SALCOMBE GIN MERLIN ROCKET WEEK DAY THREE

Published 09:55 on 12 Jul 2023

Tuesday dawned cloudy and with a building South-Westerly F3-4 giving further excellent racing conditions for the 120 entrants.

RACE 5: GREEN v BLUE Flights, COURSE 1,8,4,2,3

With the ebb tide running against the fleet on the beat, Portlemouth shore was the favoured side and a big port shift came in on the gun. Those who could escape onto port tack were off and away. Making the front running up to Blackstone were Chris Martin and Sam Bailey, from John and Katy Meadowcroft and Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray. Rounding in fourth having taken the town side was the remarkable 87-year-old Alan Warren crewed by William Carroll.

On the long run and three sail reach out to Balcombe, Tom and Rachael took the lead and were being chased by Ian Dobson and Ally Potts, having stepped a replacement mast overnight. Places remained unchanged on the long fetch and run out to Yalton with Mike Calvert and Emma Clarke coming through to challenge Chris and Sam for third.

Tom and Rachael continued to extend and came home for their third bullet on what is looking like an unstoppable defence of their title. Ian and Ally secured second with Mike and Emma getting the better of Chris and Sam for third. Jon Gorringe and Matt Currell were a solid fifth ahead of Jenny and Chris Dodds who had climbed well for a strong sixth.

First Silver Fleet team were son and father team Christian and Michael Hamilton in 18th with Timothy Barr and Chris Martin again taking Bronze Fleet honours in 30th.

Photo M.Mackley

RACE 6: RED v BLACK Flights, Course 1,4,6,5,8,2,3

The breeze was continuing to build for the afternoon race and with the sun out and high water an hour before the start, PRO Scud Stewart sent the fleet on a classic tour of the estuary.

With Tom and Rachaels dominant performances, Christian and Sam clearly needed a good start but they pulled the trigger early and were a good boat length over the line, adding a BFD to their score. Although they led around Blackstone, it was Taxi and Olly Meadowcroft who were really in the lead. They were pursued by Richard Whitworth and Jemima Scroggie who managed to get into the lead at the far end of the course at Balcombe, with Alex Jackson and Pippa Kilsby up into third.

With the breeze building and boats on max rake, Taxi and Olly kept everything together round the tough final circuit of the harbour to take their first bullet. Richard and Jemima were not that far back and were being chased hard by young guns, Arthur Henderson and Tom Ballantine who had come storming up through the field. Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley took fourth to move into second overall with Alex and Pippa keeping Caroline Croft and Pete Gray behind them for fifth and sixth.

First Silver Fleet team were, again, Steve and Ally Tyler in 14th with Tristam Squire and Peter Slack leading home the Bronze Fleet in 35th.

All eyes are on Fridays forecast which currently looks like dogs will be blown off chains. If the last day is cancelled, all races will count as the discard comes in after five races!