Open meeting reports

Merlins at Wembley, Canoes at Blithfield, Lightnings at Fishers Green

This page: Merlins at Wembley
Page two: Canoes at Blithfield
Page three: Lightnings at Fishers Green


John Donaghue reports on the Merlin action at Wembley

Five miles from Marble Arch the Wembley SilverTiller took place 27th April.In strong winds gusting 25 knots,the south westerly breeze provided a day of "happenings".

The expected weather provided a magnet for adventurous Merlin people. A celebrity lady helm (being married this weekend) may have diverted some of the normal visitors but the 22 turnout `had a ball`. 11 home and eleven visiting vessels enjoyed three testing races, one morning and two afternoon back/back ,the course sailed being a large figure eight, short reaches and long beats and spinnaker legs.

The latest number of boats sporting carbon rigs, proved more mangeable than the aluminium set-up. It was a fine day for viewing quality helmanship and stability in exacting conditions. The first race got away cleanly but the spinnaker gybing caused
some capsizes and the three rescue craft were fully occupied, though Tom Stewart taking prime spot ,made light of it all. The apres-lunch races saw less ferocious gusts and Pat Blake won the first of these in `Cool Cookie`.

Wembley boats always threatened and Colin Brockbank gained a thrid and second; Duncan Salmon,in his distinctive livery, a third and fourth .The final match was quieter still with fewer entries, the weather having exacted it`s toll on boats and bodies, but now "in the groove " Pat blake won the penultimate race and hence the laurel wreath.

Other notables ...John Cooper in "Snorter", crewed by Wembley`s Liam Dempsey was always in the leadership battle.A very tired but fulfilled gaggle of mariners made their way home, but my abiding memory is a car, piggy-back,on the AA lorry and trailing a cream Merlin back to the east coast!

John Donoghue ..Merlin captain .

1st Pat Blake +Alex Jackson 3620 Cookham.
2nd Tom Stewart + Chris Downham 3628 Royal Harwich.
3rd Colin Brockbank + Martin Hughes 3589 Wembley.
4th John Cooper +Liam Dempsey 3627.Whitstable.
5th Duncan Salmon +Ian Garwood 3575 Wembley
6th Andrew Harris + Rob Wilder 3578 Tamesis.