Autumn Series R4 - Fast Handicap Report
Published 13:38 on 27 Sep 2026
Eleven teams arrived on the start line for what could well be the last time shorts and T-shirts are acceptable forms of sailing attire.
Six Yawls, two Albacores and the regular participants in the 505, Merlin Rocket and RS400 took to the water and began short-tacking up the Portlemouth shore. The sea grass appears to be thriving all the way along the beach, meaning little tidal relief could be obtained on a spring low tide. Y178, the 505 and the Merlin bailed out and, once clear of the fairway, tried their luck up through the crab pots.
Arriving at Blackstone, there appeared to be little between the leading boats, with the fleet converging in much the same order as they had been at the split.
The downwind stretch to Salstone began to shuffle the fleet into a more natural running order, with Peter and Alistair in the 505 clear ahead, followed by Fran and Frankie in the Merlin, with John and Emily in the RS400 close behind.
Paul Rayson and Simon Dawes in Y178, along with the Meadowcroft's in Y175, led the Yawls, with little to separate the two.
John and Emily opted for the point-to-point route out of Mark 5 and headed towards Tosnoss, whilst Fran and Frankie chose to stay low through Quarantine Bay. Point-to-point proved to be the faster route, allowing the RS400 to overhaul the Merlin before Scobal Basin.
Peter and Alistair had already exited Scobal and attempted to head straight for Ditch End, whilst the rest of the fleet chose to tack over towards Snapes Point and work their way up through the moorings off the town.
This proved to be the faster route, led by John and Emily, who had now worked themselves into a modest lead.
AJ and Sheila Squire in the Albacore had crossed to Snapes earlier than most, moving them into second position.
The light breeze was now becoming increasingly unstable, and thankfully, on rounding Mark 3, the shorten-course hooter could be heard.
John and Emily, despite a few technical issues aboard the budget RS400, took line honours, followed by Fran and Frankie in the Merlin. However, it would be a day for the slower PY boats, with Paul and Simon claiming victory by just nine seconds from John and Katy Meadowcroft, with AJ and Sheila in third.
A closely fought race, a tricky light breeze in strong tide and another reminder that sometimes the tortoise really does beat the hare!
