Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 2
by David Greening 12 Sep 2016 15:14 BST
10 September 2016
Near perfect conditions greeted the dinghy sailors in the second race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn series; by the start of racing the forecast force 3 Westerly breeze had aligned itself up and down the harbour, and with a neap ebb tide, the competitors enjoyed courses that made the most of the beat and running conditions in the harbour and flat out planing reaches to and from the Gerston mark.
In the Cadet Handicap Fleet, Evie Booth in her Tera Sport notched up a win over James Alexander, whilst series leader Ben Meek assisted his dad Race Officer Julian Meek.
Tim Fells once again showed excellent speed in his RS Aero 7 and finished first, despite a capsize, with Clare Booth in pursuit, though a spirited sail by Geourge Alexander and Ruari McColl secured them second place on corrected time.
Peter Cook and Janet Exelby returned to the Fast Handicap Fleet in their Merlin Rocket to record an emphatic win from their pursuers in a fleet of three Merlins and four National 12s, the Day's took second place from the Ballantines.
The fourteen boat strong Solo fleet was again the most numerous, with Chris Cleaves leading off the line, a position that he was never to relinquish, aided by the close competition between the chasing pack of Simon Yates, Tom Ballantine, Bill Jago, Ed Stephens and David Greening.
Simon wrapped himself on the Blackstone mark, Tom crossed the tide too early, Ed Stephens had gear failure, to leave Jago and Greening to close in on Cleaves, however he maintained a loose cover to control the race, and when Jago capsized while gybing, Greening secured second place.
It was a slightly diminished fleet that appeared on the start line for this weekend's Salcombe Yawl Autumn Open Meeting. Which was a pity; those who were not there missed a treat because the weather was unseasonably benign, the winds fair and the estuary delightfully clear of moored yachts.
Yawls typically race in two fleets for head scratching and arcane reasons (to the on-looker) all to do with the invention of Phil Morrison. He it was who tweaked the design some years ago leading to two distinct but indistinct classes. The fleets are respectively Blue (pre-Morrison) and Red (post-Morrison). Sixteen Yawls appeared on the entry list this weekend: eight in each fleet.
Nevertheless this open meeting was testament to the intensity of Yawl racing; perhaps the best of fun to be found anywhere. For the Yawl, she is a tactical weapon and when in full sway, a sight to see. She forms part of the technicolour UK dinghy scene with sisters found in such classes like the XOD and Brightlingsea One Designs, for example. Her traditional appearance belies the degree of skill required to cajole her round the course. Tactical errors are punished.
Both days were characterised by quite decent South West/Southerlies; the best direction for Salcombe. Sunday in particular was startlingly fine with a building force 4 and unremitting sunshine. The conditions were properly champagne: Salcombe was at its best and the Yawl fleets lit up the harbour. The PRO team for Sunday, Tim and Sue Fells, resisted the temptation to set the usual creek tour notwithstanding tidal considerations. They sent the fleet out over the bar on the ebb, in the final race of the day in almost perfect conditions, twice. Sailors returned to the yacht club terrace bright eyed with the wondrous sailing they had just experienced.
In the Blue Fleet, the racing was dominated by Andrew Wood and Tim Petit. Woody and Tim, from the Devon Yawl fleet, produced a fine run of results: three firsts and a second. These results belie the closeness of the racing but this team sailed impeccably. Hot in pursuit and always on the case was pairing John Smithers and Pete Hughes sailing Yawl no. 19 who nailed the final race from a long way back; at one point they were a faint fifth. In Salcombe, nothing truer is the maxim is "never give up" and they never did. Always in the hunt remained Anthony Lofts and crew, a solid third.
In the Red Fleet sailing "Shag" well-known local pairing Simon Gibbens and Andrew Reed were popular winners. Mike and Karen Whitehouse celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary this weekend and might have been excused for being elsewhere. But they raced all the same and were rewarded with a well-earned second place with Malcolm and Sue Squire third.
Race 2 Results:
Junior Handicap
1st RS Tera Pro 2146, Evie Booth
2nd RS Tera Sport 881, James Alexander
Medium Handicap
1st Aero 7 1505, Tim Fells
2nd RS Feva XL, George Alexander and Ruari McColl
3rd Laser Radial 190664, Elodie Grenen
Fast Handicap
1st Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
2nd National 12 3526, Christian and Sophie Day
3rd National 12 3431, Simon and Karen Ballantine
Solo
1st 5573, Chris Cleaves
2nd 5617, David Greening
3rd 5598, Billy Jago
Salcombe Yawl Classic
1st 97, Andrew Wood and Tim Petit
2nd 19, John Smithers and Peter Hughes
3rd 132, Anthony and Allyson Lofts
Salcombe Yawl Modern
1st 167, Simon Gibbens and Andrew Reed
2nd 171, Mike and Karen Whitehouse
3rd 173, Malcolm and Sue Squire