MRW Day 1 Report
Published 21:08 on 9 Jul 2023
Salcombe Gin Merlin Week sailors were greeted by a beautiful Salcombe day for the first race of the series. A Southerly F2-3 and clear blue skies made for a picture-perfect day.
RACE 1: RED v GREEN Flights, COURSE 1,8,2,3
The first race of the series pitted defending champions and top seeds, Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray, against potentially their main challengers, Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey who had secured a last-minute entry.
With the wind in the South, Portlemouth shore was the favoured end but there was more breeze over on the town side. The good money was on the Portlemouth side with Christian and Sam making the early lead up to Mill Bay chased by Tom and Rach. Christian and Sam led on the long run to Balcombe, the furthest north buoy on the SYC course chart, with Steve Crooks and Sally Townend joining the front runners.
On the long beat back into the harbour, Tom and Rach secured the lead with Alex Jackson and super crew Pippa Kilsby storming through to be their nearest challengers, but unlikely to find a way through. Ian Dobson and Ally Potts had pulled through Christian and Sam to run in third onto the last run. With the breeze at Crossways beginning to break up, there were some passing opportunities. Tom and Rach came home for the first bullet of the week ahead of the impressive Alex and Pippa. Christian and Sam got the better of their dual with Ian and Ally, Roger and Jane Gilbert maintained a solid fifth ahead of the charging Tom Stewart and Rob Allen who were the biggest climbers.
Silver Fleet winners were Andy and Maddy Jones in 18th with Timothy Barr and Chris Martin taking Bronze Fleet in 30th.
RACE 2: BLUE v BLACK Flights, Course 1,7,1,3,1,3
For the afternoon race, the wind was strengthening from the South West and with an outgoing tide was throwing up quite a seaway in the channel. Still under clear blue skies, this was properly champagne sailing as the breeze increased during the race to top 20 knots down through the harbour.
Being the first race and with an ebb tide, the fleet was quite line shy and those who got onto port off Mill Bay were able to cross ahead. Will and Rob Henderson were first around ahead of Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson, with Chis Gould and Sophie Mackley leading a closely grouped chasing pack down Biddle Rocks. Tim Fells and Fran Gifford managed to hold the inside line to move into second at Snapes and then take the lead heading up to Gerston.
The next two circuits of the harbour were fast and furious with Chris and Sophie making gains upwind and Tim and Fran extending on the runs. At the line, Tim and Fran held on for the bullet ahead of Chris and Sophie with Caroline Croft and Peter Gray winning the battle for third by a nose from Will and Rob. Richard Whitworth and Jemima Scroggie were a solid fifth ahead of Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson.
Silver Fleet winners were Steve and Ally Tyler in an excellent 12th with Richard Page and Lizzy Dalby taking Bronze in 32nd.
Photos M.Mackley
