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John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland Sailing Club Report
Author: Dick Sanders
FULL SERIES COMPLETED IN TEETH OF GALE – 29ers ON TOP
The 9th Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy was held at Rutland Sailing Club in a week-end when all other major regattas were cancelled because of gale force winds. The Rutland ‘micro-climate’ still delivered 35 mph gusts earlier on Saturday but despite an hours postponement, the full three races were completed in an average 20 to 25 mph south westerly ‘breeze’. The excellent safety cover and the nature of this inland ‘sea’ enabled Dave Wilkins, the Race Officer and Club Commodore and his team to post full results from a majority of the 130 boat fleet.
Average lap times, corrected for handicap, are used on the first day to get an overall ranking and one discard is allowed. Using average lap times meant that all boats were finished within about 10-15 minutes, or 8-12 boats per minute (one every 5 seconds) All boats raced a standard trapezoid course with the windward mark set in front of the clubhouse. The fleet was divided into fast and slow starts. Day two consists of a traditional pursuit race which is not discardable and there is a cash prize of Ј1000 for the boat that wins all four races. The only other ‘Challenge’ of the week-end is the TIGER DINNER, a full black-tie bash where the sponsors beer is sold at Ј1 per pint.
Race 1, sailed in the windiest conditions of the weekend saw six 420’s in the top ten with a win for Ben Field and Nick Hutton (Royal Thames) from Alex Cherry and Paul Campbell-James, both in 420’s.Two 470,s a 505 and the 29er of Alec Hopson and Nick Murphy made up the others. Gusts frequently caused carnage at or around mark 3, (gybe mark). On a couple of occasions, they went down like a pack of cards. Rescue was stretched but coped with around 10 ribs and mother ships in action continuously making sure that nobody was in the water too long.
As the wind abated, the relative performance of the 420/470 was overtaken by the ‘new kids on the block’. Race 2 had five 29ers in the top ten including Hopson and Murphy as well as three Vortex and the 505 of Mike Hart and Matt Toone (Shotley). The 29er of Steven Wilson and John Garth from West Kirby won after having had two OCS’s in the previous races. The leading 420 of Nick Asher and Elliot Willis was tenth.
As the wind strength continued to drop, the pattern in race 2 repeated itself in race 3 with a win for Keith Escritt in a Vortex, one of three in the top ten finishers along with Phil Whitehead (Grimwith) and brother Ian . Clive Goodwin and Douglas Powell from Brightlingsea lead the three top ten 470’s with Jonathan Frazer and J Clegg from Hayling Island SC taking up the 29er charge with Hopson and Murphy being OCS’d. Hart and Toone’s 505 maintained a top ten finish and were joined in 10th place by Richard Stenhouse from Rutland SC in a Musto Skiff.
As the fleet prepared for the Tiger Dinner challenge, the overall positions at the end of day one saw the Vortex of Keith Eskritt leading on 3 points with the two 29ers of Hopson and Frazer in second and third and the 470 of Goodwin in 4th place.
Jim Saltonstall MBE, the original ‘Ferret Master’ of the UK Youth Squad was Guest of Honour at the TIGER DINNER. He was presented with a painting, depicting a nautically dressed ferret by former Youth Squad members before he recounted some memories of John Merricks and his capacity for ‘fun’ as well as fast sailing. He finished by reporting on the work of the trust and its desire to be contacted by young sailors who can make a case for financial support in pursuing their sport. An auction of Jim’s personal ID flag from the Olympics, signed by all the sailing squad was auctioned and Ј500 was raised from this alone. Ian Walker, Sailing Manager of GBR Challenge and John’s former sailing partner, sent a welcoming video message from the Squad practicing in Auckland, the TIGER beer provided by the sponsors, Everards, flowed all evening and the music was provided by ‘FUNKMASTER WULI’.
Day two, Sunday had wind conditions similar to the previous day. A two hour pursuit race (where boats set off according to their handicap number with the slowest going first, the winner being the boat that covers the greatest distance in the set time) had a long course set, using the south arm and main pond of Rutland Water. This gave something for everybody, long beats, fast and furious reaches and tactical downwind legs .with much of it fully visible from the new clubhouse for the benefit of the many supporters. The fleet was lead away by the GP 14 of Mike Senior and Jonathon Sinclaire (Bolton) but they were soon caught by the Enterprises acclimatising for their World Championships in Goa and then by the 420 fleet. The front of the 29er fleet was lead by Hopson and Murphy and they overhauled the 420 back markers just after the first hour while the B14 of Dave Hall and Ali Sutter, the Vortex’s of the Eskritt brothers the 470 fleet lead by Guy Tipton and Tom Trueman (Oxford SC) and the 505 of Mike Hart worked their way through the 29ers. With one and a half minutes to go to the 1pm finish, Hopson and Murphy (29er) finally caught the 420 of Asher and Willis to win the handicap Pursuit and the overall trophy. Frazer and Cleggs (29er) 5th place ensured the overall runner up and Jenny Taylor and Sarah Allen (29er Leigh & Lowton) finishing 6th gave them the ‘Lady Tiger’ Trophy. Although six 420’s finished the pursuit in the top ten, it was not sufficient to fend of the Vortex of Keith Escritt who finished 3rd overall with a block of three 420’s lead by Asher and Willis in 4th to 6th Ian Escritt (Vortex) in 7th and three 470’s lead by Clive Goodwin and Douglas Powell who won the John Merricks Memorial Trophy as the leading 470.
Prizes were presented by Johns mother Joan and appreciating applause was given to the race team and particularly to the rescue team who’s hard work had enabled the event to have a successful conclusion.
More Information:
- John Merricks Sailing Trust
- Rutland Sailing Club
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