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Silver Tiller win sets up season for new team
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Hyde Sails are continuing to top the Merlin Rocket fleet, this year it's all eyes on the new pairing of Simon Blake and Alex Jackson. We found out more about their first victory, how they got together, and their plans for the year ahead.
Simon Blake and Alex Jackson, both long time Merlin sailors, teamed up at the end of 2009. Alex explains how he made the switch from helming to crewing for Simon: "I had a great crew (Ben Hollis-currently leading the Silver Tiller), but unfortunately he lives in Birmingham so logistically it was a nightmare. On top of that I'd crewed for my brother at a few events and it reminded me just how much fun it was being at the front end of a Merlin, hence I discussed the option of campaigning with Si using my boat for 2010. I've always rated Si, particularly for his Inland sailing, something that was a weakness for myself when helming. He's very calm in a boat and sails extremely flat, two factors that I consider up-most if you want to perform well."
The duo's m
ain focus for the year is Salcombe Week in July. "Si has finished second a number of times and I strongly believe we have a good chance at winning the event," says Alex. Adding the proviso: "If we can keep out of the Fortescue pub! After that we intend to take some time off from work and concentrate on sea sailing in preparation for the Nationals, this year being held at Penzance SC. I always found sea sailing to be my strength when helming, hence, with Si I hope we can combine our own individual strengths and sail our best."
So how is that going at present? "Currently we’re finding communication to be our biggest strength. With two helms in a boat I’m able to multi-task," Alex explains. "Si steers the boat very smoothly and flat, I do all the rig and we both have our eyes out of the boat looking for pressure and shifts."
Their boat is the latest Winder design. Alex says: "It's very similar to my previous boat, a Mk4 Winder called 'Moist'. The new boat has a slightly flatter run as I don’t weigh much (10.5 stone), hence we get away with less rocker. It's less forgiving and you have to sail it flatter upwind, but it feels marginally quicker off wind, particularly in a breeze."
The boat is powered by Hyde Sails. Having sailed with various designs, Alex is thorough in his assessment. "The new Hyde's are a more even shape than the competition, an inherent trait of a radial mainsail and to be expected. This helps reduce the drag in the breezy (+15 knots) where we feel we have a distinct boat speed advantage. In the lighter airs we were concerned that we'd have less grunt than the Speeds, P&B and Dynamics that are all roachier, however, with the sophisticated Merlin rigs we are able to straighten the rigs and put some more depth in to the main." The pair recently won the Banbury Silver Tiller even in light airs, showing promise for the season ahead.
Simon Blake and Alex Jackson, both long time Merlin sailors, teamed up at the end of 2009. Alex explains how he made the switch from helming to crewing for Simon: "I had a great crew (Ben Hollis-currently leading the Silver Tiller), but unfortunately he lives in Birmingham so logistically it was a nightmare. On top of that I'd crewed for my brother at a few events and it reminded me just how much fun it was being at the front end of a Merlin, hence I discussed the option of campaigning with Si using my boat for 2010. I've always rated Si, particularly for his Inland sailing, something that was a weakness for myself when helming. He's very calm in a boat and sails extremely flat, two factors that I consider up-most if you want to perform well."The duo's m
ain focus for the year is Salcombe Week in July. "Si has finished second a number of times and I strongly believe we have a good chance at winning the event," says Alex. Adding the proviso: "If we can keep out of the Fortescue pub! After that we intend to take some time off from work and concentrate on sea sailing in preparation for the Nationals, this year being held at Penzance SC. I always found sea sailing to be my strength when helming, hence, with Si I hope we can combine our own individual strengths and sail our best."So how is that going at present? "Currently we’re finding communication to be our biggest strength. With two helms in a boat I’m able to multi-task," Alex explains. "Si steers the boat very smoothly and flat, I do all the rig and we both have our eyes out of the boat looking for pressure and shifts."
Their boat is the latest Winder design. Alex says: "It's very similar to my previous boat, a Mk4 Winder called 'Moist'. The new boat has a slightly flatter run as I don’t weigh much (10.5 stone), hence we get away with less rocker. It's less forgiving and you have to sail it flatter upwind, but it feels marginally quicker off wind, particularly in a breeze."
The boat is powered by Hyde Sails. Having sailed with various designs, Alex is thorough in his assessment. "The new Hyde's are a more even shape than the competition, an inherent trait of a radial mainsail and to be expected. This helps reduce the drag in the breezy (+15 knots) where we feel we have a distinct boat speed advantage. In the lighter airs we were concerned that we'd have less grunt than the Speeds, P&B and Dynamics that are all roachier, however, with the sophisticated Merlin rigs we are able to straighten the rigs and put some more depth in to the main." The pair recently won the Banbury Silver Tiller even in light airs, showing promise for the season ahead.
posted by Hyde Sails at
04:56
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