Salcombe Yacht Club South West Water Pursuit Race
by David Greening 2 Dec 2014 13:31 GMT
29 November 2014
Salcombe Yacht Club South West Water Pursuit Race © Margaret Mackley
Earlier this year dinghy racing at Salcombe Yacht Club was in a precarious position, the winter storms had washed away a large part of Smalls Cove where the racing fleet has traditionally called home which led to the beach owners having to severely limit the number of boats that could be kept there.
Through the endeavours of several members, negotiations were opened with South West Water to use a grassy area over the "tank" at Shadycombe as a new base for nearly fifty racing dinghies. Over the summer the land was prepared and fenced, and many of the fleet are now based there.
In recognition of South West Water stepping in in Salcombe Yacht Club's hour of need, a trophy in their honour has been presented for the winner of a pursuit race to be held on the same day as the annual prize giving dinner.
Unfortunately the wind gods were less kind and the thirty competing boats were presented with a dying easterly breeze, which barely allowed for progress against the spring ebb tide.
Race officer Allister Morley set the traditional Salcombe course to Gerston and Blackstone followed by a loop of the harbour.
The first fleet way were the 21 Solo's with Simon Dobson showing a clean pair of heels to his pursuers, which included Peter Hammond, David Greening and Phil King sailing a brand new Boatyard at Beer boat, short tacking past the Ferry landing into the main anchorage. Bill Jago fed into this pack, having carved a lonely furrow on the Portlemouth shore.
Tidal gates at Snapes Point and Tosnos Point saw this group break away into a seemingly comfortable lead by Gerston, though they could see the red Yawl of Dan Bridger and David Jayne scything their way past the back markers.
Upon the return to the harbour, the race officer, bound to run a 100 minute race, had little option but to let the front runners drift past the Watch House on the ebb tide with little or no wind.
Upon reaching the leeward mark, the leaders continued to drift down tide as they tried to reach for the protection from the tide on the Portlemouth shore, where the Merlin Rocket of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby managed to nose into the ever opening gap.
At this point, the "End of Game" hooter was fired, and the placing's on the course were recorded, which saw Simon Dobson take the win from Peter Cook and Janet Exelby, and Bill Jago recovering to third place after a nifty rounding of the leeward mark.
The South West Water Trophy was awarded by Rear Commodore of Sailing Gail Bridger to Simon at the prize giving dinner that evening.
Overall Results: (top six)
1st Solo 5313, Simon Dobson
2nd Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
3rd Solo 5316, William Jago
4th Solo 5271, Peter Hammond
5th Solo 5301, David Greening
6th Solo 5568, Phil King