76th Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay Sailing Club - Day 1

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay - Day 1 © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

The Merlin Rocket class is making its first ever visit to the legendary Mounts Bay Sailing Club for their 76th championships. The event has attracted the usual high quality fleet with the title expected to fought out between Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray, comprehensive winners at the Scorpions last week, two times champions Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey and defending champions Stu Bithell and Tom Pygall.

Stu however is starting the week with two discards as he is currently blasting around Plymouth Sounds on the Swiss SailGP boat.

After weeks of hot, sunny weather, the first morning was breezy and wet leading most of the fleet to dress up for a big day on the water. However, as the fleet assembled south of St Michael's Mount, the sun came out and the breeze started to drop. Both races were run in patchy breeze fluctuating between 5 and 15 knots but slowing dropping and veering.

Possibly the threat of a first ever Merlin Champs gate start if the fleet misbehaves led to two clean starts.

In race one those who got right found better pressure and it was Ed Chapman and Chris Kilsby, who had broken their mast practising on Saturday, who led around the top mark from Tom and Rach. Christian and Sam were down the fleet and in recovery mode.

Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray are in the lead on day 1 at the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Tom and Rach extended with Jon Gorringe and Pete Gray climbing up to take second ahead of Ed and Chris. Ian and Chris Martin sailed a consistently strong race for fourth but were subsequently pinged under the U flag.

Tim Fells and Fran Gifford got the better of Mike and Jane Calvert for fourth and fifth. Christian and Sam kept their climb going to take sixth.

At the start of race two, the majority of the fleet were lined up at the committee boat but there was a big port shift down at the pin. Tim and Fran together with Tom and Rach port tacked across the fleet with everyone heading right towards new pressure. Christian and Sam were first into it and joined the leading two at the top mark.

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay - Day 1 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Tim and Fran led at the bottom gate but those who got to the left picked up a good shift to come through with Christian and Sam leading from Simon Potts and Lottie Fildes. Christian and Sam extended out a healthy lead and on the final run Tom and Rach came through to take second from Simon and Lottie with Tim and Fran fourth, again just ahead of Mike and Jane.

Ian and Chris Martin rounded out what should have been a solid day in sixth.

The forecast for the next few days is for a good breeze and it will be interesting to see if Stu and Tom can sail a clean regatta to retain their title.

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay - Day 1 - photo © Lee Whitehead / www.photolounge.co.uk

Results after day 1:

Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships at Mount's Bay - Day 1 - photo © Roman Archer