news-engine

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy - Day 3 by Tim Saxton 26 Aug 03:12 HKT 22-28 August 2026 Day 3 at the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and today was ClamCleat Tuesday! Monday had definitely been too windy to race, which meant 3 races in the plan for Tuesday. Forecast was for an ESE average 16kts gusting 20, perfect conditions for Portland Harbour. The race team, led by Peter Saxton & Heinzey, did a great job setting square lines and good length beats which provided plenty of tactical options and opportunities to gain or lose throughout each race. The Merlin class is renowned for attracting a top collection of dinghy talent, and the closeness of today's racing proved as much, leading to a lot of smiles as we came ashore. The flatter water meant those who worked the hardest upwind were rewarded with a little extra pace. Jon Gorringe & Toby Lewis gave a perfect demonstration of this to lead at the first mark of race 3, which they held comfortably to the end of the race, followed by Tom Stewart & Rob Allen showing some great pace in their new boat and Taxi & Becky Caiger third. Mark Stockbridge and James Gifford led home gold fleet in a strong 7th position, which was then followed up by two more strong races which see them move up the overall results sheet. The right hand side began to be more favoured for races 4 and 5 as the forecast right shift materialised and the Portland wind bend began to appear. After issues which forced a retirement from the first race, Ben Whaley & Chris Martin showed their hiking prowess to win race 4 followed by Arran Holman and Tom Pygall who spent the whole day in a very effective low and fast mode. After another quick turnaround race 5 was off. Taxi and Becky and Arran and Tom continued their fine speed and form to finish first and second in race 6 followed by Tom & Rob just behind them. Just as in the other races positions 4 to 15 were tight throughout the race with an exciting amount of place changing right until the finish. Overall Taxi and Becky move into the overall lead, 4 points ahead of Tom Gillard & Rachael Gray who had a more difficult day with a few boat issues. Ben & Chris are equal on points with Tom & Rach, and Arran & Tom just one further back. Slightly further down another bunch is forming, with 7th to 11th separated by just 5 points. All to play for in the remaining 3 days. Sam & Leanne Thompson & Roman & Ben Archer both sailed remarkably consistent days to maintain their Silver & Bronze fleet leads. Wednesday's forecast is a more sedate 7-10 knots, so likely racing in Weymouth Bay again, with the Ranelagh Trophy race followed by the Crews' Race. A huge thanks as always to our amazing sponsors Aspire Financial Advisers, Barton Marine, ClamCleat, P&B and Winder Boats. Results after Day 3: | Pos | Fleet | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts | | 1 | Platinum | 3824 | Bonnie | Andy Davis | Becky Caiger | South Staffs SC | 2 | 4 | 3 | ‑10 | 1 | 10 | | 2 | Platinum | 3759 | Red Mistress | Thomas Gillard | Rachael Gray | Sheffield Viking SC / Staunton Harold SC | 1 | 1 | ‑10 | 7 | 5 | 14 | | 3 | Platinum | 3823 | Gone with the wind | Ben Whaley | Chris Martin | Swanage SC | 6 | 3 | (DNF [42]) | 1 | 4 | 14 | | 4 | Platinum | 3826 | Dave | Arran Holman | Tom Pygall | Parkstone YC / Holywell SC | ‑9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | | 5 | Platinum | 3833 | Didley Watsit | Jon Gorringe | Toby Lewis | Parkstone YC | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | ‑17 | 18 | | 6 | Platinum | 3771 | Skip | Oliver Meadowcroft | Alex Pausey | Salcombe YC / Upper Thames SC | 4 | ‑11 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 22 | | 7 | Platinum | 3804 | Rockatross | Sam Barker | Ben Rayner | Castle Cove SC | 8 | 9 | ‑17 | 6 | 7 | 30 | | 8 | Gold | 3793 | Boris | James Goodfellow | George Major | Ardleigh SC | 3 | 10 | 9 | 11 | (DNC [42]) | 33 | | 9 | Platinum | 3834 | Grace | Thomas Stewart | Rob Allen | Waldringfield SC | 15 | ‑22 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 34 | | 10 | Platinum | 3827 | The return of the jedi | David Winder | Beka Jones | Hollingworth Lake SC | 5 | 8 | ‑14 | 8 | 13 | 34 | | 11 | Platinum | 3807 | Baloo | Timothy Saxton | Faye Chatterton | Itchenor SC | 11 | ‑12 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 35 | | 12 | Gold | 3727 | Fragile | Mark Stockbridge | James Gifford | Upper Thames SC | 14 | ‑19 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 39 | | 13 | Platinum | 3829 | Back in Business | Mike Calvert | Jane Calvert | Axe YC | 10 | 2 | 13 | ‑22 | 15 | 40 | | 14 | Gold | 3666 | Ted | John Meadowcroft | Rory Gifford | Upper Thames SC / Salcombe YC | 12 | ‑21 | 6 | 16 | 9 | 43 | | 15 | Gold | 3746 | Point n Squirt | James Wells | Lorna Glen | RYA | ‑17 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 44 | | 16 | Gold | 3683 | Bluebird | Tom Ballantine | Dan Harris | Castle Cove SC | ‑21 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 46 | | 17 | Platinum | 3796 | Roberta | William Warren | Andy Prince | Shoreham SC | 18 | 15 | 21 | 9 | (UFD [42]) | 63 | | 18 | Gold | 3787 | Quicksilver | Chris Martin | Josh Oates | Bartley SC | ‑27 | 24 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 71 | | 19 | Gold | 3815 | The Kraken | Mark Barwell | Louise Johnson | Lymington Town SC / Upper Thames SC | 19 | 17 | 19 | ‑21 | 16 | 71 | | 20 | Gold | 3805 | Nermal | Ed Bradburn | Ollie Goodhead | South Staffs SC | 22 | ‑25 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 73 | | 21 | Gold | 3710 | Paradigm Shift | Jon Ibbotson | Robert Stewart | Burghfield SC | 16 | 18 | (RET [42]) | 19 | 20 | 73 | | 22 | Gold | 3747 | Learner Driver | Clive Eplett | Megan Pascoe | Frensham Pond SC | 13 | 23 | ‑25 | 20 | 19 | 75 | | 23 | Silver | 3801 | Beltie | Sam Thompson | Leanne Thompson | RNSA | ‑24 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 79 | | 24 | Gold | 3779 | The Angels' Share | David Lee | Angela Bridges | Starcross YC | 20 | ‑28 | 18 | 24 | 22 | 84 | | 25 | Gold | 3781 | The Force Awakens | David Hall | Georgia Booth | Blackwater SC | 23 | 16 | 20 | ‑27 | 26 | 85 | | 26 | Silver | 3806 | Blue Tit | Benjamin Jones | Helen Hilditch | Lymington Town SC | 25 | 20 | 26 | ‑30 | 27 | 98 | | 27 | Silver | 3825 | Tea Cup | Storm Nuttall | Sally Wakefield | West Hoe SC | 26 | 27 | 23 | (RET [42]) | 24 | 100 | | 28 | Bronze | 3767 | One Love | Roman Archer | Ben Archer | Parkstone YC | 28 | ‑35 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 102 | | 29 | Silver | 3816 | Wild Horses | Phil Emery | Hilary Bradshaw | Whitstable YC | ‑31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 118 | | 30 | Silver | 3830 | Amuse‑Bouche | Tom Low | Ed Low | Parkstone YC | 34 | (DNC [42]) | 31 | 31 | 23 | 119 | | 31 | Silver | 3600 | The Matrix | Mike Partridge | Claire Davis | Hayling Island SC | 30 | 26 | 30 | (RET [42]) | 34 | 120 | | 32 | Bronze | 3760 | Moz's Tale | Jerry Ibberson | Liza Hunt | SCYC | 32 | ‑36 | 27 | 33 | 28 | 120 | | 33 | Silver | 3488 | Carrera | Ben Scroggie | Harry Scroggie | Parkstone YC | 33 | 33 | 32 | 26 | (DNC [42]) | 124 | | 34 | Silver | 3626 | Business As Usual | Tim Male | Rebecca Male | Staunton Harold SC | 35 | 30 | (RET [42]) | 28 | 31 | 124 | | 35 | Silver | 3817 | Aura | Geoff Kimber | Helen Kimber | Stone SC | ‑38 | 32 | 28 | 35 | 32 | 127 | | 36 | Silver | 3766 | The Bear | Andrew Dalby | Elsa Dalby | Burghfield SC / Lee on Solent SC | 29 | ‑34 | 34 | 34 | 30 | 127 | | 37 | Bronze | 3707 | Monkey Business | Stuart Jenkins | Peter Walker | Hampton SC / Upper Thames SC | (DNS [42]) | DNC [42] | 33 | 32 | 33 | 140 | | 38 | Bronze | 3594 | Summit Fever | Robin Clifton‑Dey | Michael Clifton‑Dey | Weymouth SC | 36 | 37 | 36 | ‑38 | 35 | 144 | | 39 | Bronze | 3813 | Pacemaker | Steve Harling | Eleanor Thomas | Starcross YC | 37 | 29 | (DNC [42]) | 37 | DNC [42] | 145 | | 40 | Silver | 3704 | Factory Maid | Jemma Horwood | Nicola Scaddan | Tamesis SC | 39 | 38 | 35 | 36 | (DNC [42]) | 148 | | 41 | Bronze | 3792 | Seas The Day | Alistair McDonald | Steven McCann | Berwick SC / Yorkshire Dales SC | 40 W | (DNC [42]) | RET [42] | DNC [42] | DNC [42] | 166 |