National 12 Open at Salcombe Yacht Club

Salcombe National 12 Open © Lucy Burn

The National 12 fleet were promised glorious conditions in Salcombe for the 2025 May Day Open Meeting. The country had been basking in a heatwave in the days leading up. The collective wisdom of WindGuru, XCWeather, the Met Office and the BBC consistently said it could not last, but the fleet travelled in hope, and were rewarded. The esteemed meteorologists failed to remember one important rule: it's always sunny in Salcombe.

The format was simple: one race Saturday, two on Sunday (some beach action in-between), and a final race on Monday. Not only had Salcombe Yacht Club booked glorious weather, they had also arranged neap tides. The first race was sailed in an east-north-east Force 2-4. Whilst the tide was ebbing, there was less pressure on the shore, and on the first beat it paid for Tom and Charlotte Stewart to play the shifts and hunt for pressure. They rounded the first mark with a small lead, marginally ahead of Graham and Blue Camm, who cantered down the first run to take the lead at Blackstone. The fleet came down on the tide behind them, and the beginning of the next beat saw the lightest winds of the weekend, where the tidal decisions became vital. Tom and Charlotte elected to bear off out of the channel to find good pressure near the crab pots on the town side. They established a clear lead, which they held for a further lap of the harbour to win the race ahead of Graham and Blue. Jon Ibbotson and Felix Camm won the scrap for third place (and the hotly contested first Jon), and those unfortunate enough to choose the East Portlemouth beaches had plenty of time to reflect on those decisions.

Day two, refreshed by the hospitality of Salcombe Yacht Club the evening prior, the fleet launched in anticipation of more wind, and they were not disappointed. Yet again, wall to wall sunshine and azure estuary adorned with golden sand. One can hardly imagine the racing area in heaven could equal. Isobel Stewart had been selected as Tom's crew for the morning race, and our current national champions were quickly back in tune, leading round the first mark ahead of the self-declared 'New Tom and Isobel', Jon and Maya Brown. The Browns showed handsome speed down the first run, but ultimately Graham and Blue showed their real class to take the lead by the next beat, having rounded the first mark in 4th. The Browns were now involved in a right Jon-athon, with Jon & Felix and John & Mandy Thornton. Clearly having not read the script, Zoë Meadowcroft and Zoë Ballantyne were also in the battle for third place. For them, comms became increasingly confusing: "Jon's lifted", "John's got pressure", "Jonno's tacked". Graham and Blue hung on to win ahead of Tom and Isobel in second. Jon and Felix took another third place - but more importantly, top Jon, just ahead of Messrs. Brown and Thornton. Zoë and Zoë were aghast to be beaten to the finish by a fourth John, Mr Meadowcroft crewed by Jax Jacobs.

Salcombe National 12 Open - photo © Lucy Burn

It was lunchtime, and the new tactical choice was Fisherman's (loos, ice cream and posh coffee) or Small's (packed lunch) - sunshine available on both. Early leaders in race 3 were the 'New Tom and Isobel', who tussled with Tom and a reborn Charlotte, but it was John and Jax who mastered the shifty beat to Yalton best, rounding with a healthy lead. Jon and Maya were in hot pursuit - there's nothing like a Jon Prix to get the pulse going. It was a long and puffy downwind; John and Jax chose the direct route, risking less pressure, whilst Graham and Blue took their tried and tested 'Great Circle' route. At the leeward mark, John and Jax held a slender lead, but were under pressure from the Camms. Everyone chose the Salcombe side back into the harbour. Tom and Charlotte were well in the Jonnonwealth Games, battling with the Browns and the Thorntons. By the next windward mark, in an increasing breeze, Tom and Charlotte were vying for the lead with the Browns, both playing the shifts with panache. Tom and Charlotte went on to take the win, with the Browns happy for second (and first Jon). Once again, four Johns in the top 6.

It now came down to the final race. Still sunny, and more wind than the previous days. Remarkably, all Johns were out of the running for the series, but first John was still very much up for grabs. Tom and Charlotte made the best of the beat to Saltstone, ahead of Jon and Maya Brown, with the Camms, who needed to win, languishing in fourth. It was a long run back to Blackstone, and the wind was building. It was time for a new discipline: the Jonathlon. Jonny Addison, crewing for his father Mark, was the first to dismount in a cloud of spray. Alongside, Jon and Maya capsized with equal artistic merit - perhaps the Jonlympics will have synchronised swimming this year? This left Tom and Charlotte, still upright, in a commanding position. Graham and Blue launched a desperate challenge to hunt them down, with Tom and Charlotte prevailing by just a few boatlengths at the finish to wrap up the series. Not to be outdone, John and Jax made a late entry to the Jonathlon with a stylish multiple capsize display in front of the beach-going audience. This left Jon and Felix to claim third overall, and the coveted First Jon award.

Overall Results: