Autumn Series R2 - Solo Report

Published 09:08 on 11 Sep 2023

A light predominantly easterly wind greeted the eleven Solo sailors for the second race of their Autumn series.  With a neap high tide coincident with the starting time, race officer Will Henderson set a course to explore some of the extremities of Salcombe harbour.

With the fleet heading north off the start line, most decided to work the Portlemouth shore on the route toward mark Y set half way up Yalton creek.  Gavin Stevens and Billy Jago were the leading proponents of this route, with David Greening slightly behind.  They were joined by Tim Fells who led a fleet of one around a great circle route via Snapes Point.

Once the fleet had negotiated a fleet of thirty Toppers who had adopted the windward mark, Tim Fells worked into the lead followed by Greening.  However a restart in the lee of Halwell Point, saw Fells pull away and allowed Chris Cleaves, Billy Jago and Gavin Stevens back into the race as the wind filled in from behind, an order that was retained at Frogmore.
 

The fleet headed back, had another restart while revisiting the lee of Halwell and then headed to Mill Bay and then to a shortened finish.  Tim Fells cemented his win from Chris Cleaves and Billy Jago, while Greening sneaked past  Stevens on the penultimate leg.