Salcombe Yacht Club Commissioning Race 2016
by David Greening 13 Mar 2016 20:22 GMT
13 March 2016
Following two months of completing domestic chores in the absence of organised dinghy racing, fifteen boats came to the start line for 2016 edition of Salcombe Yacht Club's Commissioning Race.
Arrivals at the boat park may have thought that summer had arrived early with three Yawls rigged and ready to go, and with some of their sailors in shorts.
With the race being held on a low water spring tide Race officer Chris Cleaves had few course setting options and three rounds of the harbour was the order of the day.
A port biased start line saw the Solo of David Greening and the Yawl of Dan and Gail Bridger flick onto port tack first. But the National 12 of Christian and Sophie Day and the Merlin Rocket of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby made the most of the light and shifty beat to arrive in contention at the Blackstone mark.
Following a three year refit Geoff Gilson sailing with Chris Spencer Chapman in their Yawl used their guile to charge down the middle of the harbour to overtake the Bridger's by Crossways, only to relinquish the place on the second beat.
As the wind tightened up on the second run, Peter Colclough and John McLaren found the conditions more suited to the RS400 and put in a late charge in pursuit of the Merlin.
At this stage, mindful of the impending England Wales 6 Nations kick off, the fleet envisaged a shortened course, however the Race Officer demonstrated a stubborn Welsh streak and said "play on", with the fleet beating into an increasing flood tide on a dying breeze, saw the leaders pull away from their pursuers, with the Merlin Rocket of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby taking a well-deserved win from the Yawls of Dan and Gail Bridger chased home by Geoff Gilson and Chris Spencer Chapman.
The fleet rapidly packed up, to retire to the Clubhouse to enjoy a famous England victory and the Commissioning supper.
Overall Results: (top three)
1st Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
2nd Yawl 159, Dan and Gail Bridger
3rd Yawl 170, Geoff Gilson and Chris Spencer Chapman