SYC Summer Series Race 3, Solo Report

Published 18:21 on 7 Jul 2024

After much conversation between the Watch House and the competitors, nine hardy Solo sailors set forth for the second race of the Salcombe Yacht Club Summer Series. 

Whilst the fleet gathered on the beach discussing the wisdom of venturing forth into a Force Six breeze, Race Officer Will Henderson set a course of multiple loops of the harbour.

First off the start was Bill Jago, port tacking the fleet.  With a gruelling beat up the Portlemouth shore into a spring ebb tide, Chris Cleaves rounded the Blackstone first, followed close behind by the rest of the fleet, who swapped places all the way to Crossways. 

Star of this leg was Gavin Stevens who picked up a particularly large gust and survived sailing very much by the lee without capsizing or landing at Fishermans Cove.

On the return beat, Cleaves pulled into a comfortable lead from Roger Guess and David Greening, the three picking up a massive gust downwind which saw them pull away from the chasing pack.

Another beat back to Blackstone, and Guess clipped the mark, and did a turn, allowing Greening to chase down and overtake Cleaves by Crossways, on the beat back through Ditch End, Cleaves powered into the lead, then sounded the shorten course signal, Cleaves first, Greening second, and following a capsize by Guess at Ditch end, Simon Dobson took third place.

A brilliant and tough race, with all sailors super happy at the end, thanks to the race team holding their nerve