Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series Race 2
by David Greening 17 Sep 2015 22:21 BST
13 September 2015
Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series Race 2 © SYC
A Force 3 to 4 Westerly breeze, forecast to back to a South-South-Westerly greeted the competitors taking part in the second race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series.
Race officer Andrew Wood sat a course taking the fleet to Blackstone, Gerston, Saltstone, Gerston followed by a short loop of the harbour.
The RS Tera Sport of Ben Meek and the Topper of George Alexander toughed it out in demanding conditions for the Junior Handicap, with George finishing first, but Ben taking the Handicap victory.
The Blazeby brothers fought out the Medium Handicap race, with the Laser Radial of Charlie, getting the better of the Laser Standard of Torrin, both on the water and on Handicap.
Peter Cook and Janet Exelby chose the Salcombe end of the start line, and drew out a substantial lead from the National 12 of Charlie and Helen Lloyd, with the two Squire Merlin Rockets failing to recover from late starts from the Portlemouth shore.
Eighteen Solos came to the line. With no fairway and a strong flood tide, the majority chose to start on the Salcombe side. Tim Law having considered his options, emerged from a melee of capsized boats at the pin, crossed toward Biddle Head to find the Westerly lift; which allowed him to pull out a respectable lead by Blackstone, which he was never to relinquish.
Meanwhile, in the cheap seats, much entertainment was had and course changing required, when Ed Stephens capsized on the windward mark bear off, joined by Bill Jago taking avoiding action. Chris Cleaves, Bruce Hattersley, Nigel Appleton and Andrew Thompson set off in pursuit, and enjoyed four screaming reaches across Widegates, before a hard beat against the tide back in the harbour, which saw Nigel Appleton drop out of the pack, and Bill pull him up to third place by the finish.
In the Yawl class, Charles Thompson teamed up with Peter Stratton, to carve a lonely furrow around the course, though Yawl numbers are expected to increase for the Open Meeting this coming weekend.
All in all, an exciting and testing afternoon of sailing.
Junior Handicap Results:
1st RS Tera Sport, Ben Meek
2nd Topper, 46721, George Alexander
Medium Handicap Results:
1st Laser Radial, 203307, Charlie Blazeby
2nd Laser, 161391, Torrin Blazeby
Fast Handicap Results:
1st Merlin Rocket, 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
2nd National 12, 3534, Charlie and Helen Lloyd
3rd Merlin Rocket, 3725, Andrew and Tristram Squire
Solo Results:
1st 5599, Tim Law
2nd 5573, Chris Cleaves
3rd 5598, Bill Jago
Salcombe Yawl Results:
1st 189, Charles Thompson and Peter Stratton