Merlin Rocket Downriver Race at Ranelagh Sailing Club

Merlin Rocket Downriver Race at Ranelagh © Gabriel Hill

Kate in the Merlin Rocket Downriver Race at Ranelagh © Sue Markham

Ranelagh Sailing Club was delighted to welcome 31 Merlin Rockets to Putney Embankment for a glorious race downriver to Chelsea Bridge and back on 6th September. The wind was light on arrival, but the sun shone, and the talk was probably of what a wonderful place Ranelagh is.

The 31 boats varied in age and number from the very beautiful Kate (no.1), through to the equally beautiful Diablo (214), Tiercel (901) and many other stunningly restored and maintained wooden boats. There were modern wide plastic boats and everything in between. It was a photogenic foreshore.

The membership and enthusiasm levels at Ranelagh have gone through the roof in 2020, so nine boats were wheeled out of the shed and onto the water to join the visitors whom had travelled from as far afield as Salcombe Yacht Club, Lymington Town, Medley Sailing Club and Shoreham. Our frequent friends from our Thames neighbours - Hampton, Tamesis, Thames SC, Upper Thames, Cookham and South Bank were all in attendance along with strong turnouts from Wembley and Fishers Green. It was a true joy to welcome so many friends, old and new, on such a beautiful day.

It was so beautiful that the photos taken by multiple photographers give a better picture of the event than anything the English written word can describe. But the briefing was given, explaining the quirks of Ranelagh racing. It was to be a 10, 4, 1 start sequence with a strong recommendation that one should sail as far upstream as possible to avoid being OCS. This worked a treat, and Kate, sailed by Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley got the dream start with almost everyone else doing as they were told. They were accompanied by Patrick and Jilly Blake in Tiercel, and Alex Jackson and Alex Warren in Katy Lou (1493). And then the bunch a short while later.

A further quirk is that spinnakers are not be hoisted until Putney Rail Bridge has been cleared. So it was that from this point photos were taken of the fleet abreast of each other running down Wandsworth Reach and onwards with spinnakers of every colour flying and filling, the wind now having filled in to a reasonable 6-8 knots. The Alexes, Jackson and Warren, led downriver but never by much, with boats making use of clear air to catch up and overtake each other. The fleet saw a lot of each other but the weather and style of racing, under multiple bridges, was such that everyone was in the most tremendous mood. Particularly following the sighting of our lovely large Thames seal that had been lolling around all weekend.

The leaders approached the leeward mark at 12.28. The previous day's recce had ascertained that the tide would turn at exactly 12.35 so the fleet was only 7 minutes early. The wind had increased further by this point to a hiking breeze for a long beat home. The battle at the front was between Katy Lou (Jackson and Warren), Puff sailed by Mark Waterhouse and Arthur Henderson in the frontmost wide plastic modern boat and John and Livvy Bell in Grand Teton (1201). At some point Rob and Hatty Cage in Hullabaloo (1692) showed the benefits of multi-classing and pulled through to join the leaders. Its been noticed that Rob has very recently returned from the ILCA Nationals and now seems to be at the Moths in Weymouth.

There were battles throughout the fleet and everyone won a battle. The ultimate battle was finally clinched on the line by Rob and Hatty Cage by 12 seconds from Alex Jackson and Alex Warren, with John and Livvy Bell crossing in third. First wide boat and fourth, were Mark Waterhouse and Arthur Henderson, followed closely by Duncan and Harriet Salmon, true Ranelagh regulars.

No Ranelagh report is complete without significant emphasis on the food. Brian Clarke, slaved for 72 hours over a Beef Rendang, so delicious that the recipe has been requested post-event by several visitors. The fleet had been primed with bacon baguettes and our French patissiere, Guillaume Mouscadet, had baked just the nicest brownies. The fleet convivially discussed their fortunes, digesting their lunch, washed down with drinks from the cheapest bar in London.

Rob and Hattie Cage win the Merlin Rocket Downriver Race at Ranelagh - photo © Patrick Rayner

The event was the first of the Thames Series, and the first of the de May series for 2020, with three more events to come in quick succession. Upper Thames (12th September), Tamesis (19th September) and Hampton (24th-25th October). They will probably be different from Ranelagh but no less good.

Ranelagh Sailing Club would like to thank everyone for coming along and contesting the race in such good spirits. Racing on the Thames, the beating heart of London Town, Ranelagh welcomes new members to our thriving club. See www.ranelaghsc.co.uk for more details and more great photos of Sunday's racing.

Overall Results:

Merlin Rocket Downriver Race at Ranelagh - photo © John Pahl