Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Series Race 2 - Fast Handicap and Solo fleet reports
by John Burn & David Greening 14 Sep 12:18 BST
12 September 2026
Fast Handicap Fleet Report (by John Burn)
There was definitely a change in the weather. Summer has fast departed, with a notable chill in the air, but thankfully the water is still warm and, when the sun appears, it remains pleasant enough.
Eight boats intended to make the start for the second race of the Autumn Series, but only seven appeared on the line. Mike Knowles could be seen desperately trying to float his Yawl, but it was hopeless. Not even the Sea-Legs could help — Kingfisher was well and truly beached.
The Yawls once again bolstered the numbers and joined the Fast Handicap, meaning the two Red Fleet and two Blue Fleet Yawls would line up alongside the Merlin Rocket, 505 and the new addition, an RS400.
The first beat quickly saw the fleet settle into their PY running order. First to Blackstone was Peter Colclough with Alistair — not Morley, but a new Alistair — in the 505, followed by John Burn and Ross Borne in the RS400, with Fran and Frankie in the Merlin Rocket.
The Yawl contingent was predictably being led by the Hendersons, with the Jacksons, Stirling/Sworder and Skelhorn/Tweedle in pursuit.
The super-slick Merlin pairing quickly dispatched the 400 downwind. It turns out that a season of Yawl sailing does not prepare you in any way for an activity requiring even a modicum of fitness.
The trip to Gerston and back was uneventful from a positional point of view, but it did provide an exhilarating two-sail, flat-out reach — just like the good old days.
The Hendersons had extended their lead over their fellow Yawlies and were now fixated on chasing down the front three.
Peter and New Alistair, out in front, unfortunately opted to sail a different course to the one Race Officer Tim Law had set, making all their efforts for the day meaningless. Meanwhile, the bargain RS400 revealed the downside of purchasing bargain boats, shedding its slot gasket mid race, resulting in an early withdrawal.
It was left to Fran and Frankie to fend off the Yawl charge, but with the breeze in the harbour shifting and fading, the Hendersons closed the gap.
After a proper-length race — thank you, Tim, for not shortening, — the final results were:
Yawl 168 — Will and Mandy — 1st
Merlin Rocket 3676 — Fran and Frankie — 2nd
Yawl 161 — Andrew and David — 3rd
Solo Fleet Report (by David Greening)
On a very shifty Force 2 to 4 breeze out of the southern quadrant, Race Office Tim Law set and reset the course for nine Solo Sailors, eventually displaying 17131X at the Watch House balcony.
Simon Dobson, returning from Salcombe Yawl duties, made the best of the first beat, rounding Blackstone first and extended his lead as a group of pursuers fought it out along the Portlemouth shore.
By Snapes Point, David Greening and Simon Yates had pulled clear of the pack into second and third places, to enjoy flat out planing reaches to and back from Gerston.
Returning back into the harbour, Dobson and Yates pulled clear for their own private race, eventually finishing in that order, whilst Roger Guess pulled past Greening on the shifty beat back to Blackstone, though to no avail having memorised a previously displayed course and rounding mark X with conviction.
Greening then back into third was overhauled at the final rounding of Blackstone by Chris Turns sailing his new boat, who moved up into third, but on the final round, Graham Cranford-Smith and Simon Ballantine worked through to snatch third and fourth places at the finishing line.
Full results can be found here