Salcombe Yacht Club Spring Series - Race 1

Salcombe Spring Series race 1 © David Greening

Salcombe Spring Series race 1 © David Greening

Salcombe Spring Series race 1 © Margaret Mackley

With a wildly swinging Northerly Force 3 breeze and a neap ebb tide, Race Officer David Greening sent the Salcombe Yacht Club Solo and Handicap fleets, firstly to a special mark laid in Yalton creek, and then to Gerston followed by two loops of the Harbour.

There was a fifteen strong Solo fleet and despite the ebb tide, two found themselves over the line, Chris Cleaves was not one of them, but he went back anyway, which may have had a bearing on his final result.

Whilst the majority of the fleet started on the Portlemouth shore, a small number started at the Watch House end. Peter Hammond arrived at the first mark in the lead, which he maintained and extended to four minutes by the end of the race.

There was more completion for the lesser places, with Cleaves recovering to second place, and new member to the fleet Nick Jackson taking third place.

All of the Handicap fleet boats started on the Portlemouth side and the drama started early with Graham and Fiona Cranford-Smith gyrating after a port and starboard incident with the other Merlin of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby.

Charlie Blazeby in his Laser Radial performed well to stay ahead of the faster Laser Standard of Robin Hodges. However it was Cook and Exelby who took the race on Handicap, with Charlie's efforts rewarded with a second place on corrected time.

Solo Results:

1st 5271, Peter Hammond
2nd 5573, Chris Cleaves
3rd 5361, Nick Jackson

Handicap Results:

1st Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
2nd Laser 203307, Charlie Blazeby
3rd Merlin Rocket 3698, Graham and Fiona Cranford Smith

Salcombe Spring Series race 1 - photo © David Greening