Salcombe Yacht Club New Year's Day Race 2016

'Will you marry me' flags during the Salcombe Yacht Club New Year's Day Race © Jayne Morris

After eight weeks of relentless gale force winds, which had forced the abandonment of racing at Salcombe Yacht Club, the wind gods finally relented to provide dinghy sailors a two hour window to compete for the final and only remaining race of the Festive Series.

In reality the wind had merely changed direction; with winds in excess of 30 knots blowing onto the launching slipway, whilst in the harbour the wind strength and direction (vertical and horizontal) was random; blowing over the Portlemouth shore.

Race Officer Geoff Gilson set a course taking sailors to Blackstone and then into Yalton with a shortened course finish at the Yacht Club line.

The start was an anti-climax, with Bill Jago in his Solo making the most progress with the tide underneath him over a huge swell, gradually Bill, Chris Cleaves in a Solo, and a slightly moist Dan Bridger in his Aero 9 pulled clear to pick up some clear breeze for the beat into Blackstone.

The front runners picked up the full force of the wind whilst they reached into Yalton Creek with Dan pulling clear of the Solos. On the return Chris Cleaves exercised his New Year resolution of "nobody shall pass me to windward" by luffing Bill to Portlemouth, which enabled David Greening, emerging from a D'Yquem induced haze, to plane up to their transoms in the last 100 yards to the finishing line and roll over Bill.

Dan Bridger was first to finish, but was not far enough ahead to beat the trio of Solos who finished within 20 seconds of each other.

Sailors returning through the harbour were perplexed to see the signal flags flying from the Watch House, spelling "Laura will you Marry Me" and remained on tenterhooks to know Merlin sailor Laura Squire's response to the question posed to her... or whether she had sufficient knowledge of the International Flag Signals to be able to form an opinion.

The fleet had to wait a little while longer to find out, since her distracted helm and suitor Simon Evans capsized on the return to the slipway. At least Laura had the good sense to put the accepted engagement ring safely away in her pocket, rather than attach it to the mast, which following the capsize had returned to kit form, no doubt a new carbon mast will be at the top of their wedding list!

Overall Results: (top three)

1st Solo 5573, Chris Cleaves
2nd Solo 5617, David Greening
3rd Solo 5598, Billy Jago