Shearwater lived up to the usual two contrasting days with brilliant sunshine and light winds on Saturday and heavy rain on Sunday. The event was dominated by the Vintage wing with Merlins 6, 7 and 16 all sailing together, probably for the first time since they were built in 1946! An international 14 also from 1946 and a Rocket, another International 14 and two sliding seat Hornets all from the fifties and an Albacore and a Merlin Rocket from the sixties made this very much a beautiful wooden boats event. However the racing was won by the two unusual lost classes, the Hit of Giles Penfold with Amy Barlow’s ToY second.
Merlin 7, sailing in the first racing since re-launch after many years in storage and sympathetic restoration by Simon Brewerton who was crewed by wife Linda or daughter Verity, completed all races with set of small cotton sails and was awarded the cotton sail prize.
The Vintage wing prize was won by Chris and Lois Barlow in International 14 “Blue Peter” whilst the classic wing prize went to the fine wooden Hornet 610, newly transferred to Roger Devereux and sailed by brother Hugh.
Thanks to the race officer and race, safety and galley crews who made the event possible.