SYC Summer Series Race 1, Solo Report

Published 21:13 on 24 Jun 2024

Following the cancellation of the previous Saturdays race due to high winds, twelve Solo sailors came to the line on a classic Salcombe afternoon.

On a spring low tide Race Officer Malcolm Mackley set a course that maximised the available water in the harbour, and included three tough windward legs, short tacking along the beaches against the building flood tide into a Force 3 West South Westerly breeze.

At the start Tim Law secured leeward pin position, with Paul Ellis close behind. They were joined by Chris Cleaves and Simon Dobson following the beat around Biddle Head, to form a leading group that were to exchange places for the next hour and a half.

A smaller posse of Robin Hodges, Gavin Stevens, Graham Cranford Smith and David Greening, had an equally competitive race, but never managed to close the gap to the leading group.

Ultimately Paul Ellis stretched his longer and younger legs to take a win from Tim Law, bloodied from his match play with Chris Cleaves. Simon Dobson finishing third from Cleaves.

Special mention should go to Chris Spencer Chapman and Geoff Allen, who despite being the senior members of the fleet were only just behind the youth section despite the short tacking up the beats, which left the youngsters gasping for breath!