Shepherd Neame Merlin Rocket Nationals - Day 5
With the ebb tide running east and wind coming for the SW to WNW, the seas were the classic Whitstable short chop that would sort the Cavaliers from those that like the rock and roll of full on sailing.
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The Champagne Race where the first 21 boats helms and crews get a bottle of champagne each would be the first race of the day with Race 4 to follow afterwards. So with a steady force 4 gusting 5, 47 Merlins launched to see who would be crowned king of the windy conditions. Would 3626 (Glenn Truswell/Olly Turner) prevail or would one of the other heavy airs specialists catch them on the hop. Now with 5 boats in the hunt, it was all to play for and in today’s conditions, no prisoners would be taken. With rigs raked, the fleet showed that it was game on and charged up the first beat with the back enders soon starting to fall away. At the windward mark the first white knuckle ride commenced. With 3703 (Richard Whitworth/Sally Townend), 3626, 3670 (Steve Goacher/Andy Tunnicliffe), 3691 (Mike Calvert/Chris Downham) and 3684 (Andy David/Ellie Bremner) giving no quarter, the race was to go to the wire. |
As the gusts came through, they took their toll on the fleet, , but the front pack managed to hold on and with 3701 (Tom Stewart/Laim Dempsey) and 3661 (Graham Scroggie/Ben Scroggie) in hot pursuit, any mistakes and these two would have them. So it was that the race progressed and several fell by the wayside, but the front group charged on relentlessly. Coming into the finish would it be 3703, 3626 or 3670. At the finish 3703 took it from 3626 and then 3670 followed by 3691 and 3684. So P&B Sails had broken the Hyde grip of the last two days. So if 3703 was to win this year, should the anthem be Mustang Sally! Source: Sail-World |
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