admin Date , September 6, 2025 Sailing Previous Blog Vanessa B-Rater Last Comments (0)
The Merlin Rocket Open 2025 at Upper Thames Sailing Club brought together nine boats on Saturday — a smaller turnout than previous years, but those who showed up were certainly committed.
And brave.
Very brave.
The south-westerly wind was blowing with enthusiasm, so the course team set an upstream start with a lovely S-shaped route — perfect for squeezing in plenty of tacks and gybes, and even more opportunities to raise eyebrows and heart rates.
With the wind direction as it was, the upstream leg allowed the sailors to deploy their spinnakers — and as they emerged from behind the tree line, the boats surged forward, catching more than just the wind. Let’s just say a few faces on the riverbank went a little pale.
Spinnakers and gusts are a spicy combination. But remarkably, despite the pressure, only one boat capsized all day — and they did that well out of sight of the camera at the other end of the course. A testament to the skill and control of the sailors competing. I ended up taking more photographs than I intended because some of the racing was so spectacular. If you wish to see the other 3000 or so photographs they are on my flickr site.
Click the link https://www.flickr.com/photos/145318032@N06/albums/72177720328883081/
