Summer Series at Salcombe Yacht Club - Day 3
by David Greening 28 Jun 2016 12:33 BST
25 June 2016
Race Officer Malcolm Mackley wrestled with setting a course for the Salcombe Yacht Club Summer Series competitors, with a West North Westerly force 3 breeze with a strong vertical component and a falling tide, scheduled for the harbour to be devoid of water at mid-race.
Evie Booth led George Alexander off the Cadet Handicap start in her RS Tera Sport, a position that she maintained.
Henry Bright made a welcome return to racing his Laser in the Medium Handicap fleet and it is a testament to the Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap System that with an elapsed time difference of over half of an hour, the Foxer of Janet Exelby and Peter Cook was only 15 seconds behind on corrected time.
Jon Gorringe and Nikki Bass dominated the Fast Handicap Fleet, made up of Merlin Rockets and National 12's, with Nigel and Sarah Blazeby picking up second place from Graham and Fiona Cranford-Smith.
Eighteen Solos beat to the Blackstone mark, with Robin Hodges, Chris Cleaves and Bill Jago making the early running. After a long off wind leg Cleaves emerged at Gerston with a comfortable lead, however as the wind became increasingly fitful as the fleet approached the harbour, the fleet compressed with several sailors re-entering the fray, including Peter Hammond who broke out of the pack. Eventually the Race Officer shortened the course, with Chris Cleaves working his way to tie with Bill Jago in second place.
Ten Salcombe Yawls were away for the weekend at Fowey; the three remaining Yawls were led around the course by Paul Ellis sailing with Martin Beck, who managed to overtake most of the Solo class who were ten minutes further up the track. They were followed home by Geoff Gilson and Chris Spencer Chapman.
Race 3 Results: (top three)
Cadet Handicap
1st Tera Sport 2146, Evie Booth
2nd Tera Sport 2136, George Alexander
Medium Handicap
1st Laser 161391, Henry Bright
2nd Hamble Foxer 146, Janet Exelby and Peter Cook
3rd RS Feva XL, Nicki Shepherd and Julie Lee
Fast Handicap
1st Merlin Rocket 3754, Jon Gorringe and Nikki Bass
2nd National 12 3439, Nigel and Sarah Blazeby
3rd Merlin Rocket 3769, Graham and Fiona Cranford Smith
Solo
1st 5271, Peter Hammond
2nd= 5598, Bill Jago
2nd= 5573, Chris Cleaves
Salcombe Yawl
1st 181, Paul Ellis and Martin Beck
2nd 170, Geoff Gilson and Chris Spencer Chapman
3rd 161, Peter Stratton and Nigel Hannaford