Phil King and Kevin Driver from Bowmoor SC took their third major Merlin title this year at the inland championship at Draycote Water on 22-23 September. They fought off stiff competition from the 58 other boats and clinched the title after winning the final race.

The forecast light conditions on Saturday allowed only one race to be sailed which resulted in a popular win for a new Merlin pairing this season of Mike Fenwick and Andy Maynard from Weymouth. A superb carvery dinner was held in the splendid refurbished club on Saturday evening.

Predicted northerly winds of 10-15 mph greeted the sailors on Sunday morning and three more races were held during the day. Race two was won by last year’s inlands winner, Richard Whitworth and Sally Townend with King/Driver runners up.

Race three saw the winning gun fire for John Bell and Graham Williamson ahead of Will Rainey/Liese Ward. Going into the final race, three boats had a real chance of the championship title. As Bell and Whitworth floundered off the start line, King and Driver seized their chance and came in behind Alan Warren/Liam Dempsey at the first windward mark. The ‘Take it Easy’ pair overhauled them during the next lap to take the race and the Inlands title.

Results

1st Phil King/Kevin Driver, 3606,Take It Easy, Bowmoor SC

2nd Richard Whitworth/Sally Townend, 3593, Insomnia, Hollingworth Lake SC

3rd Paul Davies/Sara Warren, 3573, Rong Number, Bowmoor SC

4th Dave Winder/Jilly Blake, 3557, Out of the Blue 2, Hollingworth Lake SC

5th John Bell/Graham Williamson, 3569, Time Zulu, Hampton SC

6th Mike Calvert/Alex Jackson, 3549, Unfinished Business, Weymouth SC