Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series - Race 5
by David Greening 4 Oct 2016 15:43 BST
2 October 2016
Saturday saw the 5th Race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn series held in breezy West South West conditions, which veered to North Westerly as the afternoon progressed over a spring flood tide.
After Blackstone, Race Officer Peter Hammond set a course that made the most of the reaching conditions that might be had at Widegates, with a fetch to Gerston, broad reach to Saltstone followed by another fetch to Gerston. On returning to the harbour, the wind had veered, putting most of the harbour in the lee of the town, with occasional puffs of wind from many directions.
In the Cadet Handicap fleet, Ben Meek in his RS Tera Sport, held it together to take another win, sailing in testing conditions.
Nigel Blazeby made a guest appearance sailing his son Charlie's Laser Radial to take a first ahead of Esther McLarty and the RS Feva of George Alexander and Isla McColl.
Alistair Morley arrived early in his Phantom and despite capsizing took the win from the Merlins of Peter Cook and Janet Exelby and Tristram and Laura Squire.
In the fifteen-strong Solo fleet; the front runners tacked toward Woodcot rocks, to find more pressure and the lift for the Blackstone mark. The leading bunch comprised Dan Ellis, Bill Jago, Chris Cleaves and David Greening; this group broke clear of the pursuing pack.
Bill made the early running, assisted by an early capsize by Dan; however he recovered to give a masterclass in downhill technique on the off-wind legs at Widegates.
Upon the return to the harbour Dan held his nerve in the fluky conditions between the Ferry and the finish to take the win from Bill, followed by Chris Cleaves.
In the Yawls, Geoff Gilson and Chris Spenser Chapman found the conditions to their liking to take a comfortable win from Andrew Wood and Tim Petitt.
Cadet Handicap:
1st RS Tera Sport 1881, Ben Meek
Medium Handicap:
1st Laser Radial 203307, Charlie Blazeby
2nd Laser Radial 181676, Esther McLarty
3rd RS Feva XL 4165, George Alexander and Isla McColl
Fast Handicap:
1st Phantom 1357, Alistair Morley
2nd Merlin Rocket 3616, Peter Cook and Janet Exelby
3rd Merlin Rocket 3621, Tristram and Laura Squire
Solo:
1st 5364, Dan Ellis
2nd 5598, Bill Jago
3rd 5573, Chris Cleaves
Salcombe Yawl:
1st 170, Geoff Gilson and Chris Spencer Chapman
2nd 97, Andrew Wood and Tim Petitt