Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week - Day 2

The forecast for Monday had always been looking pretty fruity and for once it proved correct. Conditions were relatively benign in the morning but the wind was due to build with gusts over 30 knots by the middle of the day.

RACE 3: RED v BLUE Flights, COURSE 1,7,2,3,2,3

With a heavy bias to the Portlemouth shore end of the line and the flood tide against the fleet, getting to the line proved to be quite a challenge under the black flag. For the second day running, Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey executed a perfect start and were off and away up the beat to extend a good lead at Blackstone. Following them around were Chris Martin and Sam Bailey with Alex Jackson and Pippa Kilsby also running strongly.

The run and beat back from Gerston saw Christian and Sam extend and the fleet returned to the harbour to find the breeze building fast with some vicious gusts, particularly down the town side where the fleet were beating. These gusts flattened a number of teams with Chris and Sam and Alex and Pippa both hitting the tide.

Christian and Sam continued serenely with a demonstration of high wind sailing eventually coming in four minutes clear. Behind them Tom Stewart and Rob Allen, who had been in the twenties on the first run, came through superbly to take second. Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson who had been in the leading group all race came home in third ahead of Mike Calvert and Emma Clarke. Arthur Henderson and Tom Ballantine who had binned it on the first run when in a good position recovered very well for fifth ahead of Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week Monday morning race - photo © Malcolm Mackley

RACE 4: GREEN v BLACK Flights, Course X,7, 2,3,2,3

With the wind pumping down the harbour and the tide ebbing out, the race officer wisely postponed for an hour. A much diminished fleet made their way judiciously to the start line in front of a massed crowd of spectators excited by the prospect of some carnage.

Despite the outgoing tide, the fleet achieved one of the most perfectly timed starts with boats hitting the line at full speed 'on the b..'. Tom Gillard and Rach Gray launched out of the line and held a narrow lead after the sprint to mark X. Ian Dobson, with Simon Potts guesting in the front, rounded second but as they blasted on port towards the spectator grandstand, they buried the bow and blew up the mast. Andy Davis and Olly Meadowcroft were next up to give chase to Tom and Rach with all the leaders putting in perfect gybes in a lot of wind in front of the club. Further back it was not so easy going with many capsizes.

The blast down to Gerston and beat back left the leaders unchanged with Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley going well in third ahead of Caroline Croft and Peter Gray. The breeze had dropped so the remaining two laps of the harbour were without peril allowing Tom and Rach to manage Taxi's attentions with some ease, coming home to take their second bullet in the defence of their title. Chris and Sophie managed to keep ahead of Caroline and Peter for third and fourth with Will and Rob Henderson getting the best of a tough battle with Jenny and Chris Dodds for fifth and sixth.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week Monday afternoon race - photo © Malcolm Mackley

The forecast for Tuesday is another 15-20 knots from the South-West, so plenty more exciting sailing for the fleets and spectators!

Results after Day 2: