Glyn Charles Open Pursuit Race . .  

The Glyn Charles Memorial Pursuit Race was held on Saturday 15 May with 139 boats taking part at Hayling Island Sailing Club.

After a slow tour of the harbour the climax was a 15 knot wind spike which provided a grand final finish with the faster spinnaker classes just failing to overhaul the slower, and long sailing slower classes.

Overall Glyn Charles winners were Jon Ibbotson and Charlotte Stewart (pictured above), sailing a National 12.  Second was the Punk of Daniel Holman and third the RS200 of Clive Catt and David Richards.

Leading home the local Flying 15 fleet was Charles Apthorp and Dave Richards in fourth, then another RS200, that of Damion and Flavia Roberts.

In fifth was the Solo of Nick Rawlings and seventh the first keelboat, the RS Elite of Mike Dawe and Greg Lamb. The Finn class were out in some numbers and first finisher was George Cooper in eighth place.

Scratch boat and first away at 12:00 were Nigel and Rob Thomas in their Mirror dinghy, they finished thirteenth and took the Parent and Child prize. First of the 23 strong Merlin Rocket class were Richard Whitworth and Olly Turner.  

First placed Youth entry were Gemma Bird and Guy Wilkinson in an RS Feva (pictured below).

Many thanks go to all the competitors for their donations, as all proceeds are donated to the John Merricks Sailing Trust.

Our thanks also to all the generous event sponsors, including: Fat Face, Suunto watches (tacktick), Scott USA, Gill, Yachts & Yachting, RS Sailing, Dubarry, Offshore Challenges, Harken, Gul, Artemis Even Keel Project and Pinnel & Bax.

Glyn Charles Pursuit Race results . . .

Images by Steve Arkley of Sailshots.co.uk . . .

Images by Chris Bashall - PW hisc . . .

Over £4,000 raised at the 2010 Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy 

Rutland Sailing Club 6 - 7 Feb 2010

Merlin Rockets dominated the 2010 Tiger Trophy

Matt BIGGS and Ben HOLLIS from Blithfield SC in a Merlin Rocket,  won the 2010 Tiger Trophy from fellow Merlin sailors, Stuart BITHELL and Ed GRAY.  Andrew WILDE in a Phantom from Carsington,  takes the final podium position.

The 2010 Tiger Trophy was run in misty conditions and generally light winds.

The Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy is one of the UK's premier winter sailing regattas now in its 17th year.  The format of the event has not changed since the Tiger Trophy was adopted as a regatta to raise money for the John Merricks Sailing Trust  (JMST) with a large proportion of the entry fee going directly to the JMST. 

Three races are sailed back to back on Saturday and the fleet is divided into fast and slow handicap fleets, but all sailing the same course. This enables average lap times to be established over the whole fleet and an overall winner decided. Following the TIGER DINNER on Saturday evening, the annual Tiger Trophy Pursuit race on Sunday is non-discardable and has for many years been the downfall of some exceptional sailors. The final challenge to win all four races and the special £1000 bounty has still not been met.

The Tiger Dinner is held to raise money for the John Merricks Sailing Trust and to reflect one of John's principle attributes, the ability to enjoy himself in the company of fellow sailors. (His other was the ability to sail fast!) 

Final Results 2010

Photos 2010