Salcombe Gin Regatta - Fast Handicap Report
Published 12:56 on 9 Aug 2026
The Salcombe Gin Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta fast handicap fleet enjoyed the sunshine and mixture of wind strengths provided by the weather gods throughout a week of exceptionally close racing. A 25 boat fleet, with an incredible range of dinghy classes, including a 505, two Comets and most things in-between, there was no risk of knowing the race results until published. With separate trophies for N12s, Rs400s, Enterprises and Merlins there was competitive fleet racing within the handicap.
In the end two boats won three races each, being the N12 of Zoe Meadowcroft and Zoe Ballantyne and the Merlin Rocket of Frances Gifford and Charlotte Stewart, but with more consistency in the other three races, the N12 prevailed to take home the trophy and the gin. The Ilca 7 of Alistair Conn, counting only 2nds and 3rds completed the podium.
The RS400s looked to be enjoying their internal races, zigzagging round the estuary often at high speeds, with Peter Jackson and Dave Phillips winning the most trophies, and in the Enterprises Ann Jackson and Rebecca Bradley enjoyed the slower pace, taking their trophy and 5th place overall.
There were a number of juniors throughout the fleet with Sammy Dalby, Charlie Dalby and Elodie Warren in the front of the Comets having a particularly wonderful time in the 20+ knots of Wednesday, and Jax Jacobs and Sebastian Day making their N12s go incredibly quickly in the lighter stuff.
It was a brilliant week - thanks to Salcombe Gin for the Gin, Gara Rock Hotel for the glasses and congratulations to Zoe and Zoe on their fantastic win. Hope to see everyone and more next year!
By Frances Gifford | Photos by Lucy Burn
