Merlin Felucca Trophy at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

A 40 boat entry arrived at Hollingworth Lake for the final event of the Silver Tiller series (3 races on Saturday) and the Felucca Trophy over the two days. The fleet included many young ‘star’ sailors, including the Endeavour and National Champion helm at his home Club. Stuart Bithell’s uncle, Richard Whitworth, has won the Felucca Trophy every year for the last twelve, so an interesting battle was in prospect.

Perhaps inevitably the first race started under a black flag, after a general recall. It was soon clear that the lead would be taken by Stuart Bithell, with Christian Birrell, and Matt Mee, with Chris Robinson in contention. Tom Stewart and Liam Dempsey were left to hold off the group behind them. Jen Taylor and Chris Dodds did well to take fourth place, but Simon Blake and Alex Jackson fighting for the Silver Tiller result sailed the course incorrectly and had to surrender the fifth place. On the final beat, Mee managed to sneak past Bithell, while Andy (Taxi) Davis and Nicola Brook had been blackflagged. The second race gave Taxi a chance with a run away lead unchallenged, though chased by Ian Dobson and AndyTunnicliffe. Bithell languished in seventh place. Simon Blake’s third place in this race with Silver Tiller competitor Richard Whitworth, with Olly Turner, lying back in sixth, ensured that Blake won that series.

Bithell, whose borrowed boat was christened by the Meeting Secretary ‘Slowly’, showed that he intended to deny that name by taking the third race. David Winder and Pippa Taylor tried hard to catch Bithell and secured runner-up spot, with Taxi sliding into third and Matt Mee in fourth.

90 people sat down to dine and wine in the Club house on Saturday evening for the Silver Tiller prizegiving. So there were a few sore heads in the morning and a reduced fleet prepared to sail out in the sunshine and cold northerly wind. But Bithell was ready for the fray and took another win, chased hard by Uncle Richard. Indeed this race proved to be a local’s special with Matt Mee taking third and Steve Crook, with Sally Townend, in fourth.

With three possible overall winners, the final race was always going to provide some excitement. Bithell’s position looked good, and then Taxi improved his chances with a run away result, sufficient to give him runner-up overall. Bithell held back Mee to third place, and Steve Crook gained another fourth place. Taxi’s two race wins broke the points tie with Mee in his favour.

So the Felucca Trophy stays in ‘the family’ with Uncle Richard passing the ‘baton’ on to Stuart Bithell.