Sharps Doom Bar Merlin Week at Salcombe Yacht Club - Day 4
by Tim Fells 8 Jul 2015 20:42 BST
5-10 July 2015
Following the excitement of Tuesday, the Merlin fleet woke to a stiff breeze from the WSW, forecast to veer to the NW.
Blue v Black flights Course 1,4,2,6,5,7
Starting an hour before high water, the decision was whether to play the town or Portlemouth shore. Initially, the Portlemouth shore paid with Dave Winder and Pippa Taylor back to their best, escaping from the crowds to take the lead up past Mill Bay. However, they started to run out of breeze and were shocked to see Tim Fells and Oli Wells, who had played the town side, reaching in above them on new pressure to round Blackstone with a clear lead.
From this point Tim and Oli extended to build a large lead, successfully negotiating the very tricky loop around Mill Bay mark which caused many challenges in the chasing pack. Simon Potts and Ali Martin broke free to take a comfortable second ahead of Matt Biggs and John Hackett who are building a strong series. Chris Jennings and Peter Horn followed up their race win with a fourth.
Green v Red flights Course Y,3,5,7,3,7,2
Although the breeze was still blowing a good F4 in the rest of the harbour, the start line was a dead zone with occasional zephyrs and the odd vertical down draught making it a complete minefield. Added to this was a strong ebb tide and the obligatory black flag making it almost impossible to hold a position near the line. This race was going to be all about the start.
Smartest tack in the box was Sophie Mackley who got her towel on the sunbed early, standing in the water with her crew James Warren holding their boat a metre behind the line. On the gun they stepped in the boat and were able to sneak away towards the good breeze at the ferry landing.
Also judging the start with precision were Alex Jackson and Fran Gifford and also Richard Whitworth and Sam Mottershead who managed to keep station close to the line and get away at the gun. Most of the rest of the fleet were sitting in no wind and drifting backwards on the tide out to sea.
Once free of the clutches of the dead zone, proper battle commenced and those leading teams who had got trapped, started to claw their way back towards the front. On the final loop round the Mill Bay mark Tom Stewart and Phil Dalby had taken the lead but were cruelly treated by the mysteries of the wind. Richard and Sam brought a gust up from behind and were able to round first and hold their lead to the finish.
Making a last minute dash for stardom, Jen and Chris Dodds came from fourth to take second, pushing Tom and Phil into third. Alex and Fran held on well for fourth with early leaders Sophie and James in fifth.
Of the front runners, Taxi and Alex pulled through from well back to take eighth.
Overall, these results have closed the fight for the title up with one point covering the top three and then one point covering the next six boats. With a forecast of less breeze from less than favourable directions, there is a long way to go in this very competitive week.
