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CoastWaterSports 2014

Exe Sails and Covers Starcross Steamer 2023

by Ben Cutler-Sharp 31 Jan 12:12 GMT 29 January 2023

78 boats were greeted by a beautiful morning at Starcross Yacht Club without a breath of wind for the annual pursuit race. Patience prevailed however and after a delay of an hour and ten minutes, the fleet eagerly took to the water in lovely sunshine and a building breeze.

With the delay and a narrow tidal window, the race was shortened to 2 hours with the slowest class; the Laser 4.7s of junior sailors Polly Scott and Charlie Pickering setting off first with the faster boats setting off later in accordance to their respective handicaps.

Last year's winner Angus Cook sailing with Mandy Henderson in the Firefly set off a few minutes later and then took to the front and led the Lasers around the rest of the first lap.

By the time Angus and Mandy got round to the start line to complete their first lap, all bar the fast boats had set off, including the 15 strong Phantom fleet and the 9 Merlin Rockets. As the second lap unfolded OK sailor Charlie Cumbley slowly reeled in and overtook Angus and Mandy.

As the third lap got under way the faster boats were beginning to overtake and work their way through the fleet in the building breeze. Even with two downwind legs the singlehanders seemed to edge through.

Getting into the final few legs however it was the B14 of locals Russ Gibbs and Lucy Loughton who used the strengthening wind and strong pace to buck the trend and pull through the fleet, to create a nail biting finish.

At the end it was Charlie who managed to hold off Russ and Lucy by a matter of a few boat lengths. Not far behind them was Peter Barton from Lymington Town SC in his RS Aero 9, followed by Simon Hawkes (Wimbleball/Starcross YC) and Alex Carr (Torpoint Mosquito SC) in their Phantoms.

A big thank you to all the competitors, all the volunteers who gave their time and Exe Sails and Covers for the prizes and safety boat! 

The next leg of the Southwest Winter Series, supported by Allen & Admiral Trailers, is the Exmoor Beastie on the 26th of March. The 2024 edition of the Steamer is provisionally scheduled for the 4th of February 2024.

Overall Results:

PosClassSail NoHelm / CrewClubPts
1OK6Charlie CumbleyTeign Corinthian YC1
2B14762Russell Gibbs / LucyStarcross YC2
3RS Aero 93597Peter BartonLymington Town YC3
4Phantom1473Simon HawkesWimbleball SC Starcros4
5Phantom1271Alex CarrTorpoint Mosquito SC5
6OK77Gavin PoulloinWeymouth SC6
7Solo5546Olly TurnerSalcombe /Starcross YC7
8OK2104Charlie MaunderHighcliffe SC8
9Osprey1234Terry Curtis / Peter 0 GreigWeymouth SC9
10RS400411Richard Cain / Barney DearslyStarcross YC10
11RS Aero 72550Chris JonesSutton Bingham SC11
12Laser Radial176836Michael BaggeStarcross YC12
13Phantom1118Nik LyeTorpoint Mosquito SC13
14200022171Jon Nuttall / Amelia NuttallTenby SC14
15Laser Radial214134Ellie HutchingsRoadford Lake SC15
16Solo5926John SteelsStarcross YC16
17Solo6033Simon GreensladeStarcross YC17
18Fireball15083Chris Gill / Adam BroughtonPortishead Y&SC18
19Merlin Rocket3746James Wells / Anna AylwardRYA19
20Firefly3695Angus Cook / Mandy HendersonNYDC/Castaways20
21Phantom1496Rob CookNorthampton SC21
22Phantom1472Jon RickardHooe Point SC22
23Phantom1484Paul BirbeckWimbleball SC23
24Blaze807Nick RipleyPaignton SC24
25Phantom1469Chris BiglinChase SC25
26International Canoe340Chris HampeHooe Point SC26
27Fireball14785Simon Lomas‑Clarke / Rob DanielsTeign Corinthian YC27
28RS4001356Peter Vincent Chris BishopLlandegfedd SC28
29RS Aero 71181Mark RipleyPaignton SC29
30Enterprise22901Paul Young / Oliver MasonMidland SC30
31Scorpion2014AJ Eaton / Joshua EatonStarcross YC31
32Hornet2154Dick Garry / Sam WoolnerStarcross YC32
33Phantom1446Richard CumberbatchLyme Regis SC33
34Fireball14789Hannah Showell / Jamie BeerStarcross YC34
35RS8001166Ralph Singleton / Ian MairsRestronguet SC35
36RS Aero 93438Paul BartlettStarcross YC36
37RS Aero 72154John TannerChelmarsh Sc37
38Laser177584Rich BabbageStarcross YC38
39D‑Zero357Dave BartlettStarcross YC39
40RS2001373Helen Scott / Dougal ScottStarcross YC40
41Merlin Rocket3779Dave Lee / Angela BridgesStarcross YC41
42Merlin wood3553Andrew Paley / Harriet PaleyStarcross YC42
43Albacore8209Cameron Moss / Jake StowLyme Regis SC43
44Tasar104Pete Bell Tim SimmonsCastle Cove SC44
45Supernova1147Nick ClaranceStarcross /Shaldon SC45
46Phantom1259Stephen McDonaldStarcross YC46
47RS Aero 93328Klaus HarrisSwanage YC47
48Solo5808Tim MartinTeign Corinthian YC48
49RS2001114Jayne Johnson / JessStarcross YC49
50RS Aero 71601Jacob ChambersWimbleball SC50
51Merlin Rocket3721Nick Turner / Carly GurrStarcross YC51
52Laser208190Nigel MckayStarcross YC52
53Solo6030Adrian GriffinSalcombe YC53
54Osprey1356Mark Pollard Martin WalbankStarcross YC54
55RS200361Grant Boorer / Johnathan CarrStarcross YC55
56Phantom1342Mark SpruceLee On Solent SC56
57Merlin Rocket3785Robin Charles / MasonStarcross YC57
58Phantom1199Stephen CrowderTorpoint Mosquito SC58
59Merlin Rocket3772Dan Heaton / Dan I FordMountbatten SC59
60GP 1414014Andy Wadsworth / Held AllenBrixham YC60
61MRX3622Mark Candelas / Julie CronshawWembley SC61
62Laser 4 71168934Polly ScottStarcross YC62
63Laser 4.71Charlie PickeringSidmouth SC63
64RS400698Daryl Geary / Paul CraftStarcross YC64
65RS200400Jack Solly / Hew BeareStarcross YC65
66Phantom1404Stuart HallTorpoint Mosquito SC66
67Merlin Rocket3813Steve Harling / Eleanor ThomasStarcross YC67
6829er2336Kirsty / FelixStarcross YC68
69B14789Crispin Taylor / JamieStarcross YCNF]
69RS4001287James Bowman Mike BeachStarcross YCNF]
69Merlin Rocket37Vyv Game / Mike TuckettStarcross YCNF]
69Merlin Rocket3797Mark Elkington / Sarah RobertsStarcross YCET]
69Phantom1220Matt BlakestonHooe Point SCNF]
69Phantom1487Nick OrmanCastle Cove SCNF]
69Phantom1497Oli GreensladeStarcross YCNF]
69Finn534Andy BartramStarcross YCNF]
69Supernova1164Liam McgrathStarcross YCNF]
69Solo4400Martin CraneStarcross YCNF]
70RS Aero 73328Klaus HarrisSwanage SCDNC

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