Sailing Club Series, Race 5. Solo Report.

Published 15:17 on 20 May 2024

10 weekend warrior Solo sailors turned up to race in the fifth race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Sailing Club Series, hoping that the wind Gods would deliver something rather better than any of the online weather forecasts had predicted. 

Race Officer Geoff Allen set a course to Blackstone to a buoy in Yalton Creek, followed by ambitious two laps around the harbour, in a flukey East South Easterly wind over a flood tide.

There was sufficient wind to get the fleet off the line, and by Biddle Head Chris Cleaves had edged into the lead, with light wind protagonists Gavin Stevens, James Greenhill and Simon Dobson in pursuit.

Cleaves rounded Blackstone in the lead and held the dying breeze to pull out a healthy lead from his pursuers. 

Upon entering Yalton Creek the wind died completely while the fleet desperately sought to make the Y mark before the tide changed; to the sounds of the Salcombe Jazz Trio at Port Waterhouse.  This correspondent managed to listen to three numbers, allow the Jazz Trio to have their break, and rounded the mark upon their reprise.

The wind filled in from the south as the fleet re-entered the anchorage, with Cleaves taking the shortened course win from Greenhill and Dobson, with Bruce Hattersley moving from last to fourth place in the closing moments of the race.

By David Greening.

Photos By Lucy Burn & Billy Jago.