Results after day 4:
Posn | No. | Helm/Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
1 | 3703 | Richard Whitworth/Sam Mottershead | [5] | | 1 | | | 3 | | 1 | 5 |
2 | 3684 | Andy Davis/Alex Warren | 1 | | 2 | | | 2 | | [8] | 5 |
3 | 3743 | Matt Biggs/John Hackett | | 2 | [7] | | 1 | | 3 | | 6 |
4 | 3658 | Chris Jennings/Pete Horn | | 5 | | [12] | | 1 | 4 | | 10 |
5 | 3754 | Jon Gorringe/Nikki Bass | 2 | | | 5 | 3 | | | [18] | 10 |
6 | 3656 | Olly Turner/Hamish Kilburn | 4 | | | 2 | 4 | | | [7] | 10 |
7 | 3733 | Tom Stewart/Phil Dalby | [10] | | 3 | | | 4 | | 3 | 10 |
8 | 3764 | Tim Fells/Oli Wells | | 1 | 9 | | [61] | | 1 | | 11 |
9 | 3759 | Sam Pascoe/Megan Pascoe | 3 | | | [6] | 2 | | | 6 | 11 |
10 | 3753 | Simon Potts/Ally Martin | | 9 | | 1 | | [61] | 2 | | 12 |
11 | 3735 | Dave Winder/Pippa Taylor | | [61] | | 3 | | 5 | 5 | | 13 |
12 | 3611 | Jen Dodds/Chris Dodds | 6 | | [10] | | | 8 | | 2 | 16 |
13 | 3707 | Alex Jackson/Fran Gifford | [12] | | 6 | | | 6 | | 4 | 16 |
14 | 3774 | Jon Turner/Richard Parslow | | 6 | 5 | | 7 | | [17] | | 18 |
15 | 3691 | Mike Calvert/Ian Garwood | | 4 | | 4 | | [13] | 11 | | 19 |
16 | 3685 | Sophie Mackley/James Warren | 8 | | 8 | | | [9] | | 5 | 21 |
17 | 3710 | Jon Ibbotson/Chris Kilsby | | 8 | | [11] | | 7 | 6 | | 21 |
18 | 3679 | Nick Heginbotham/Becky Jones | | 11 | | 7 | | [12] | 8 | | 26 |
19 | 3712 | Ian Sharps/Ellie Sharps | | [61] | 13 | | 5 | | 9 | | 27 |
20 | 3715 | Paul Rayson/Julie Rayson | [20] | | | 9 | 9 | | | 10 | 28 |
21 | 3752 | Will Rainey/Andy Douglas | 7 | | [12] | | | 11 | | 11 | 29 |
22 | 3770 | David Hayes/Jonny Ratcliffe | | 3 | 17 | | 10 | | [61] | | 30 |
23 | 3645 | Steve Hall/Ally Hall | | 7 | | 10 | | [16] | 14 | | 31 |
24 | 3722 | Roger Gilbert/Jane Gilbert | [61] | | | 14 | 6 | | | 12 | 32 |
25 | 3766 | Andy Dalby/Andrea Downham | 14 | | | 8 | [16] | | | 16 | 38 |
26 | 3564 | Rob Kennaugh/Abi Spurr | | 10 | 15 | | 13 | | [15] | | 38 |
27 | 3690 | Tim Harridge/Lucy Burn | 11 | | | [26] | 8 | | | 22 | 41 |
28 | 3702 | Duncan Salmon/Harriet Salmon | 15 | | | [22] | 11 | | | 15 | 41 |
29 | 3725 | AJ Squire/Mary Henderson | 9 | | [61] | | | 14 | | 19 | 42 |
30 | 3675 | Mike Fenwick/Penny Fenwick | | 17 | 11 | | [22] | | 18 | | 46 |
31 | 3678 | Steve Crook/Jo Marlow | | 14 | | 20 | | [61] | 13 | | 47 |
32 | 3744 | Chris Martin/Jo Tosh | 18 | | 21 | | | [61] | | 9 | 48 |
33 | 3539 | Dan Alsop/Jennie King | 13 | | 14 | | | [61] | | 21 | 48 |
34 | 3719 | Jeremy Deacon/Jack Barratt | 19 | | [34] | | | 15 | | 14 | 48 |
35 | 3727 | Mark Stockbridge/Peter Ballantine | 17 | | | [24] | 12 | | | 20 | 49 |
36 | 3666 | Jon Meadowcroft/Katy Meadowcroft | 16 | | | [28] | 18 | | | 17 | 51 |
37 | 3583 | Colin Anderson/Ben Eaves | 27 | | 18 | | | 10 | | [28] | 55 |
38 | 3709 | Tom Lonsdale/Alice Markham | | 18 | | 17 | | [61] | 21 | | 56 |
39 | 3769 | Graham Cranford‑smith/Fiona Cranford‑smith | | 19 | 24 | | 15 | | [39] | | 58 |
40 | 3688 | Ben Hollis/Sean Anderson | | [61] | 19 | | 14 | | 27 | | 60 |
41 | 3718 | Mark Elkington/Dan Bridger | [33] | | | 15 | 23 | | | 24 | 62 |
42 | 3615 | Stuart Bates/Andrew Milton | | 16 | 20 | | 28 | | [32] | | 64 |
43 | 3641 | Mark Waterhouse/Matt Currell | | 20 | | 18 | | [61] | 26 | | 64 |
44 | 3726 | Liam Dempsey/Philippa Daniels | | 22 | [27] | | 20 | | 22 | | 64 |
45 | 3165 | Dave Croft/Abigail Croft | | [29] | | 23 | | 18 | 24 | | 65 |
46 | 3751 | Tony Johnson/Louise Johnson | | 15 | 32 | | [34] | | 20 | | 67 |
47 | 3730 | Paul Hollis/Liese Scott | | 23 | 26 | | 19 | | [29] | | 68 |
48 | 3627 | Alex Jones/Jack Deung | | 24 | | 30 | | [61] | 16 | | 70 |
49 | 3705 | Geoff Wright/Carole Murcott | | 21 | 25 | | 24 | | [35] | | 70 |
50 | 3657 | Anthony Lofts/Sophie Penwarden | 22 | | | [25] | 25 | | | 23 | 70 |
51 | 3731 | Andy Jones/Jilly Blake | | 12 | 33 | | 26 | | [38] | | 71 |
52 | 3652 | John Bell/Olivia Bell | 26 | | 36 | | | [61] | | 13 | 75 |
53 | 3665 | Ross Jackson/Mark Oakey | | [61] | | 36 | | 17 | 23 | | 76 |
54 | 3673 | Chris Gould/Caroline Croft | | 61 | 4 | | [61] | | 12 | | 77 |
55 | 3575 | Richard Cooke/Charlotte Cotter | | 26 | 22 | | 29 | | [33] | | 77 |
56 | 3339 | Tim Male/Rebecca Male | 25 | | | 21 | [61] | | | 32 | 78 |
57 | 3643 | Rien Zilvold | 24 | | | [29] | 27 | | | 29 | 80 |
58 | 3578 | Godfrey Clarke/Andy Currell | 28 | | | [49] | 17 | | | 36 | 81 |
59 | 3768 | Rob Cage/Hatty Cage | | [61] | 30 | | 30 | | 25 | | 85 |
60 | 3687 | Matt Greenfield/Hannah Greenfield | | [61] | | 19 | | 61 | 7 | | 87 |
61 | 3716 | Steve Leney/Gill Leney | | 61 | 16 | | [61] | | 10 | | 87 |
62 | 3773 | Alan Warren/Bill Carroll | | [61] | | 13 | | 61 | 19 | | 93 |
63 | 3771 | Laurie Smart/Richard Pausey | | 31 | 29 | | [38] | | 34 | | 94 |
64 | 3682 | Jon Steward/Harry Steward | 29 | | | [44] | 32 | | | 33 | 94 |
65 | 3544 | David Downs/Barry Mourant | | 32 | | 43 | | 20 | [44] | | 95 |
66 | 3647 | Hywel Bowen Perkins/Lucy Penwarden | | 28 | 28 | | 40 | | [41] | | 96 |
67 | 3663 | Chris Haworth/Joanne Haworth | | 34 | | 27 | | [61] | 36 | | 97 |
68 | 3676 | Charles Anderson/Annie Ridley | 32 | | | [40] | 35 | | | 30 | 97 |
69 | 3650 | Paul Englemann/Adam Wickenden | 41 | | | [41] | 31 | | | 27 | 99 |
70 | 3714 | Alan Markham/Sue Markham | | 25 | | 38 | | [61] | 37 | | 100 |
71 | 3598 | Rob Smith/Andrew Smith | | 33 | 35 | | 33 | | [40] | | 101 |
72 | 3683 | Ben Jones/Helen Hilditch | | 27 | | 45 | | [61] | 30 | | 102 |
73 | 3704 | Jemma Hughes/Russell Hall | 35 | | 31 | | | [61] | | 38 | 104 |
74 | 3651 | Colin Brockbank/Martin Hughes | | [61] | | 16 | | 61 | 28 | | 105 |
75 | 3740 | Patrick Blake/Anna Blake | | 13 | | 33 | | 61 | [61] | | 107 |
76 | 3671 | Piers Lambert/Andy Bines | 23 | | 23 | | | 61 | | [61] | 107 |
77 | 3565 | Paul Keeling/Michelle Keeling | 21 | | | [61] | 61 | | | 26 | 108 |
78 | 3755 | Peter Jackson/John Pammaton | [45] | | | 37 | 36 | | | 35 | 108 |
79 | 3547 | Peter Male/Christine Male | 37 | | 51 | | | 21 | | [61] | 109 |
80 | 3594 | Robin Clifton Dey/Michael Clifton Dey | 36 | | | 32 | [42] | | | 41 | 109 |
81 | 3706 | Kevin Anderson/Sadie Anderson | | 38 | 39 | | 37 | | [61] | | 114 |
82 | 3511 | Andrew Mills/Lora Stock | | 36 | | 31 | | [61] | 49 | | 116 |
83 | 3772 | Phil Emery/Karen Emery | [61] | | | 35 | 21 | | | 61 | 117 |
84 | 3672 | John Cooper/Hilary Bradshaw | 31 | | | [61] | 61 | | | 25 | 117 |
85 | 3606 | John Adams/Joe Woods | | 35 | | 42 | | [61] | 45 | | 122 |
86 | 3600 | Stuart Jenkins/Imogen Jenkins | | [61] | 41 | | 39 | | 42 | | 122 |
87 | 3734 | Phil Ashworth/Ali Ashworth | 38 | | 46 | | | [61] | | 42 | 126 |
88 | 3762 | Malcolm Hyams/Dan Barrett | | [61] | 38 | | 43 | | 46 | | 127 |
89 | 3625 | Richard Bramley/Tony Cheal | | 37 | 47 | | 44 | | [61] | | 128 |
90 | 3497 | Jan Holland/Alex Homer | [61] | | 49 | | | 19 | | 61 | 129 |
91 | 3674 | Mike Anslow/George Crabtree | 34 | | | 34 | [61] | | | 61 | 129 |
92 | 3648 | Antonia Wright/Jamie Wright | 39 | | 61 | | | [61] | | 31 | 131 |
93 | 3599 | Ken Duffell/Brian Corking | 42 | | | [48] | 45 | | | 46 | 133 |
94 | 3555 | Ian Mackenzie/Luke Tucker | 44 | | 50 | | | [61] | | 40 | 134 |
95 | 3586 | Kieron Mason/George Mason | 46 | | 52 | | | [61] | | 37 | 135 |
96 | 3561 | Keiron O Farrell/Fionn O Farrell | | 30 | | 47 | | 61 | [61] | | 138 |
97 | 3692 | Steve Mitchell/Julie Nuttall | | [61] | | 46 | | 61 | 31 | | 138 |
98 | 3697 | Richard Page/Lizzy Dalby | 40 | | 37 | | | 61 | | [61] | 138 |
99 | 3602 | Anthony Rickaby/Marion Read | 30 | | 48 | | | 61 | | [61] | 139 |
100 | 3589 | John Hollands/Ellen Cooper | | 39 | 53 | | [61] | | 47 | | 139 |
101 | 3567 | Martin Smith/Karen Beston | [61] | | 45 | | | 61 | | 34 | 140 |
102 | 3414 | Ian Laing/Andrew Hunt | | 40 | 54 | | 46 | | [61] | | 140 |
103 | 3636 | Mike Jennings/Hannah Jennings | 61 | | | [61] | 41 | | | 39 | 141 |
104 | 3371 | Paul Dean/Nicki Della Porta | 43 | | 40 | | | 61 | | [61] | 144 |
105 | 3530 | Mike Colles/Amanda Lake | [61] | | 43 | | | 61 | | 43 | 147 |
106 | 3479 | Rupert Fletcher/Paul Samieson | 48 | | | 51 | 48 | | | [61] | 147 |
107 | 2805 | Stephen Kemmer/Nicki Erskine Tulloch | | [61] | 55 | | 47 | | 48 | | 150 |
108 | 3543 | Kim Magness/Etienne Magness | 47 | | | 53 | 50 | | | [61] | 150 |
109 | 3456 | Martin Evans/Chris Evans | | [61] | | 50 | | 61 | 43 | | 154 |
110 | 2604 | Jeremy Stein/Sarah Percival | 61 | | | 52 | [61] | | | 44 | 157 |
111 | 3569 | Nigel Cooper/Lucy Cooper | 49 | | | [61] | 49 | | | 61 | 159 |
112 | 3767 | Ben Archer/Olivia Bellini | | [61] | | 39 | | 61 | 61 | | 161 |
113 | 3485 | Dennis Fisher | 61 | | 42 | | | 61 | | [61] | 164 |
114 | 3680 | Steve Watson/Matt Percival Stein | 61 | | 44 | | | 61 | | [61] | 166 |
115 | 3482 | Henry Mason | 61 | | 61 | | | [61] | | 45 | 167 |
116 | 1692 | Patrick Rayner/Claire Grant | 61 | | 61 | | | 61 | | [61] | 183 |
117 | 3717 | John Green/Joe Shaw | | [61] | | 61 | | 61 | 61 | | 183 |
118 | 3581 | Brendan O Connell/Janet O Connell | | [61] | | 61 | | 61 | 61 | | 183 |
119 | 3621 | Tristam Squire/Shelia Squire | | [61] | | 61 | | 61 | 61 | | 183 |
120 | 3291 | Dave Philpott/Jenny Philpot | | [61] | 61 | | 61 | | 61 | | 183 |