Sailing Club Series, Race 7 - Fast Handicap

Published 18:58 on 1 Jun 2025

A burst of breeze and a fine fleet of 17 boats lined up for theFast Handicap Race in the sixth outing of the Salcombe Yacht Club Sailing Club Series. Race Officer Simon Dobson, dished up a delicious course in a punchy force 4 south-westerly Blackstone to Gerston, followed by two lung-busting laps of the harbour.

The fast handicap fleet provided early entertainment by executing a particularly enthusiastic start eager beavers if you will (names withheld to preserve dignity). After a quick reset and a more composed second go, the race was on.

Leading the charge in fine style was Fran Gifford in her Merlin Rocket, ably crewed by Fiona Cranford Smith, who made the most of the gusts and shifts to stretch ahead of the fleet. With their kite flying and smiles beaming, they looked positively poetic charging down the runs and were rewarded with a deserved win on corrected time.

Hot on their corrected time heals were Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn in Yawl 186, leading the red fleet Yawls with pride. They may not have taken the top spot, but they kept things spicy and only just missed out on the top spot.

Meanwhile, Yawl 123, with Robert Smith and Robin Piggott representing the blue fleet, showed they hadnt read the script about red fleet domination. They sailed a cracking race to claim third, keeping the pressure on from start to finish and reminding everyone that the blues are just as fast as the reds.

The harbour, in full sun and full puff, served up a glorious backdrop the kind of sailing day Salcombe is famous for. There were a few hairy moments (one or two gravity checks mid-gust), but everyone made it home with big grins and salty faces.

By John Burn 

Photos - Lucy Burn