Autumn Series R6 - Fast Handicap Race

Published 16:27 on 11 Oct 2026

Despite an unfavourable north-westerly and a low spring tide, six double-handed teams made it to the start line, comprising two Red Fleet Yawls, three Blue Fleet Yawls and an RS400.

Race Officer Malcolm Squire had very few options available and opted to send the fleet into the upper reaches of the estuary, where the better breeze was expected.

Alastair Morley and Nicola Bass in Y74 made the most of the downwind start, escaping the usual washing-machine conditions around the starting area to find the true wind coming out of Batson.

Ross Borne and John Burn in the RS400 caught a gust and, with the spinnaker flying, headed off into the distance in an attempt to build a sufficient time buffer over the fleet.

Andy and Liz Savell in Y187 quickly worked their way past Y74 to lead the small group of Yawls, which also included the Meadowcrofts in Y175.

The fleet enjoyed two flat-out reaches from Mark 7 to Mark 3, conditions that suited the RS400 perfectly. Ross and John, flying the spinnaker and clocking high speeds, had built an enormous lead over the rest of the fleet.

On returning towards the harbour, the Race Officer opted not to shorten the course. The resulting slow and tricky trip to Mark 2 against the tide quickly wiped the smiles from the sailors’ faces, as the excitement of the Wide Gates reaches gave way to a much more testing challenge.

Ross and John had built a big enough lead to secure victory on corrected time, while the rest of the fleet began closing back up as the conditions took their toll.

John and Katy held their nerve to take second place, while Andy and Liz lost out to Alastair and Nicola, who made the most of the tricky conditions to complete the podium in third.

J.Burn | Photos L.Burn