Salcombe Yacht Club Bucket and Spade Series - Race 1

The first races of the popular Salcombe Yacht Club Bucket and Spade series were got away on Saturday 3rd August under the watchful eyes of Race Officer Richard Fulford-Smith.

The easterly breeze resulted in the start line area being in the wind shadow of the Portlemouth shore, but as soon as this was escaped a 15 to 25mph wind allowed for speedy reaching, although the low spring tide allowed for little beating.

The juniors were first to be directed into the Bag, where they completed two laps before returning to the finish line, the Topper of Dom Holt Wilson led a closely bunched trio, taking the win from Freddie Reynolds and Issy Wood.

Next to start was the thirty boat strong Handicap fleet, which included fifteen Solos. With a flood tide under the start and little wind to hold the fleet back, the RO had to dust off the General Recall flag that had been put away after Merlin Week; the fleet was more restrained for the second start, but an individual recall flag was flown; Ed Stephens returned, but Allister Morley and Andrew Squire didn't.

Malcolm Mackley in his Solo sailed an amazing first beat, lifting to the first Crossways mark, whilst the rest of the fleet was short tacking; the Solos of Simon Dobson, David Greening, Bill Jago, Robin Hodges and Roger Guess were in pursuit, with Simon, David and Robin overhauling Malcolm on the fetch back to Crossways... which was to prove to be the eventual finishing order, with the Merlin of Graham and Fiona Cranford-Smith breaking total Solo domination in fifth place.

Six Salcombe Yawls came to the line and the Classic Yawl of Stephen Galvin and James Smith led the fleet on the return from Gerston, however an encounter with Dendridge Ledge saw the Savills take the lead, but Galvin hung to the coat tails of the leading modern boats sufficiently to record the corrected time victory.

Race 1 Results:

Cadet
1st Topper 48167, Dom Holt Wilson
2nd Topper 48172, Freddie Reynolds
3rd Topper 48168, Issy Wood

Handicap
1st Solo 5676, Simon Dobson
2nd Solo 5792, David Greening
3rd Solo 5598, Bill Jago

Salcombe Yawl
1st Salcombe Yawl 99, Stephen Galvin and James Smith
2nd Salcombe Yawl 187, Andrew and Liz Savell
3rd Salcombe Yawl 19, John Smithers and Peter Hughes