Whitsun Open Meeting at Salcombe Yacht Club

Whitsun Open Meeting at Salcombe 2016 © Jayne Morris

Whitsun Open Meeting at Salcombe 2016 © Jayne Morris

Whitsun Open Meeting at Salcombe 2016 © Jayne Morris

The Whitsun Bank Holiday week end saw Salcombe Yacht Club host Open Meetings for the RS400s, Salcombe Yawls and the Solos with a total of sixty five boats competing.

Saturday saw a light and variable Easterly. With neap tides Race Officer Nigel Blazeby was restricted to where there was sufficient water to race therefore settled for a beat and fetch to Gerston, followed by different loops of the upper and lower harbour depending upon the fleet.

With everyone aiming for the pole position at the beach end, the biggest tactical decision of the day was to decide where to cross the tide in order to beat up through the Yawl moorings to Snapes point. Once Snapes point had been rounded it was game over until the return to the harbour.

In the RS400 fleet, regular visitor Jon Gorringe, sailing with Nicki Bass judged the crossing point perfectly, aided by the fact that many visitors were unaware that there was a crossing point, and built up a healthy lead to take the win from Howard Fairbrother and Dan Martin.

In the Classic Yawls John Smithers and Peter Hughes moved from fifth to first on new wind at the final Blackstone mark, to take the first win of the series from Andrew Wood and David Jayne.

Mr and Mrs Bridger led the Modern Yawl fleet up the Portlemouth shore, Simon Gibbens and Andrew Reed worked themselves into a strong tactical position, but crossed at the Ferry, only to get headed as they arrived on the Salcombe shore, whereas the Bridger's held to cross latter and find a lift to establish a 50 yard lead, which they were never to relinquish.

Paul Rayson, Pete Ballantine, Simon Yates and Steve Conroy were the early front runners off the Solo start line, and for much of the race Rayson appeared to be in charge, however the return to the harbour saw the back markers close in on fresh breeze, which allowed Ballantine to sneak past Rayson and Yates on the beat from Blackstone to take the lead, which he held to the finish.

Race Officer Norman Brown set some interesting courses on Sunday, notable for a trip to the Bar on a light North Easterly breeze.

Portchester sailors Paul and Mark Oakey took the RS400 win, no doubt enjoying the beat and running at the entrance of the harbour; that had been set for the benefit of the class.

Paul Ellis and Peter Cook clocked up their first win of the weekend in the Modern Yawls, from Mr and Mrs Bridger, and in the Classic Yawls, Simon and Nicki Dobson achieved the win that their start deserved.

Peter Hammond turned up to race his Solo on Sunday morning, to record a win in the only race that he completed over the weekend.

Sunday afternoon was all about tidal gates! In the RS400's Jon Gorringe and Nicky Bass took the win from David and Rebecca Brown from Queen Mary.

By the time that the Yawls started the tide had set in, and Paul Ellis and Peter Cook were able to make several of these gates, where others failed, to the extent that their lead had been so large that they waited by the Watch House to make sure that the RO had spotted their victory!

Andrew Wood and David Jayne won the Classic Yawls from Jon and Clare Lewis. Paul Rayson, Peter Ballantine and Steve Conroy, proved that the cream rises to the top, when they emerged from a lengthy ordeal with the fleet rafted at the Crossways mark, in the tide but with no wind, to take the podium places in the Solo class.

Monday racing was under the management of Race Officer John Wyllie who set a Round the Creeks course to take advantage of the high tide and Northerly breeze. Sam Parker and Louise Hosken of Queen Mary Sailing Club led the RS400's home.

In the Modern Yawl Fleet, Paul Ellis and Peter Cook won the leeward end of the start line, to build up a considerable lead to the exit of the Bag, however there were nervous moments on the return to the harbour, in the nowhere zone at Snapes Point, where the Northerly met the sea breeze, which was gradually establishing.

In the Classic Yawl fleet, Andrew Wood and David Jayne and Simon and Nicki Dobson led off the start line; however the ever present John Smithers and Peter Hughes worked through to take their second win of the weekend.

Paul Rayson and Nick Jackson led the Solo fleet around the creeks, however there was much place changing in the minor places, with Pete Ballantine working his way through to third place, while there was a fleet inversion at Snapes Point.

Commodore John Neaverson together with Solo Class sponsor Barney Greenhill presented the prizes. Yawl winner Paul Ellis spoke for the competitors of what had been a most enjoyable weekend of sailing, and thanked the Yacht Club, sponsors, race teams, bar and catering staff for helping make the event happen.

RS400 (sponsored by Rooster):

1st 1329, Jon Gorringe and Nicola Bass
2nd 1399, Sam Parker and Louise Hosken
3rd 1441, Paul and Mark Oakey

Classic Salcombe Yawl :

1st 19, John Smithers and Peter Hughes
2nd 97, Andrew Wood and David Jayne
3rd 112, Simon and Nicki Dobson

Modern Salcombe Yawl :

1st 181, Paul Ellis and Peter Cook
2nd 183, Will and Mandy Henderson and Jim Stone
3rd 159, Dan and Gail Bridger

Solo (sponsored by Barney Greenhill):

1st 5181, Paul Rayson
2nd 4894, Peter Ballantine
3rd 5328, Steve Conroy

Whitsun Open Meeting at Salcombe 2016 - photo © Jayne Morris