Alex Jackson and Rebecca Videlo took the 2026 Merlin Rocket Allen Inland Championship.
Hosted by the Oxford Sailing Club, six races were completed in everything from drifting conditions to big gusts which produced six different winners and a tied championship, with the title decided on countback.
Jackson and Videlo finished with 14 points, tied with Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley, to take the title on countback. Tim Saxton and Holly McArthur completed the podium in third with 18 pts.
The first day it was a case of searching for wind, and two very light wind races were completed. Winner of the first were Oliver Meadowcroft and Alex Pausey, and of the second Alex Jackson and Rebecca Videlo.
Day 2 produced a light wind but increasing through the day.
Winner of race 3 after some confussion over the number of laps, were Andy Davis and Becky Caiger. race 4 with slightly more wind was a win for Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley. Race 5 began in around 15 knots and was won by Tim Saxton and Holly McArthur.
And so to the final race and the breeze was now properly up.
James Wells and Anna Aylward took the final win ahead of Jackson and Videlo, with Jon Gorringe and Liam Gardner popping-up to take a crucial third place ahead of Gould and Mackley.
This result set-up the 14 point tie between the two leading crews, with the title going to Jackson and Videlo.
Merlin Rocket Allen Inland Championship
after 6 races, 1 discard (28 entries)
1st Alex Jackson / Rebecca Videlo 5 1 3 6 3 2 – – 14 pts
2nd Chris Gould / Sophie Mackley 3 8 4 1 2 4 – – 14 pts
3rd Tim Saxton / Holly McArthur 2 3 8 4 1 8 – – 18 pts
4th Oliver Meadowcroft / Alex Pausey 1 4 7 2 10 7 – – 21 pts
5th Matthew Shorrock / Ben Shorrock 10 2 5 3 5 15 – – 25 pts
6th James Wells / Anna Aylward 6 19 6 9 4 1 – – 26 pts
7th Caroline Gould / Isobel Stewart 8 13 2 7 11 9 – – 37 pts
8th Andy Davis / Becky Caiger 9 16 1 UFD 7 6 – – 39 pts
9th David Winder / Beka Jones 14 10 29 5 8 12 – – 49 pts
10th Ben Whaley / Amelie Hacker 23 5 9 8 RTD 5 – – 50 pts