Stones Boatyard Yawl Open ~ Red Fleet Report
Published 11:32 on 26 May 2026
20 Salcombe Yawls comprised the Red fleet for the Stones Boatyard Yeti Open Meeting, in the Mecca of the Salcombe Ria on a glorious Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend.
Whilst much of the UK was hot and sticky and 30 degrees plus, we just had temperatures in the mid twenties with also the commodity of breeze.
Four races over 3 days, with Stones Boatyard hosting a party on the Saturday afternoon for Yawl sailors on their fabulous pontoon which now allows 36 yawls to dry sail from this floating dock. And Salcombe YC pulling out the stops with a meal for owners on the Sunday night.
Race 1 on Saturday afternoon and everyone was eager to go resulting in a General recall and the fleet being relegated to the end of the start sequence in punishment.
The course sent the fleet to Blackstone before a long run and subsequent broad reach up to Gerston. Chubby Cleaves and Graham Cranford Smith were the early leaders and led the fleet down the Portlemouth shore. Lots of gybing in and out of the beaches and David Greening and Frances Gifford were no longer a Salcombe Yawl as they lost their mizzen and had to retire, and claim redress. Back markers John and Katy Meadowcroft and John Burn and Tris Stone took the option of the Salcombe shore with the fairway now removed after the final start. This paid dividends for them with better pressure and fewer boats.
The leaders from the two sides came together off Batson with Will and Mandy Henderson leading from the Portlemouth shore along with Cleaves and Cranford Smith. The question was how close into Snapes dare you go with a foul tide. AJ and Shiela Squire got to the corner and were first to decide to take the low long route with the Meadowcrofts in pursuit. Uncharacteristically the Hendersons took the high route with a possy pursuing them through the short cut. The fleet came back together off Tosnos and the Hendersons plan had worked and they had a good lead ahead of the Squires, with Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn emerging as the best of the rest. The rest of the fleet sailed as one pack to Gerston all arriving together and reacquainting each other with Rule 18.
From here it was a loop back to Blackstone and then to Crossways. The wind threatened to become a little fitful but held true, with the Hendersons taking the gun from the Squires and then Turner and Skelhorn, with much place changing going on behind them.
Day 2. Two races. Glorious weather. If there is a word that is better than glorious it actually should be used here. A short course for the first race with a double beat to Crossways to starboard and then a second beat to a temporary mark a couple of hundred metres up South Pool Creek.
Turner and Skelhorn nailed the start and the first beat and did a horizon job on the fleet. The race was not many miles long but they seemed to win by miles. John Burn and Tris Stone took second from Cleaves and Cranford Smith.
Race 3 was to be sailed back to back but competitors were required to clear the start and finish line. The expectation of many was that the other fleets would finish and then we would start, but that was a poor assumption.
The result was only 9 starters for race 3 as those who had gone to windward did not hear signals and ultimately were black flagged as on course side. I dont know what happened on the start line as I wasnt there…. But in the race the Hendersons established a big lead over Turner and Skelhorn with Cleaves and Cranford Smith picking up another third powered by the impressive new HD sails rig. Some of the late starters caught up but they were all given penalties. At least it was a nice sail.
Race 4. Monday morning dawned with the same sun, the same heat and a touch more wind. It was sublime. A course in the main harbour on a rising tide with 4 trips to Crossways and 2 to Blackstone and 2 visits to Mill Bay. The regatta was between the Hendersons and Turner and Skelhorn who were tied on points. The apprentices tried engaging the masters in the pre-start. The inevitable outcome being that both started poorly.
The Meadowcrofts started well and had a small lead at the first mark from David Stone and Mark Hazelwood. They extended well down the first run whilst Dan Bridger and Peter Morris emerged from the pack. Meanwhile the Hendersons were working hard to keep their rivals in their pocket with both boats mid fleet. Bridger and Morris sailed a super beat to get on the tail of the Meadowcrofts on the next run where they outsmarted them to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Greg and Clare Hoar then took the fight to the Meadowcrofts with much place changing and with the Meadowcrofts edging it on the final beat.
Overall the Hendersons took the win on tie break, Turner and Skelhorn second and the Meadowcrofts taking a tie for 3rd from the unfortunate Cleaves and Cranford Smith. Burn and Stone took 5th overall, one point behind. Fun sailing in gorgeous conditions.
