Merlin Rocket Vintage and Open Meetings at Upper Thames Sailing Club

Merlin Rocket September open meeting at Upper Thames © Debbie Kite

Upper Thames Sailing Club held its annual Merlin Rocket Open Meeting on the 15th and 16th September.

This year the event was blessed by both sun and a decent breeze from the South West, shifty without being horrible. The sunny weather brought out a large number of other river users, both motorised and oar propelled and the fleet (with varying degrees of success) navigated around them.

On the Saturday, the event was for the De May Vintage series and ten boats turned out for the first two races, both of which were won by Martin Hunter and Margaretha van Dam on the water and on handicap in their Martine design, Quiver. Pat and Jilly Blake were second in both categories, sailing their Jack Holt Nellie design, Tiercel and John and Dan Meadowcroft were third, sailing Lady Luck, a Proctor XII.

While there was a strong home presence, there were visitors from Cookham Reach, (Pat and Jilly, Martin Evans and Mandy Platts) Thames/Minima (Sel Shah and Sarah Preston) and Hollingworth Lake (Ian Lang and Andrew Hunt). We think they enjoyed themselves...

Merlin Rocket September open meeting at Upper Thames - photo © Debbie Kite

The third race was for the Spade Oak Bowl and this was opened up to all Merlins, wide and narrow and fourteen boats took to the water. For a time, conditions were perfect but then the wind faltered and the final leg was completed in the lightest winds of the day.

Martin Hunter won again, Pat was second and third was the Outrage design Exequisite of Chris and Katie Rathbone. After racing, the fleet went for tea and retired to the bar, prior to the traditional Merlin feast and a cheese course served on Martin and Margaretha's barge. Afterwards, some brave souls launched into a Dark 'n' Stormy evening in the bar......

Merlin Rocket September open meeting at Upper Thames - photo © Debbie Kite

On Sunday morning, joined by a further three boats from Lymington, Hampton and an Upper Thames/Hampton entry, racing took place for the Allen Challenge Cup which was three races for the Thames Series. The wind had moved round more to the South and was quite lumpy at times which surprised a few and resulted in the occasional fill up and capsize.

John and Deirdre Bell sailing the Proctor XII Grand Teton, won overall with a first, second and third with Alex Jones and Jack Deung of Cookham second in their plastic Tales (two seconds and a third) and Stuart Jenkins and Nicola Scadden third with a first and two sixths (Passing Cloud design). Martin Evan and Mandy Platts in an NSMI rounded up the prize winners with a third, fourth and an eighth.

Merlin Rocket September open meeting at Upper Thames - photo © Debbie Kite

For the last race, the race team took the fleet from the club line all the way to the island up near Marlow (probably a mile long beat). The wind decided to increase quite a lot and there were some very happy crews when the race was shortened to two laps...

All in all a great weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

De May Racing Results:

Spade Oak Bowl Results:

Allen Challenge Cup Results:

Merlin Rocket September open meeting at Upper Thames - photo © Debbie Kite