Sailing Club Series, Race 5 - Solo

Published 10:58 on 19 May 2025

Following the success of the previous weekends Open Meeting, thirteen Solo sailors came to the starting line for fourth race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Sailing Club Series. 

With a light easterly breeze, the sailors expected a repeat if the past few weeks with windward leewards up and down the harbour, however the Race Officer Mike Hodges rang the changes and sent the fleet on several miles of off wind sailing to Gerston and back to Blackstone, in the hope that the wind would become more stable in the harbour.

Tim Law made the early running by heading off the starting line toward the Town moorings, holding onto that side to the lay line to Crossways, which he rounded first, followed by Simon Yates and Tim Fells.
Law held the lead after the long reach to Gerston, followed by Fells who had worked past Yates, there followed a fetch to Tosnos, where the fleet slowed down, and the leaders got away on fresh breeze, together with Roger Guess and Robin Hodges.

The fleet returned to the harbour for two windward leewards in a very shifty breeze, Tim Fells worked past on the down-winds, but Tim Law had the edge upwind, and eventually crossed the line first on the Portlemouth shore, when Fells failed to cover, with Simon Yates completing the podium.

By David Greening 

Photos - Lucy Burn