and held this lead to the gun.
The second
race was run back to back and got away cleanly first time with Filthy /
Gorgeous taking an early lead from Storm Cloud, Zeno and
Steve & Gill Leney in Carbonator (3639). This lead was held over the
four laps of the race and the finishing order of the top four boats remained
unchanged.
After an excellent lunch with lots of food and puddings, the fleet somehow
managed to get afloat for the third and last race with Richard Whitworth &
Ellie Bremmer already having won the meeting. This did not stop the relentless
crew of Filthy / Gorgeous taking and holding the lead all the way
through the third race to the gun. This time, the Poached Salmon (3644)
of Duncan Salmon & Ian Garwood came through in second followed by Storm
Cloud who squeezed past Phantom Menace to take third place on the
last lap.
The Banbury Cross trophy was presented by David Cornish, President of Banbury
SC to Richard Whitworth & Ellie Bremmer of Hollingsworth Lake SC. In second
place were Glen Truswell & Jim Paul Davies of Salcombe YC with Julian Parry &
Holly Scott of Hollingsworth Lake SC in third.
To mirror the prize structure on the Merlin Rocket Midland Circuit, prizes
were also awarded to Glen Truswell & Paul Davies in Storm Cloud as the
first Prime of Life boat (older than 10 years and less than 20) and to Tim
Bury and Pat Kunzler of Banbury SC in Riders on the Storm as the first Mature
boat (more than 20 years old).
Finally in recognition of his continuing support of the Banbury Open, a
special prize was awarded to Pat Blake who won the Banbury Cross Trophy in
1967 and took eight place this year in Hot Totty. This year is also the 40th
anniversary of the start of the Midland Circuit and to assist the
celebrations, the Circuit provided competitors with free beer and wine.
Thanks to the duty crew ably led by Club President, Dave Cornish, the catering
and bar team who kept everybody fed and watered (not to be taken literally!).
Without such helpers the day would not have been possible nor as enjoyable for
everyone.
Richard Turner
Merlin Rocket Fleet Captain
Banbury Sailing Club
FULL RESULTS
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Good start for Storm Cloud
Filthy / Gorgeous leads
Spinnaker action
Some close encounters
ROTS and Mistral
Bottom watching in Hot Totty
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