P&B Solo Western Series at Salcombe Yacht Club
Published 15:54 on 21 Oct 2026
Thirty-two Solo sailors including eight visitors attended the Salcombe Yacht Club Autumn Solo Open, part of the P&B Solo Western Series, sponsored by Pinnell and Bax, held over the weekend of 17th and 18th October 2026.
The racing took place in predominantly North Easterly moderate breezes, over neap ebb tides.
Courses were admirably set by the PRO and Solo legend Martin “Stavros” Payne.
Race 1
For those who know Salcombe the course marks were 7-1-3-1, which meant the legendary Bag, a first for some visitors, Steve Roberts.
With the ebb tide the boats that started at the Town end of the line were able to get into the town moorings early were able to benefit from less tide, with Tim Fells and Simon Dobson leading the fleet around Snapes Point and crossed to Ox Point, the bulk of the fleet chose to stay on the western shore, resulting in Roger Lumby taking the lead by Tosnos.
On returning to the main harbour, Tim Fells had taken the lead from Chris Cleaves and Simon Dobson. On the beat back to Crossways Fells tipped in off Snapes Point handing the lead to Cleaves followed by Dobson. At the final rounding of Blackstone, Cleaves hit a submerged object, allowing Dobson through to take the race from Cleaves. David Greening earning third place by staying upright.
Race 2
Marks 3-1-3-1-3-2
As previously the start favoured the left hand side with Tim Law and Simon Dobson leading around Crossways. The fleet ran down to Blackstone and headed into Biddle Point to find a starboard lift, the most successful of these was Chris Cleaves who found a big lift to move up into the leading group.
Tim Law took the lead on the final run as the leader bunch spread out across the harbour, with difficulty identifying which side to cover, Paul Rayson secured inside berth at the final mark from Law, with Dobson rounding third.
Rayson took the race followed by Law, whilst Cleaves found some helpful shifts to sail around Dobson and Tim Fells to take third place.
Race 3 - Sunday
Marks 3-1-3-1-3-2
Sunday dawned, following an excellent evening of hospitality and speeches at the Yacht Club.
The wind was slightly lighter and a little more west.
With slack tide there was less emphasis on getting under the town where there was less wind, and more in finding a good lane to get to the Crossways, notable for the void that was on the Yalton side.
Martin Hodgson played the left side of the harbour to round Crossways in the lead from Roger Guess, Chris Cleaves and Paul Rayson who also played the left side.
As the ebb tide built, the fleet short tacked up the beaches, however Rob Henderson found a massive lift out in the tide to lift over four or five boats, including his father, to take second place behind Rayson, with Will Henderson third followed by Chris Cleaves.
Race 4
Marks X-1-X-1-X-2
For Race 4 the PRO moved the windward mark further into the main harbour to avoid the hole surrounding Crossways.
With the building ebb tide and the wind that had shifted a little further east once again favoured the left hand side of the beat, with Paul Rayson and Steve Roberts playing the shifts more to the middle rounding the windward mark first and second while Tim Fells and Tim Law, who had milked the Cliff House wall up to the Ferry, fetching into third and fourth places.
Rayson led the final rounding of Crossways with Fells closing in on pressure down the port side of the run to Millbay. Close covering up the final beat to the line, Fells grabbed victory with a final lunge to the beach fortunately running aground after he had received the winning bell from Rayson followed home by Law.
So Rayson took the weekend comfortably with a 1-1-2 scoreline doing his best work on Sunday, from Chris Cleaves who consistently grasped opportunities when they presented themselves despite having to sail back to collect his hat on Sunday afternoon, with Tim Fells securing the final podium spot. Steve Roberts from Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club was first of the visitors.
It was great weekend of sailing with steady winds and excellent race management. For some the short tacking up the sides to get out of the tide was a shock and there were plenty of tired legs at the end of the event.
Salcombe Yacht Club looks forward to hosting this event next year when it will be the Solo Western Area Championship. The next and last instalment of the P&B Solo Western Series takes place at South Cerney on 31st October.
By David Greening | Photos Lucy Burn
