Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week - Overall

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week Thursday morning race © Malcolm Mackley

Thursday dawned sunny with another South-Westerly, F3 to start with but forecast to increase again.

RACE 9: GREEN v BLACK Flights, COURSE 1,3,1,7,2,3

The morning race pitted the top four against each other in what would be the last race of their series. Chris and Sophie needed to put four boats between themselves and Tom and Rachael.

With the start of a light flood against, the fleet were able to use the width of the Estuary.

Initially, those in the middle were lifting on Starboard with Taxi and Olly, Caroline and Peter, and Chris and Sophie showing well. Tom and Rachael, who looked pinned down on the Portlemouth shore by starboard tackers, pulled an outrageous port lift out of the bag to escape and then lead up the Biddle Rocks.

Chris and Sophie who were travelling fast picked up some starboard pressure to round Blackstone on Tom and Rachael's transom with Caroline and Pete close behind. These three were tightly bunched on the run to Crossways.

On the next beat to Blackstone, Chris and Sophie took the lead with Taxi and Olly joining the tacking battle as the leaders worked the Portlemouth shore. Ian Dobson and Ally Potts together with Will and Rob Henderson were not that far adrift from the leaders.

Turning onto the long run to Gerston, Chris and Sophie had the lead from Caroline and Peter with Tom and Rachael in close attention. These three had made a break from the chasing pack, putting Tom and Rachael in a strong position at this stage.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week - photo © Lucy Burn

By the return to the harbour, Tom and Rachael had climbed into the lead and were able to keep a loose cover on Caroline and Peter and slowly extend into a comfortable win, their fourth of an excellent series and easily enough to lock in the Merlin Rocket week title for another year.

Caroline and Peter came home in second which was enough to secure fourth overall. Taxi and Olly jumped up to third at the line ahead of Will and Rob, and with Chris and Sophie falling to fifth, this was enough to lift Taxi and Olly into second overall. Ian and Ally rounded out the top six.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Salcombe Yacht Club Week - photo © Lucy Burn

RACE 10: RED v BLUE Flights, Course 1,3,2,4,6,2,3

Conditions for the afternoon race were absolutely perfect. A SW Force 4-5, clear skies and top of the tide. The fleet were again away first time - possibly a record for the Merlin fleet to complete a major event without a single general recall. Although the tide was slack, those playing the Portlemouth shore got the better shifts to take the early advantage. Mike Calvert and Emma Clark were again flying and led to Blackstone. Close behind coming in on the starboard lift at the top were John and Katy Meadowcroft ahead of Christian and Sam, and Tim and Fran. Sadly, John and Katy dismounted in a strong gust near the fuel barge.

On the loops of the harbour and down to Yalton, Christian and Sam put the pedal down and took the lead, Mike and Emma were chasing with Alex Jackson and Pippa Kilsby storming up to third. These places remained unchanged on the blast down to Frogmore and back, with Christian and Sam taking their third and rueing being trigger happy in race three as they clearly had the pace to take the fight to Tom and Rachael. Second place for Mike and Emma completed a strong end to the series and they in turn were rueing a capsize in race one which spoilt their final score. Alex and Pippa had been consistent front runners all week and their third secured fifth overall. On the final beat Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell got the better of Tim and Fran to complete the top six overall. Roger and Jane Gilbert were sixth to finish on the water.

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

So ended a week of strong wind sailing where we have witnessed a masterclass of dinghy racing skills from Tom and Rachael. With Tom taking his third title in a row, the worrying thing for his competitors is that not only has he got tremendous starting, boat speed and boat handling but he also looks to have worked out the Salcombe Estuary play book!

Overall Results: