Minima Yacht Club's Ben Marshall and crew John Wilkey are the winners of the 2007 De May trophy for vintage merlin rocket dinghies, sailed in a 15-race series at clubs across the UK, writes John Forbes.
The Merlin was developed at Putney, and members of Thames clubs took the top three places, with Ranelagh's Mervyn Allen second and Berry Ritchie from Tamesis Club, Teddington, third.
A victory in the Three Burgees team-racing trophy, over Thames Sailing Club and absent holders Tamesis on Sunday, gave Minima Yacht Club the grand slam of lower Thames team racing for 2007.
Minima had previously won the Firkin Trophy against Twickenham and the Warwick Smith versus Ranelagh.
Sunday's race, in merlins, was a close-fought, no-holds-barred contest. Although it was held in blustery conditions, Minima commodore Dennis Lockwood's was the only boat to capsize, yards from the finishing line in the second race, after what he described as a 'pincer movement' by the Thames team.
It is the first time Minima have won this trophy since 1962.
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