Summer Series, Race 1 - Yawl Report.

Published 14:05 on 15 Jun 2026

A glorious sunny day with a moderate breeze welcomed 14 Yawls to the start line for the first race of the Summer series.

The course of 1,7,1,4,2,3 was displayed on the watch house balcony and a clean start was made, with a congregation of fast starters all heading for the beachside to stay out of a strong flood tide. 

The limited room and subsequent requests played out and created opportunities for John Burn and Ross Borne (Y170) and John and Katy Meadowcroft (Y175) to extend past Millbay and up towards the mark at Blackstone. On the run back towards the bag, Y170 extended its lead considerably and were gone! 

The Meadowcrofts lead a chasing pack that was all starting to condense through the moorings and up towards Gerston (Mark 7). Burn and Borne were around first and still a long way ahead of the rest and the reach back to the bag commenced. 

Against a flood tide, Y170, which seamed to have built an unassailable lead, had stopped! In fact, to those in hot pursuit, they were going backwards! Tails were up, wide grins forming and new strategies were being computed. Team Henderson (Y168), which had been quietly ghosting in mid-pack had opted to stay high. Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn (Y186) were still trying to recover from a bad first beat and spotted the carnage in the middle and also opted for the high line, close to Lincombe. This side of the course appeared to offer more pressure. Team Greening (Y177) were right in the mix, but a rudder issue, meant a quick stop and a reset of their position.  

As the fleet exited the bag and headed back towards Mark 1, everything had changed. Y175 lead Y168 and Y186 over to the EP shore, with Y170 hugging Snapes hoping their luck would change. A long beat of short tacking up towards Mark 1 resulted in Will and Mandy Henderson taking over the reins. John and Katy Meadowcroft rounded second with Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn hot on their heels. 

Back in the pack there was very tight racing between Phil and Roz Magee (Y17), Greg and Clare Hoare (Y145) and Andy and Elizabeth Savell (Y187). Robin Hodges, guest helming Y154, also kept the pressure on. The long run back to Mark 4 created the opportunity for Y186 to take Y175 by the mark, but they were not able to hold this to the shortened finish.  

1st - Y168 Will and Mandy Henderson, 2nd - Y175 John and Katy Meadowcroft and 3rd - Y186 Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn. 

Thanks to Race Officer, Steve Walter, and his Race Team for a great afternoons racing.

By C.Skelhorn | Photos L.Burn