Salcombe Yacht Club Festive Series
by David Greening 4 Jan 2014 19:27 GMT
26,28 December 2013 & 1 January 2014
The Salcombe Yacht Club dinghy season wraps up with a three race seasonal regatta over Boxing Day, New Year's Day and the Saturday in between. Not only does this give the chance for all of the classes to mix it up in a Handicap Series, but it also provides interest as sailors find themselves in unusual boats, and the chance to race with odd star from elsewhere who might be holidaying in Salcombe.
The Boxing Day race was held in a Force 2 West South Westerly, with the tide under the beat. Sixteen boats assembled on the line, with the ladies of the club running the racing. The Merlin Rockets of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby and Jon Gorringe and Nicky Bass made the early running, along with the Yawl of Dan Bridger and David Jayne.
The major tactical decision was which side of the run to go. Those who took the Portlemouth side consistently came out best. The Solos had a race within a race, which did nothing to assist their position in the overall standings, Billy Jago stayed ahead of the chasing pack, with the minor placings being sorted out in shifting winds on the final beat from Crossways to the Finish line.
Peter Cook and Janet Exelby eventually took first place from the Dan Bridger and David Jayne followed by Jon Gorringe and Nicky Bass.
On Saturday, the racing fleet were confronted with another light West South Westerly breeze, with a strong flood tide. Again the choice of sides was to prove important, but this time on the first beat.
A small group of boats, including Cook, Bridger, the Solo of Tim Law and the Merlin Rocket of Andrew and Laura Squire, chose the Portlemouth side, and emerged in the strongest positions by Biddle Head, and those that started on the Salcombe side found little opportunity to recover.
The dying breeze on the last lap ensured that the leader's positions were consolidated, with the Merlin Rocket of Cook and Exelby scoring their second win of the weekend, this time from the Solo of Tim Law, with the Squire's new Merlin taking third place.
Forty mile an hour winds and hangovers from the previous night, saw the abandonment flag flying from the Watch House on New Year's Day, so Cook and Exelby took the Festive title from Bridger and Jayne, in a series that attracted 20 competitors.
The Salcombe dinghy sailors will now take a short break until the Commissioning Race on March 8th.
Overall Results:
1st Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
2n= Salcombe Yawl 159, Dan Bridger and David Jayne
3rd Solo 5315, Tim Law
4rd Solo 5295, Chris Cleaves