SYC Summer Series Race 3 - Yawl Report

Published 18:26 on 7 Jul 2024

Despite near-perfect racing conditions, only five Yawls rolled off their docks, slipped into the water, and made their way to the start line. 

 
They were treated to a strong flood tide, wall-to-wall sunshine, and some ferocious gusts powering down the harbour—classic Salcombe. 
 
RO Will Henderson set a true spectators course with multiple loops of Blackstone Crossways, perfect! 

After making their way to the start, Andy and Liz Savell quickly returned to the pontoon. They were soon followed by Y89, who, after making the start, were hit by a gust, caused them to broach and were very lucky to survive with their mast still in one piece after a trip down the mine as they attempted to go downhill with half the estuary on board.

It was now just the young hotshots of the Yawl fleet, Olly Turner and Chris Skelhorn in Y68, Ross Borne and Matt Chubb in Y75, and John Burn in Y170, sailing with his sister Lucy Harridge.
 
The first beat saw Y170 reach mark 1 first, closely followed by Y68, who had managed to pull out a small lead over Y75.
The leg to crossways was exhilarating, and with all three boats flat out, they had to pick their chance to gybe carefully. 

 
 
Burn and Harridge held off the challenge from Turner and Skelhorn and rounded Crossways just in front. There then followed a tacking battle up the Portlemouth shore in 20 plus knots of breeze, with the tide building all the time. 

Burn and Harridge sailed the shifts well from the ferry landing and got clear ahead by the time they reached Blackstone for the second time of asking. 
 
The race then settled down, with Burn and Harridge taking line honours 1 minute, 13 seconds ahead of Turner and Skelhorn, who, on corrected time, claimed their first win of the series. 
 
Ross and Matt in Y75, who were busy epoxying their mast track back together just 30 minutes before the start, came home with a well-earned 3rd.