Salcombe Yacht Club Spring Series - Race 3
by David Greening 31 Mar 2014 12:09 BST
29 March 2014
An East South East wind and insufficient water to go into the creeks makes it almost impossible for the Race Officer to set a good course in Salcombe, since the lack of beating eliminates many of the tactical decisions that make sailing in the harbour so challenging.
Peter Cook, the Race Officer did his best considering the conditions and set a course of two loops of the Bag followed by a loop of the harbour. The lack of beats made for as much place changing as a modern day Formula One race.
Twelve Solos took to the start line, and with a strong flood tide, position and timing off the start line was to prove the most decisive factor of the race. Peter Ballantine borrowing his CDT teacher's boat and timed the start to perfection, speeding into an early lead that he was never to relinquish. With Chris Cleaves having to return behind the line, David Greening ground out into second place by Snapes Point, with Tim Law and Bill Jago in pursuit.
The battle for second place tightened up in the more unsettled conditions in the harbour, with David Greening holding onto second, from Bill Jago and then Tim Law, following a final dash from the Portlemouth shore to the finish line, when the shorten course signal was made.
In the Handicap Fleet, with such a wide range of craft, the tactics were about sailing efficiently to handicap all around the course. For a while it looked like the Merlin Rocket of Andrew and Laura Squire would emerge victorious, but some spinnaker handling issues on the tight reach into Gerston probably cost them the distance that allowed the Streaker of Clare Booth to take the win on corrected time.
Race 3 Results:
Solo
1st 5317, Peter Ballantine
2nd 5301, David Greening
3rd 5316, Bill Jago
Handicap
1st Streaker 1845, Clare Booth
2nd Merlin Rocket 3725, Andrew and Laura Squire
3rd RS400 1421, John and Annie McLaren