Summer Series Race 2 - Yawl Report
Published 14:07 on 23 Jun 2026
Saturday saw yet more lovely weather with a gentle breeze and a strong outgoing tide.
A good fleet of twelve Red and Blue fleet boats embarked on the course of 1,5,2,3,2,3. John and Katy Meadowcroft in Y175 took the early lead to round Blackstone in first followed by Paul Ellis and Frankie Burn in Y181. The fleet opted to hug the Portlemouth shore apart from the lone maverick Simon Dawes in Y150 who crossed to the Salcombe side. Team Meadowcroft was overtaken my Y181 after a slightly slow gybe by Millbay. The rest of the fleet was not far behind with the Blue fleet boats still in touch with the Red fleet.
The fleet was still together as it approached Snapes. Rounding Snapes was the usual game of snakes and ladders with strong tide on the point and patchy wind. Paul Ellis showed his experience and extended his lead. The majority of the fleet crossed early and spent some time languishing in the tide. Will and Mandy Henderson in Y168 waited and did a rapid cross at the narrowest point and moved up into second place, this route was followed by Mark Waterhouse and Nicola Bass in Y74 who also made gains on the Red fleet boats some of whom were still stuck in maximum tide.
Once the point was rounded a steady breeze gave a good reach to Saltstone. The majority of the fleet went high but stayed to leeward of the pontoons, Y74 went inside both pontoons and consolidated their gains on the Red fleet boats. Paul & Frankie picked up some lovely wind by Halwell point to round number 5 in first place followed by Y168 then Y74 with Paul and Julie Rayson in Y178 right behind.
We then had a good beat back out of the Bag. A big right hand shift enabled the pack to close the gap on the leaders but by this time Y181s lead looked safe. John Burn and Ross Borne in Y170 worked their way towards the front of the fleet but could not catch team Henderson. The remainder of the race was sailed in slightly less breeze and the race officer shortened after one lap of the harbour. There were still some gains to be made on the last beat with David Greening and daughter Josie Y177, fighting their way back through the Blue fleet and passing Y74 and Phil and Roz Magee in Y17 just squeezing past Y150 on the line.
Thanks to Andy Savell and the race crew for a great race and apologies for the lack of detail in this report. I was slightly surprised by our 3rd place and I do spend quite a bit of time with my head in the boat checking our pump is still working and that we are not sinking.
By N. Bass | Photos L. Burn
