Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week - Day 4

Another day and another race officer's nightmare.

With the breeze coming from two different directions on the line and nothing to suggest this situation was to change, PRO David Greening decided to send the fleet with tide up harbour where the better breeze was established.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 4 - photo © Lucy Burn

RACE 7: BLUE v BLACK Flights, COURSE 4,2,4

At the gun, with very little breeze, it was a running start. Will and Rob Henderson got away well at the Town end while Richard Whitworth and Jemima Scroggie found pressure over on the beach.

Once into the moorings the pressure built and Richard and Jemima took the lead to round first at Yalton. Also going very well were the old salty dog Dan Alsop and Jennie King sailing the venerable 'Gangsta Paradise', allegedly the fastest Merlin on a run ever built. They rounded in a close second ahead of Chris Jennings and Pete Nicholson. Will and Rob had fallen back a bit but were still in the hunt just behind Tom Gillard and Rachael Grey.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 4 - photo © Lucy Burn

On the return to the no wind zone at the line, Richard and Jemima kept their cool to lead into Mill Bay, chased by Tom and Rachael, and Simon Blake and Alex Jackson. Christian Birrell and Luke Patience who had been deep, staged a recovery along with Mike and Jane Calvert. Turning onto the run in very little breeze and the start of the ebb against them, the top nine boats were all together changing places.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 4 - photo © Lucy Burn

At the bottom mark, Christian and Luke had worked out a handy lead from Si and Alex with the Calverts in third.

With the breeze now established through the harbour, the leaders were able to enjoy a good beat back to the line. Christian and Luke, although pressured by Mike and Jane, kept a close cover to come home with an important bullet. In the final stage, Tom and Rachael jumped from fifth to third, a result which may have a big impact on the overall result, with Richard and Jemima just behind in fourth, Si and Alex fifth and Will and Rob sixth.

RACE 8: RED v GREEN Flights, Course 1,7,1,3,2

In a mirror image of Tuesday afternoon, the sea breeze started to falter over the lunch break and the afternoon competitors were met with some tasty gusts from the SW, next to no wind on the line and breeze from the NW up the harbour.

With the tide underneath them, the fleet managed a general recall with three names on the board. Second time away the start was clean with a rapid trip up to Blackstone and the leaders arrived closely packed with Caroline Croft and Faye Chatterton leading around overlapped with Taxi and Pippa Kilsby, and Ian Dobson and Ally Potts.

The run down through town was very gusty with lots of place changes as the leaders gybed down the beach. On entering the Bag, Caroline and Faye had re-established their lead, from Tim Fells and Fran Gifford, ahead of Ian and Ally. The leaders were now into a strong gradient and enjoyed a power beat up to Gerston, Taxi and Pippa coming through to challenge for the lead.

After an enjoyable run, the race was about to start again as the leaders entered the harbour for a couple of loops on what had become a bomb site of vertical gusts. Steadily climbing up through the fleet, top Silver Fleet team of Mark Stockbridge and James Gifford played a blinder to come through and briefly take the lead.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 4 - photo © Lucy Burn

There were continual changes as the leaders battled with random gusts and holes, so the simple thing to report is how it was all resolved at the finish line. Ian and Ally took their second bullet to strengthen their challenge for the title. Mark and James were stars of the day in second. Chris Gould and Rob Allen came through from well back to take third.

Simon Potts and Holly McArthur were also climbers into fourth while Caroline and Faye had to settle for fifth. Stu Bithell and Katherine Kimber rounded out the top six.

Mark Stockbridge and James Gifford were clear winners of the Silver Fleet with Joe McLaughlin and Sean Roberts also going well in 15th. Bronze was led home by David and Frances Bursey in 25th.

Overall, Mike and Jane Calvert have taken top spot based upon their consistency in challenging conditions.

Salcombe Gin Merlin Rocket Week Day 4 - photo © Lucy Burn

Results after day 4: