Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller open meeting at Chichester Yacht Club

PRO Pete Harrison welcomed the fleet to Chichester Yacht Club on Saturday for their 2021 Craftinsure Silver Tiller, with a quick briefing before a prompt start on one of the springiest tides of the year.

A big thank you to Pete, Assistant Race Officer Lucy Boreham and their team for running the races. Thanks also to Karen Cheesman, CYC's Rear Commodore Dinghies for presenting the prizes.

Race 1: Fresh legs

George Yeoman and Mark Oakey were quick out of the blocks and led the pack to work the left side of the course where there was more wind and favourable tide. It was nip and tuck in the front group throughout the race, but George & Mark were eventually given space on the final triangle to extend and take a convincing win. Tim Saxton & Mary Henderson rounded the final leeward mark close behind Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray and tacked straight away to finish at the pin end, clinching second.

Race 2: Many shifts

Caroline Croft & Charlotte Fildes led lap 1, but Tom & Rachael were making ground and got past on the second beat. A group formed behind of Tim & Mary, Caroline & Charlotte, Simon & Jackie Lytton, George & Mark and Matt Mee & Roger Phillips. The group turned almost inside out on one run except for Caroline & Charlotte holding onto second. Tim & Mary finished third, Matt & Roger fourth and Simon & Jackie fifth.

A special mention in this race goes to Matty Key for his "save of the day" during a particularly pokey Chichester-esque gust on the bottom reach.

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller open meeting at Chichester - photo © CYC

Race 3: The six-lapper

The wind had increased and gone slightly left, and the tide had turned for the final race of the day. This caused a very busy first windward mark. Tom & Rachael extended throughout to win, with Tim & Mary comfortably in second after a lovely run in Lap 2.

Meanwhile, the battle for third was on. William Warren & Megan Pascoe had a great first half of the race with constant pressure from Caroline & Charlotte who were dizzyingly fast all day. Disappointingly for this correspondent it was George and Mark who came swiftly through from fifth to third as wild cards for the hotly contested final podium place in Race 3.

For George & Mark, their third was enough to promote them out of the report-writing position overall (on countback to Tim & Mary... what a pain!).

Next up we head to Blithfield Sailing Club on Sunday 14th November. You can now also book your tickets for the Craftinsure Silver Tiller Dinner and Dance at Itchenor Sailing Club on Saturday 4th December, please help the club plan by booking early.

More photos available (further down the page).

Overall Results:

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller open meeting at Chichester - photo © CYC