SWW Pursuit Race

Published 10:23 on 2 Dec 2025

Generally sailing at Salcombe is complicated enough without changing race formats so we stick to what we know. 

However on the day of the Laying Up Supper and end-of-year Dinghy Prize-Giving, we have a Pursuit Race for the South West Water Trophy commemorating the institution of the "Tank" Dinghy Park at Batson.  I won't dwell on the purpose of the Tank but the grass on top is very lush and well nourished!

A good force 3 and a full Estuary greeted the 24 competitors, the wind a little north of westerly giving the full washing machine effect at the Watch-House.  However, PRO Simon Ballantine set a reachy/runny/beaty start north with the tide into a windward leeward course between Crossways and Yalton. First away was Suzie Andrews in the sole Laser 4.7, she stayed in the lead past Mark 4 but was swallowed up on the beat to Mark 3. Next off were the Laser Radials who were seduced by a gust to head up to the moorings and were never seen again. The solos started in a lull and after a 100yds had completely lost their 1 minute advantage over the blue fleet yawls. 

At the end of the run the Solos and the Blue Fleet Yawls arrived in a bunch. Tim Fells and Phil Magee (Y17) rounded in front of the mob and sailed off in clear air, never to be seen again. 

The rest of the Yawls gradually picked their way through the Solos to the front of the fleet. Of the faster boats, the Squire Albacore retired with gear failure, The Meadowcroft Merlin, with Nicky Bass in the front, hurtled down the last run but then went drift-net fishing with their Spinnaker and lost their chance of a win.

Final results were:

1st -  Y17, Tim Fells and Phil Magee 

2nd - Y170, John Burn and Ross Borne 

3rd - Y161, Dan Bridger and Andrew Stirling.

By Dan Bridger

Photos - Lucy Burn