The Merlin Rocket fleet were welcomed on Saturday 15th April morning to yet another perfectly sunny day in Salcombe for the South West Series spring open – they only seem to serve one type of weather in this perfect corner of Devon.
Equally as characteristic, there was very little wind! That is never an obstacle for the race team at Salcombe Yacht Club though, so the fleet set off for the first race of the day in a light northerly breeze. The husband and wife team of Mary Henderson and Rupert White were first out the blocks, and led the fleet into a very light wind sniggle through the bag. Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey managed to sneak through into the lead halfway up the Kingsbridge Estuary and opened up a very comfortable lead on the fleet. But things are never over until they are over in Salcombe, and what little wind the fleet were enjoying all but shut off, before filling in from behind to re-compress the fleet after an hour of racing. Christian & Sam’s lead was quickly eaten up by the chasing pack, and Taxi Davis and Ollie Meadowcroft briefly took the lead. A couple more 90 degree shifts later and Christian & Sam regained control, and were delighted to see the shorten course flag. Taxi and Ollie followed in second, with Caroline Croft and Faye Chatterton sneaking through into third just before the finish.
The first rule of racing around Salcombe is to always be ready for a major change. True to form, the second race started with the wind now flowing from the south, with the first leg now a beat towards Sunny Cove. Tim Fells and Fran Gifford used their superior local knowledge to lead around the first mark and extend away to an easy victory. The fleet remained very tight all the way down Southpool Creek, but it was another local team in Will & Rob Henderson that picked up a big left shift coming out the creek to sperate themselves from the pack. These two enjoyed a quiet race to the finish, followed in by Salcombe newbie’s Ed Chapman and Hannah Peters.
Day two started uncharacteristically overcast, but characteristically light again. Of course, the sun arrived by start time and it was a day for the two boats being driven by the future Mr and Mrs Gould, who spent the day battling it out for the top spot. In race three, Caroline and Faye rounded in one, with Chris Gould & Sophie Mackley closely behind in two. Chasing them into the bag was a very tight battle between Christian and Sam, Taxi and Ollie, Alex Warren Jonty Freeman, Tim and Fran and Simon Potts and Charlotte Fildes – with continual place changes as the pack exchanged gybes to try and stay in the pressure. Christian & Sam managed to get to the front of the pack by the leeward mark and set about chasing down the real race. Coming back out the bag, Chris & Sophie picked to avoid the tide on the right shore, while Caroline took the left. Chris had got it right, and held the lead to the finish, with Caroline & Faye in two and Christian & Sam in three.
That result set the stage for a final race showdown between three boats. Christian & Sam had sailed a consistent series, but Caroline & Faye and Chris & Sophie had big discards to bring drop from their scorecard. Whoever won the last race out of the three boats would win the regatta. First out was Christian & Sam, who suffered a boat breakage just after the start. By the first mark, it was clear it was going to be one of the Gould/Croft family that would be taking the trophy home. Rivalry is clearly strong in this household, as the two continually traded places throughout the race for the regatta win. Chris seemed to have one hand on the trophy, but rumours are he got a bit concerned about the reception he might get on the long car journey home if Caroline hadn’t won, so he kindly hunted out a few bad shifts until Caroline had got round him. Caroline & Faye crossed the finish line first to take the regatta, and Chris remains happily engaged to Caroline.
A big thank you to Salcombe Yacht Club for putting on another brilliant weekend. Always a highlight in the Merlin Rocket calendar, and a pleasure we get to enjoy twice more this year with Merlin Rocket Week on the 9-15th July and the Silver Tiller (and Black-Tie Dinner) on the 28th October. The next event in the South West Series is Hooe Point Sailing Club on 10th and 11th June.
Thank you Christian Birrell for the report.
