Merlin Open 2025 – Spinnakers, S-Curves, and Surprises

Merlin Open 2025 – Spinnakers, S-Curves, and Surprises

Fear, skill, and a very well-organised Safety Team

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.

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⛵ The Course: S is for Spinnaker... and Slight Panic

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 that was an open class boat, not one of the Merlins. A testament to the skill and control of the sailors competing.

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🚤 Behind the Scenes: Safety First, Then Spreadsheets

While the Merlin crews focused on racing, I was behind the scenes — organising the safety boats, launching and recovering equipment, and running scoring from the race box.

• Both my sons were out on the water crewing safety boats

• We removed all the goose netting early on (they do love a tangled prop)

• And once the final whistle blew, we packed everything away again — leaving the sailors free to concentrate on racing, debriefing, and perhaps a pint

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🌬️ Races and Results

• 1 race in the morning to warm everyone up

• Followed by 2 afternoon races as the wind picked up

• Plenty of spinnaker action, tight racing, and surprisingly few dramas (if you don’t count the moment someone nearly gybed into the committee boat)

The reduced fleet meant less crowding and more space to experiment with lines — but also meant that every tactical mistake counted. No hiding at the back of the fleet this time!

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Final Thoughts

While smaller in numbers, the Merlin Open 2025 delivered big wind, big sails, and big effort from everyone — on and off the water. With skilled helms, gusty conditions, and just one capsize, it was a day to be proud of.

And as ever, huge thanks to the volunteers, safety boat teams, and race officers who make it all happen — often soaked, sunburned, or stuck holding a buoy rope in their teeth.

Roll on the next one!