Spring Series, Race Four Handicap Report

Published 13:36 on 31 Mar 2024

Under the radiant Easter weekend sun and a brisk 10-15 knot SSE breeze, a bustling fleet of nine boats gathered for race 4 of the spring series.

Race Officer Simon Yates set a course consisting of 1-7-5-7-1-3, capitalising on the favourable conditions at the top end of The Bag. Among the contenders were four Merlin Rockets, three Lasers, one 505, and the season's first Yawl, each eager to chart the swiftest path to Blackstone.

The 505 of Peter and Craig Colclough, alongside John and Katy Meadowcroft in one of the Merlin Rockets, swiftly rounded the mark and opted for the Portlemouth Shore, closely followed by Will and Arthur Henderson in another Merlin Rocket.

As the fleet jostled for position, John and Frankie Burn executed a strategic gybe once around the mark, heading for better pressure along the Salcombe Town shoreline, which propelled them to the front of the pack as they reached the ferry landing.

(Library Photo)

Maintaining their momentum, the Burn Merlin continued to lead the fleet through the 7-5-7 loop but were overhauled by the Meadowcroft duo on the long beat back to Blackstone. The Meadowcroft Merlin extended their advantage, securing a commanding position as they manoeuvred through the tricky conditions in the main harbour.

Meanwhile, the Hendersons navigated the return through The Bag well, and employing the spinnaker as they rounded Snapes Point narrowed the gap to the Burns, ultimately securing second place on corrected time.

(Library Photo by Lucy Burn)

In a separate skirmish, Christian Day and Andrew Groves engaged in a tight battle aboard their laser radials, with the lead changing numerous times. Groves initially led the charge, but Day's strategic prowess enabled him to seize a decisive lead, only to be hunted down by Groves before reaching Blackstone. The back-and-forth continued, with Day's route down the middle of the harbour on the return from Crossways proving pivotal as he clinched third place at the finish line.

(Library Photo by Lucy Burn)

By John Burn