Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week - Day 2

Monday morning dawned cloudy, which was not what was wanted to swing the NW breeze to the SW. Initially it looked like a repeat of Sunday's chaotic start line, but the breeze started to pull round to the SW just as the start sequence got under way. So too the tide which started to ebb, leading to some interesting starts.

RACE 3: RED v BLUE Flights, COURSE 1,4,7,1,3

With all starts under black flag there was a lot of jeopardy from lining up early in the light breeze with tide under but occasional puffs that could accelerate the fleet over the line. And so it proved to be. With two general recalls before a start got away a total of 18 boats were caught under the black flag.

On the third start, with much more consistent pressure up the harbour, those who got to the right at the top of the beat prospered, with Caroline Croft and Faye Chatterton rounding with Christian Birrell and Luke Patience. Both of these headed down the Portlemouth shore, while Chris Gould and Rob Allen in third gybed across to the town side.

Though this initially looked good, they ran out of pressure at the Ferry with the pack speeding down Fisherman's in good pressure.

Christian and Luke extended their lead on the beat back from Yalton and out to Gerston but Caroline and Faye had considerably narrowed their lead on the beat back up the harbour, with James Wells and Anna Aylward battling with Alex Warren and Jonty Freeman for third.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 2 - photo © Lucy Burn

On the run back to Crossways, Caroline and Faye ran deeper than Christian and Luke to take control of the beach and the tidal relief down Fishermans. With some expert gybes, they extended a comfortable lead at Crossways and with tide under them were able to cover Christian and Luke to the line for a well-earned first bullet at Salcombe Week.

James and Anna took an excellent third with Tim Saxton and Mary Henderson escaping from a tight fight for fourth from Alex and Jonty in fifth and Dave Winder and Anna Blake in sixth.

RACE 4: GREEN v BLACK Flights, Course 1,7,1,3,1,3

By the afternoon start, the F3 wind had settled in the South West to give a fair beat to Blackstone. After the morning shenanigans, the fleet where a bit line shy. George and Sophie Yeoman, for the second day running, nailed the start, were able to tack and cross the fleet to the town side and pick up the right hander into Blackstone to have a significant lead.

They headed for the Portlemouth shore to get out of the tide but unfortunately ran out of breeze.

The following pack gybed in the hope of picking up the breeze coming out of North Sands and while they initially died, the breeze did come in, allowing James Goss and Chris White to accelerate down the town side before gybing back across the harbour to comfortably cross all those who had taken the customary route but had hit the hole off Biddle Point. Heading into the Bag, James and Chris led from Mike and Jane Calvert followed by Will and Rob Henderson.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 2 - photo © Lucy Burn

On returning to the harbour, Tom Gillard and Rachael Grey had worked their way into a narrow lead from a group of four who all exchanged places on the beat back to Blackstone. James and Chris, Stu Bithell and Katherine Kimber, Taxi and Pippa and Mike and Jane Calvert were almost inseparable.

The run back to Crossways saw the leaders shuffle again. James and Chris, and Taxi and Pippa both gained by standing out into the last of the ebb to find more breeze while Tom and Rachael lost out by keeping out of the tide on the Portlemouth shore.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 2 - photo © Lucy Burn

James and Chris led around Crossways and covered the chasers all the way to the line to take their first bullet. They missed the Sunday race as James was getting married at the weekend, so this was a perfect honeymoon celebration!

In a very tight finish, Mike and Jane just got their nose ahead of Taxi and Pippa with Stu and Katherine just behind. Tom and Rachael had to settle for fifth with Will and Rob rounding out the top six.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 2 afternoon race - photo © Malcolm Mackley

Results after Day 2:

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 2 afternoon race - photo © Margaret Mackley