Salcombe Merlin Rocket Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars SW Series Open – Wind, Sunshine and a Whole Lot of Action
By Caroline Gould
Salcombe welcomed 23 boats on Saturday 11th April with blue skies overhead and seriously windy conditions, with gusts punching well over 30 knots at times.
Fifteen boats launched out of Batson and made their way into the main estuary, only for a hefty squall to barrel through and knock down half the fleet. Many sensibly dived for cover behind the town while it passed. Meanwhile, the race team in the Watch House kept a close eye on the Prawle Point weather station and saw signs that things were about to settle.
With that encouragement, the sequence for Race 1 got underway. The course was later shortened to 2,4 as the fleet got away cleanly, with Alex Jackson and Andy ‘Taxi’ Davis leading the charge to mark 2. The next group rounded in a very tight bunch, with a few boats having a hairy moment struggling to bearaway in the breeze. Thankfully, everyone made it through safely, hoisted kites, and headed off toward Yalton.
Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley decided they’d had enough excitement and headed straight back to Batson. The rest of the fleet powered only for a massive gust between the Ferry Steps and number 3 to take out around two thirds of the remaining boats. Chaos!
Alex and Taxi had it sewn up and took line honours, followed by Jack Norton & Fran Gifford in second, Paul Rayson & Christian Hill in third, and Rebecca Videlo & Rob Henderson in fourth. These four crews could proudly claim they stayed upright all the way to the finish.
With only minimal breakage, a single spinnaker pole and a selection of muddy masts. The fleet returned safely ashore and was rewarded with a lovely meal laid on by the club.
Sunday: Sunshine, Big Breeze, and Three Races on the Ria
Sunday dawned calm and sunny after the storm blew through overnight. Gusty conditions still awaited, but with a bigger fleet of 23 boats on the Ria and an early start, the goal was to squeeze in three races.
Race 1
Race 1 got away cleanly on a course of 1,3,1,3,2,3. Caroline Gould and Livvy Bell led the fleet around mark 1, followed by James Goss and Chris White, both catching a great gust funnelling down from South Sands to break away from the pack. The two battled hard until the second downwind leg, when Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley, after doing turns on the start line sailed their socks off and caught a lucky puff that launched them straight into contention.
Chris and Sophie took the gun, with Caroline and Livvy in second and James and Chris in third.
Race 2
Race 2 featured a new course of 1,7 possibly the shortest course ever displayed on the race hut board. Short on paper, but definitely not easy.
Heading to mark 1, Rebecca Videlo and Rob Henderson took an early lead and set off for number 7. Those further back didn’t see what unfolded down the run, but up front, Will Henderson & Tom Ballentine, Alex & Taxi, and Chris & Sophie were locked in a tight battle on a reach to 7 and a broader reach back. More than one sailor breathed a sigh of relief that none of the front runners chose to hoist a kite.
Positions shuffled throughout the race, with local legend Will Henderson and Tom Ballentine taking line honours, followed by Alex and Taxi in second and Chris and Sophie in third.
Race 3
Race 3 saw another new course: 1,4,2,3. Chris & Sophie, Ollie & Alex, Matt & Ben, and Caroline & Livvy quickly broke away from the pack and enjoyed a cracking battle down to Yalton. Chris and Sophie gradually extended their lead, with Ollie and Alex and Caroline and Livvy in hot pursuit. The order remained unchanged to the finish.
Final Results & Thanks
Chris and Sophie took the overall win, followed by Alex and Taxi in second place, with Caroline and Livvy completing the podium in third.
Huge thanks go to local sponsors Helly Hansen for the winners’ glassware, Craftinsure for the Silver Tiller, and Allspars for supporting the first South West Series of the season.
If you missed the Open and haven’t yet entered Merlin Week in July, there are still 12 spaces left.
Next stop: Parkstone Yacht Club on Saturday 18th April for the next Craftinsure Silver Tiller and Allspars SW Series.
