Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross Yacht Club

Storm Nutall and Sally Wakefeild win their first race together in 30plus years - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross © Garnett Showell

Seven visitors added to six boats from the very active Merlin fleet at Starcross YC, giving a range of experience from current leaders of the ST series to recent graduates of the highly successful Rutland training weekend. Winds were a light but very sailable NW with a chance of the legendary Starcross sea breeze on its way later.

PRO Russ Gibbs set a windward-leeward course in the main channel off the Lympstone shore on an incoming tide. There were lines of pressure and several shifts to gain an advantage from, and the leading three boats around the windward mark were Chris Gould & Sophie Mackley, Mike & Jane Calvert, then Dave Winder & Beka Jones. Chris & Sophie and Mike & Jane traded places for two rounds before Chris & Sophie went left on the final run into the tide, but crucially more pressure. This took them into the lead to the finish, with Mike & Jane second, and Dave & Beka third.

Jostling for position - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross - photo © Garnett Showell

Race 2 got away in similar conditions, Chris & Sophie rounded first, with Mike & Jane chasing hard, along with Storm Nuttall & Sally Wakefield closing fast. Mike & Jane lead the next round after picking a really useful shift upwind but unfortunately had to retire as Jane collected a spinnaker pole with her head on a gybe. In a dying breeze Storm & Sally slipped into the lead and extended this to the finish, with Caroline Gould & Pete Nicholson second and Dave & Beka third.

The tide had begun to turn for race 3, and the breeze reappeared nicely. (The Calverts also reappeared after they had hosed down both the boat and Jane to remove all evidence of the bloodbath massacre brought about by the spinnaker pole collision!)

Using local knowledge Dave Lee & Angela Bridges went hard right to cheat the tide, taking most of the fleet with them, and leaving Chris & Sophie and Mike & Jane hung out to dry on the left. Close racing ensued between Dave & Beka, Caroline & Pete and Dave & Angela. With the tide really beginning to flow seaward, and the breeze dropping a little the Race Team shortened, leaving a bit of a pile-up at the leeward mark. Taking advantage of this Tom Lonsdale & Emily Batterton tacked immediately and sneaked through to take the win, ahead of Caroline & Pete in second and Dave & Beka third.

Forming an orderly queue at the gybe mark - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross - photo © Heather Chipperfield

The sea breeze finally arrived well after the fleet was ashore, but Sunday's forecast of a cloud-free early morning meant expectations were high for a good sea breeze. The fleet enjoyed a very pleasant evening in the local hostelry, ably organised by Steve Harling.

Sunday dawned bright and clear, so Russ and his team had a short AP to allow the breeze to settle into a really lovely 8-10 knots SE sea breeze. The course was a P configuration for variety, still keeping the fleet in the deep-water channel, beating towards Exmouth.

Locals Dave & Angela hit hard left to cheat the tide again in race 4, but it quickly became obvious that short-tacking up the right was the way to go. Chris & Sophie nailed this to perfection and enjoyed a comfortable win. Caroline & Pete were second with James Wells & Tina Mackie taking third.

Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley, overall event winners - Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross - photo © Garnett Showell

In race 5, in simply stellar conditions Chris & Sophie again won the first beat with the Calverts chasing hard downwind. Mike & Jane nipped inside at the leeward mark and extended their lead to the finish. Chris & Sophie held second to win the meeting overall, then super-consistent Dave & Beka took their fourth third place of the weekend.

Thank you to Craftinsure and AllSpars for sponsorship of the series. Next up is Craftinsure Silver Tiller at Hayling Island on 6th and 7th June, and the next Allspars South West Series is at Bristol Corinthian on Sunday 21st June.

Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars South West Series at Starcross - photo © Matt Shorrock

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