Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals 2009 Day 3
The weather conditions on the third day of the Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals in Whitstable Bay where tricky.
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Due to the shifty conditions R/O Jon Silk decided to run the Crew’s Race first. Just to prove a point, the crews decided to show that it is not just the helms that have the taste for jumping the start. So after one General Recall, the fleet got away. This time it was the turn of the Goacher Sails powered boat 3670 (Andy Turncliffe/Steve Goacher) to take up the batten and lead the charge to the windward mark. One would think that it was the helms at the back of the boat due to the competitiveness of the race but it was not to be for 3670 as 3705 (Rob Kennaugh/Matt Biggs) pressed home a hard fought advantage at the take the lead at the last leeward mark to lead to the finish from 3670 followed by 3685 (Chris Robinson/Willie Warren), 3684 (Ellie Bremner/Andy Davis) and 3700 (Sophie Mackley/Phil Emery). Now to the big race and a postponement to wait for the breeze to stabilize on a south-easterly 4 – 6 knots. As per previous days, the fleet let the R/O know it was business as usual and after two general recalls, the Black Flag came out. Off the start line it was nip and tuck for the fleet with a different set of conditions from the previous days’ tested the fleet. With the wind bend favouring middle right, but part way up the first beat the breeze backed and those on the left looked very sweet and those on the right were left to rue the moment. So at the windward mark it was 3701 (Tom Stewart/Liam Dempsey) from 3640 (Simon Blake/Phil Dalby). Down the first reach, as very broad, the fleet compressed and so it became very tactical and the tide was sweeping the fleet east, so options were limited but the leader held on. Over the next reach more of the same. |
The second beat and all was to play for as 3701 was being hounded by 3684 (Andy Davis/Ellie Bremner) and series leader 3626 (Glenn Truswell/Olly Turner). Covering the other two, 3701 held on at the windward mark but with a relatively breezy run, arriving at the leeward mark, all three rounded the mark in line. 3701 went right and 3684 left and unfortunately found weed and a hole in the breeze to spiral down the order. With 3626 now taking up the chase, they worked the angles on the right, getting the edge on 3701 to take the lead. However, 3703 (Richard Whitworth/Sally Townend) were in stealth mode and found more pressure out further right to slip past 3701 at the windward mark. Over the next lap it was starting to look like 3703 was to upset the party but 3626 managed to just hold on to take their second win of the week from 3703, 3701, 3691 (Mike Calvert/Chris Downham) and 3662 (David Winder/Pippa Taylor). So Hyde Sails have two wins but the top 10 is well represented by the main lofts, so bragging rights are still up for grabs. The form is now starting to show and if the rest of the week follows the previous day’s results, who will stop 3626. Source: Sail-World |
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