Sailing Southwest Winter Series: Wrecker Open Pursuit 2024 at North Devon Yacht Club

North Devon Wrecker pursuit race © Simon Fleet

The Sailing Southwest winter series is upon us again with seven pursuit races scheduled over the winter months. The first race was held at North Devon Yacht Club in Instow on 10th November with six more events to follow:

• North Devon YC Wrecker - Sunday 10th November
• Starcross YC Steamer - Sunday 24th November
• Paignton SC - Sunday 1st December
• Sutton Bingham Icicle - Sunday 9th February
• Roadford Rocket - Sunday 23rd February
• Porthpean SC - Sunday 16th March
• Wimbleball Beastie - Sunday 23rd March

(Series Results based on 50% of events rounded up to nearest number of events completed).

The Series Sponsors for 2024/5 are Sailing Club Manager and Admiral Trailers. Many thanks to our sponsors.

For details follow Sailing Southwest on www.facebook.com/SailingSW

Wrecker Race Report

10th November forecasts were poor with little or no wind so we were delighted to see 20 boats mustering for the Wrecker Pursuit. This was the first event in the Sailing Southwest Winter Pursuit Series.

Slowly the wind filled in from the SE to a steady 5-7 kn. The race was on. Race officer Simon Fleet set a great course using the best of the estuary. Beating with the tide up river from the start to a windward mark off the Appledore Ship yard and then downwind along the Appledore shore to try to catch a tidal eddy before turning to port across the tide to a racing mark off Instow beach. Gybing toward crow point and up the North shore on a close reach against the tide to Lighthouse buoy and back to the shipyard.

The 4.7 and Radial Lasers together with Angus Cook in his Firefly lead the fleet off before the bulk of the faster monohulls set off. Jon Miles in K1 84 was away chasing with the two Paignton based Aero 7s sailed by Luca and Zak Mitchell. Soon off was a regular visitor Mark Candelas sailing a Laser EPS followed by the local Blaze fleet a D-Zero sailed by Dave Bartlett from Starcross. Finally the local Cat fleet of D15s and D18s.

The light winds was always going to favour the monohulls and Angus and Jon made the best of the conditions. After the first hour and well into lap 2 the K1 finally caught Angus but the Areos were close at hand with the Blaze fleet closing. In the next 30 minutes Jon Miles had broken clear with Luca in close pursuit and Dave Bartlett closing. As the final minutes ticked away the wind died and Jon, Luca and Dave closed into a bunch, but as the K1 reached a pressure down the estuary Jon sailed away to a tight win, with Luca just holding off Dave and Angus holding 4th.

It was a challenging day in light winds but all enjoyed a day in the sunny N Devon Coast.

Next is the Starcross Steamer on Sunday 24th November.

Jonathan Miles wins the North Devon Wrecker pursuit race - photo © Simon Fleet

Overall Results: