Salcombe Yacht Club Summer Series - Race 8

Starehole drama rocks yacht club!

In the summer of 1993, David Clarence Boon, Australian first class cricketer from Tasmania, scored a century against England at the Lords Ashes test. Some among you may be able to tell me how long it took him. I was there, being on a corporate jolly and for me it took an eternity; certainly all day. I sometimes feel like I am still watching Boon, judiciously accumulating runs. Not being a huge fan of the sport, I thought the day lacked drama and on my considered review, was an appalling waste of time. My cousin, who was also present elsewhere in the ground, reported that for him, the whole thing had been a "thoroughly absorbing day's cricket. Such are the differences in perspectives.

No such contrasts on Saturday for the final race of Salcombe Summer series. Breaking with unwritten codes is perhaps never a good idea but the race officer and it so happens, your correspondent, set a course against a strong flooding tide, to Starehole and back. This is, in other words: OUT TO SEA, where there is (perhaps) NO/TOO MUCH WIND to MARKS WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE and BESIDES THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO ROCKS!

Race officers have been blackballed for less, since unwritten convention dictates that all Salcombe courses should include at least one outing to Gerston; preferably two. For some, I sense that the ideal race includes three roundings of Mark 7. Some say, (me) that Chris Cleaves, like Boon, is looking for some sort of record for the number of visits of this buoy; the unofficial statistic is, that he will soon reach his 100,000th visit.

More certainly I can report that there is a special place in hell reserved for those race officers who have the temerity to overlook the immutable requirement race to Kingsbridge and back. So it was on this day.

Thus the startling appearance of mark Starehole denoted by the letter "C" on the course board hanging off the race hut had many scrabbling for their course cards. Others, who turned up late for the start, such as Simon Gibbens, (something to do with there being no water when he arrived to launch his boat) did not even consult the race hut on his way past, so did well to finish at all.

Anyhow uninhibited by an earlier stern directive about the inadvisability of "abusing flag officers in the bar", your correspondent was on the end of some pithy post race commentary about the success or otherwise, of this course. I can report that I have duly taken on board all these incautious remarks and should here like to record my gratitude for them, however nebulous they appear.

For me, I should have enjoyed the race, had I been able to sail it. But granted, sending everyone back out there for a second time against a solid spring tide, was a bridge too far and, fair comment, this did lead to a curtailed race. But overall it looked ok to me. Better than watching Boon, but that perhaps, is not saying much.

My arbitrary man of the match, is Ed Stephens in the Solo fleet. He is sailing very nicely these days. Peter Ballantine, also Solo, is a real talent and he took this race off Tim Law who is lately returned from the Laser Masters, where he had finished well up, in a hot fleet. Starehole held no fear for them at least.

I should also like to single out young Martin Ley who was sailing his Mirror. Sadly, he lacked any competition to demonstrate how well he was racing. Martin wins the Junior fleet Series; well done. Claire Booth wins the Medium handicap series, Peter and Janet Cook, the fast handicap, and Chris Cleaves the Solos. Finally David Jayne and local sail maker Chris Spencer-Chapman, wins the Yawl series.

Next up, the Bucket and Spade series, with yet more Starehole action! That is, unless someone has the forethought to remove the "C" board from the race hut in the meantime.

Race 8 Results:

Junior Handicap 1. Mirror 70390, Martin Ley / Tom Ley

Medium Handicap
1. RS Aero 7 1505, Tim Fells
2. Laser Radial 176294, Sam Lloyd
3. RS Feva XL [Medium] 1521, Eldie Grenan / Ollie Sando Reholds

Fast Handicap
1. Merlin-Rocket 3616, Peter Cook / Janet Exelby
2. Phantom 1357, Alistair Morley
3. National 12 3480, Norman Brown / Karen Brown

Solo
1. 4894, Peter Ballantine
2. 5599, Tim Law
3. 5573, Chris Cleaves
4. 5568, Phil King
5. 5194, Ed Stephens

Salcombe Yawl
1. 28, David Jayne / Chris Spencer-chapman
2. 150, Jon Lewis / Clare Lewis
3. 171, Mike Whitehouse / Karen Whitehouse