Final Race - Sailing Club Series, Solo Report

Published 09:01 on 8 Jun 2026

40 knot winds in Salcombe Harbour on Saturday 6th June resulted in the unusual rescheduling of the final race of the Salcombe Yacht Club 2026 Sailing Club Series to the following morning.  The promise of a high tide and a Force 4 South Westerly breeze enticed nine mainly sexagenarian and septuagenarian Solo sailors (ed. Aren't they all?) to take to the water.

Under the direction of Race Officer Phil Magee, the fleet were sent to Blackstone to Yalton, followed by three laps of the harbour.

Tim Fells and Graham Cranford-Smith made the initial break from the line and led the fleet around Blackstone onto a fast run through the harbour into Yalton Creek. 

Those who headed for the northern shore prospered, finding some big gusts, with Mike Hicks and Iain McGregor providing the closest challenge to Fells, with David Greening and Chris Cleaves making good progress, to break clear of the remainder of the fleet.

Following the next Blackstone Crossways leg, Fells capsized full turtle, relinquishing the lead to Hicks followed by McGregor and Cleaves.

The Millbay windward mark pushed the fleet toward the Portlemouth shore, and on the run into Crossways, Cleaves found more wind in the middle of the harbour to plane past McGregor, and get to the transom of Hicks.

At this point Hicks presence in first place became more significant, since Cleaves required a first place to secure the series win, the shortened course flag meant that this was not to be, so Hicks took the race from Cleaves followed by McGregor, while Tim Law, on Laser duty, took the series.

A close race in breezy conditions, worth getting up for. 

D.Greening | Photos L.Burn