Devon Eyes Salcombe Yawl Autumn Open Meeting

Published 18:26 on 10 Sep 2026

Thirteen red fleet Yawls, lucky for some it turns out, foregathered for the Devon Eyes sponsored Autumn open meeting. 

Lucky for all of us actually, since we were blessed with some very fine Autumnal weather of bright sun and benign breeze. Most teams cracked out the shorts and t-shirts for one last hurrah of 2026. Maybe. And Nigel Blazeby and team officiated four races over two days. Thank you to them. 

Race 1. We started at just after high water with a building ebb. The forecast gave us a shaky 5-7 knot south westerly. In practice, this was reinforced by a decent sea breeze. Around 11 knots.  Perfect. 

We all enjoyed a clean start and the full width of the Ria under the ebb,  for a short beat to Mark 1. This was in advance of a long run to Mark 4, then 6,7,1 and finally 3. 

Mandy and Will Henderson made the best of the beat followed by Katy and John Meadowcroft. Robin Hodges and Fran Gifford were also well up as were Olly and Chris Skelhorn. 

The order changed only slightly as the fleet progressed to mark 6 Frogmore. Mandy and Will were never seriously threatened though Olly and Chris Y186 were certainly in the hunt. 

The excursion to Gerston was perhaps processional. But light pressure through the Bag en route back did afford chances. Tim Johnson and Graham Cranford Smith in the un-fancied Y172 sniddled past Olly and Chris to take second from the Henderson ship at shortened course. 

Race 2. Course 1,3,1,3,1,3 

By now, the ebb was in full flow so the fleet opted for a wholesale OCS and a general recall. And why not? 

This placed the Yawl Reds on the naughty step with our race team. Thus we were rewarded with a black flag at the re-start. 

The fleet compressed on the first run after 1, with everyone opting for the Portlemouth shore. The Hendersons alone gained a meaningful lead. The rest of us embarked on a gybe-fest like a kaleidoscope of demented butterflies with an Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. 

Mark three resolved the deadlock with a big pile up. Winners included the Hendersons, obviously; the John Burn and Tris Stone team plus Robin and Fran also prevailed. Others were not so fortunate. Some can reflect on that rounding in their winter maintenance painting. 

The leading group were never headed. 

Hendersons
Burn/Stone
Hodges/Gifford

Race 3. Course A,B,A,B. 

Aha!  Out to sea! Against the tide. In no wind, super shifty. Isnt this fun Bunty!?

In fact, this was an inspired course from Nigel as the wind in the Ria, with a briskly incoming tide was borderline un-sailable. In the range we enjoyed a decent South Easterly. 

At the start most picked the Portlemouth shore producing the inevitable loud calls for ROOM!and STARBOARD!!! Early departures for the town side included the Hendersons and several followed. 

This was a bold call. The Henderson ship became mired in very limited pressure at the head of the fairway having squeaked the fairway X mark. Others too battled to make progress against the tide. 

Meanwhile, the left, though taxing, was better. One would not bet against the Hendersons however. They alone conjured boat speed from nowhere and emerged into the range gradient wind with, conservatively, a 400m lead. 

Alister Morley driving Great Bustard made a decent job of the left, producing second and never to be headed. Rayson and Turner plus the un-fancied Smith/Johnson team in the moody Y172 were thereabouts. Team Meds were established in third too. 

On the final run back to the harbour Rayson and Turner took in a pirouette round mark A which was a detour. Hmm. 

At the gun:

First by miles, the Henderson ship. 
Second. Alister Morley and Freddie Thompson 
Third. John and Katie Meadowcroft. 

Final race. Course.  Something like: 1,3,1,3,1,2

This race was unremarkable but for the fact that Team Henderson did not win it. Having posted three firsts they did not even need to sail.  They obviously decided to sail the course, for, you know, actual fun. 

But. Uncharacteristically Will fluffed his lines in the final approach to Mark 3 before the beat to the  finish. 

Morley/Thompson gained the inside line in their a privately owned gust. Johnson and CS  in the un-fancied Y172 also posted a second just edging Team Turner/Skelhorn, third. 

In the final analysis we can report your Devon Eyes Yawl Autumnal open winners are: 

Will and Mandy Henderson. 

Second, and to the incredulity of all who follow Yawl form: 

Graham Cranford Smith and Tim Crewtastic Johnson (in the un-fancied Y172). 

Third: Ollie Turner and Skelley. 

Final results HERE

For most Yawls, thats a 2026 wrap. From the pontoon Yawls will soon disappear, if not from their owners bank statements. 

Thank you to everyone who has run the Yawl racing in 2026. And to our esteemed Yawl committee who give their time so generously. Plus Stones, who run the game changing Yawl pontoon. 

GCS | Photos L.Burn