Spring Series - Solo Race 2

Published 16:40 on 17 Mar 2024

Fourteen Solo Sailors arrived at the start line for the Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Spring Series Race 2. In a force three to four South South Easterly breeze. Race Officer Graham Cranford-Smith set a course involving several laps of the harbour, whilst avoiding fickle winds to be found in the upper reaches of the Ria.

With a strong ebb tide the RO was generous to the fleet, which got away at the first time of asking, with those who started at the Portlemouth shore benefiting from tacking onto a port shift.

At the windward mark, Will Henderson led a group of cognescenti toward Biddle Head, whilst Tim Law, David Greening and a later Simon Yates gybed toward Crab Pots on a gust.

When the Henderson posse tried to cross back to join them, the gust had gone, and Law, Greening and Yates built up a comfortable buffer that grew even larger at Crossways, when the pursuing fleet ran out of wind when trying to run into the ebb tide.

With plenty of opportunities for defensive cover the leading three boats maintained formation, finishing a fair way ahead of Tim Fells, with Tom Ballantine grabbing fifth by hitting the Portlemouth side as the wind swung to the south west.