Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week 2024 at Salcombe Yacht Club - Day 4

Wednesday at Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week brought a change in the weather. The wind had backed to the WSW, giving a truer breeze down the harbour, and although less than forecast in the morning there was a good hiking breeze with occasional planning gusts.

The wind strengthened for the afternoon to give an exciting blast around the harbour.

RACE 7: BLUE v BLACK Flights, COURSE 1,7,1,3,1,3

The 'pin end' Portlemouth shore was favoured and with a slack tide the fleet lined up early. The fleet was away first time but with an expectation that there might be some who had jumped the gun. Tom Gillard and Ollie Meadowcroft starting towards the beach were just able to tack across on to port and then play the gusts up the Portlemouth shore to round Blackstone ahead.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Week 2024 Day 4 Morning Race - photo © Lucy Burn

With Tom and Ollie running back down the Portlemouth shore, those who stood out towards the town side benefited from extra pressure with William Warren and Charlotte Fildes taking the lead ahead of Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley.

As the leaders ran back through the line, two prominent teams were pulled out for BFD infringements; Mike and Jane Calvert together with Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey.

On the long legs down to Gerston and back, Tom and Ollie drove through to take the lead from Chris and Sophie with wife Caroline Gould and Livvy Bell coming through to put pressure on them from behind.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Week 2024 Day 4 Morning Race - photo © Malcolm Mackley

From this point on the laps of the harbour were relatively processional with little opportunity for place changing as all the leading teams were taking the same well-worn routes. Tom and Ollie came home to take their second bullet while Chris and Sophie's second makes them their nearest challengers. Caroline and Livvy continue to put a very strong series together in third and William and Charlotte enjoyed their best result in fourth. Tom Morris and Chris Kilsby worked their way back up to fifth ahead of Ed Bradburn and Jonny Coates.

RACE 8: RED v GREEN Flights, Course 1,4,1,4,1,3

The afternoon flights had a great sail in classic Salcombe conditions. The breeze was round more into the SW with some punchy gusts running down the harbour and the strong flood tide filled the estuary to allow a perfect course down to Yalton.

With a clean start the fleet split up both sides of the harbour with George Yeoman and Mark Oakey winning the race to Blackstone ahead of Olly Turner and Pete Nicholson with Matt and Hannah Greenfield coming in from the town side.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Week 2024 Day 4 Afternoon Race - photo © Malcolm Mackley

After a fast and furious run, Tim Saxton and Holly McArthur were up into the fight for the lead but Olly and Pete had gone missing in action. The two long beats against the tide were a tough work out and saw Tim and Holly eat into George and Mark's lead and by the final beat to the line, they had worked out a comfortable margin and came home a minute clear for their first bullet.

George and Mark held onto their second place despite the challenge from a hard charging Arran Holman and Faye Chatterton who, with the hot angles they sail downwind, have covered more sea miles than any other boat this week.

Tom Stewart and Rob Allen, after a sketchy start to the week by their standards, have found their feet with a strong fourth place ahead of Alex Jackson and Pippa Kilsby who are putting together a very tidy series and have moved into third place overall. Matt and Hannah completed the top six, another good result for this quick team who have the married couple prize in their sights.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Week 2024 Day 4 Afternoon Race - photo © Lucy Burn

Following today's Black Flag casualties, Tom and Ollie have opened up some clear water over the chasing pack but the discard is still to come in.

Results after Day 4: