Well done Tudor and Hamish who seem to be the front runners of the Whitstable Merlin fleet so far .......results to date here, http://www.salcombeyc.org.uk/content/racing-results/^merlin-rocket^Marchand_Petit_Merlin_Rocket_Week_2008

chris

In an attempt to prolong the experience that was my first Merlin Salcombe week, I have put together a few recollections of how the Whitstable team fared in this annual feast of sailing, swimming and drinking in the South West. Apologies for any omissions and inaccuracies, but my memory has proved a little hazy at times – can’t think why!

On arriving to blue skies, little did we know that it was going to be the most sun we would see all week, although the warning signs were there as the usual armada to Mill Bay was halted by forecasts of wind, rain and spring tides.

Sunday morning dawned with a force four gusting five, and myself and Chris Whitehouse and Phil and Karen were sent out for some creek hopping. Phil and Karen came home 15th but we didn’t do so well as the main pulled all the way out of the track at the furthest point from the yacht club and we enjoyed a relaxed sail back under jib.

In the afternoon there was more breeze and less water to play in. The start was brought forward due to the low springs and the harbour masters concern that the racing would get in the way of the river traffic - which amounted to zero as no-one in their right mind was going to try and get over the bar. Tudor and Hamish recorded their best result of the week, an 8th, John and Hilary opted for discretion and Rein and Julie suffered a broken mast.

Monday morning and there was no sign of the wind abating, more creek hopping in the morning race with Rein and Julie back on the water with a new mast and recording their top result of the week an 11th. The day however will be remembered for the noise Phil and Karen’s mast made as it broke infront of the yacht club in a gust that took out most of the fleet in the estuary.

Although the wind had moderated slightly in the afternoon racing was again limited by the tide. The first mark was Mill Bay buoy over concern that if they went any further on an outgoing tide the pieces would be scattered over the rocks, bar and out to sea. Tudor and Hamish continued their run of excellent results with a 9th, Chris and myself were 13th just pipping John and Hilary to the line.

Boats were released to go to Mill Bay, but with another low forecast to arrive on Wednesday and the risk of not being able to get off again at the end of the week, the majority voted with their feet to run the gauntlet of sailing out of Batson creek

Tuesday saw good results for all who went out having got to grips with nipping behind the hoop in the huge gusts on the run and legs fighting fit (!!) for the long two sail reaches out the Gerston. In the morning Chris and I matched our best result, 13th and Rein and Julie were 17th. In the afternoon Hamish and Tudor kept it together to get 10th and John and Hilary 16th.

As the wind and rain lashed Salcombe a few intrepid sailors including Tudor and Hamish, and John, crewed by Phil went out for the first start on Wednesday, only to be disappointed as racing was abandoned for the day.

The ultimate creek hopping race was held on Thursday morning, visiting all the far flung buoys in the estuary including Balcombe down near Kingsbridge. The long beat back to the yacht club wasn’t quite the preparation you wanted for the hair-raising run infront of the yacht club, where John and Phil kept their cool to finish 12th, Chris and I wobbled our way into 16th and Tudor and Hamish swam around for 27th.

Friday and the weather had finally changed for the better for the morning race which was sailed in a beautiful force three. Tudor and Hamish notched up another top result with a 12th, and John and Hilary were 22nd. The afternoon race turned into the Salcombe we know and love with a gradient v. sea breeze battle on the finish line. Chris and I managed 19th and Rein and Julie 29th.

Overall the top two Whitstable boats were Tudor and Hamish in 21st, and John and Hilary 38th. Myself and Chris finished 36th. An awesome week despite the conditions - you won’t want to know that the Saturday and Sunday were glorious days, although the yawl race wasn’t quite as exhilarating as the racing in the week!