Please select your home edition
Edition
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - TOP

South West Water Pursuit Race at Salcombe Yacht Club

by David Greening 2 Dec 2019 05:12 NZDT
South West Water Pursuit Race at Salcombe © Malcolm Mackley

It has become a tradition for Salcombe Yacht Club dinghy racers to compete in the South West Water Pursuit Race on the day of the annual prize-giving supper.

The reality were south easterly gale force winds but with the race area at least partially protected by the hills of East Portlemouth, sufficiently so for Race Officer Julian Meek to consider that racing was still on.

The first challenge for the nine hardy sailors was their departure from the lee shore that was the Batson Slipway, with a team effort everyone got away and headed to the starting line.

First away heading to Crossways was the Solo of Stuart Cartwright and the Laser Radial of Andrew Groves followed by Chris Turns. They were chased down the run by David Greening and Simon Dobson, with Simon eventually taking the lead after rounding Blackstone.

On the final lap the Aero 7 of Tim Fells loomed large riding a particularly large gust down to Blackstone, however he was punished hard by the gusty conditions off Woodcott rocks, where he had opportunity to display his water-starting skills.

After the windward mark, the rolling finish line came into sight; Simon Dobson rounded first and planed through the line, with David Greening holding off the Phantom of Alister Morley to take second place.

However the challenges were not over with low tide upon the competitors return and little space to lower their sails, there were a spate of capsizes with several boats ending up on the mud, before eventually arriving safely back on the slipway.

The racers regrouped at Salcombe Yacht Club later in the evening for the Laying Up and Prize-giving Supper, where Rear Commodore of Sailing Simon Dobson was able to present himself with the South West Water Trophy.

Results:

1st Solo 5676 Simon Dobson
2nd Solo 5792 David Greening
3rd Phantom 1459 Alister Morley

Related Articles

Salcombe YC Autumn Series race 1
Ensure your crew knows a painter might not really be a painter After a lot of behind-the-scenes crew/helm pairing, negotiations and secrecy, the Yawl runners and riders appeared on the pontoon for round one of the Autumn Series. Posted on 7 Sep
Salcombe Town Regatta Dinghy Racing 2025
The fun side of racing with four days of fleet races followed by a fancy dress pursuit race The dinghy racing in Town Regatta Week emphasises the fun side of racing with four days of fleet races followed by a fancy dress Pursuit Race. Posted on 19 Aug
Salcombe Yacht Club Three Creeks Challenge
Which punishing order of creeks were the sailors sent on? SYC has put on a lot of sailing so far this season, and after two busy weeks of regattas, if you thought there would be a forced rest day on Saturday, you were mistaken. Posted on 18 Aug
Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta 2025
Recent renaissance of the Salcombe Yawl fleet makes for a post-Covid record attendance This year the total number of all boats competing in the Salcombe Gin sponsored Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta was a post-Covid record and the recent renaissance of the Salcombe Yawl fleet an astonishing and wondrous sight. Posted on 11 Aug
The ultimate real-world test for the TEMO 1000
The ultimate real-world test for the TEMO 1000 electric outboard motor Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week (29 June – 4 July), one of the most vibrant and fiercely competitive events on the UK dinghy calendar, proved to be the ultimate real-world test for the TEMO 1000 electric outboard motor. Posted on 23 Jul
Salcombe YC Summer Series race 4
Out to sea! One of the most memorable club races in recent history Faced with tricky harbour conditions — no water and a course that would result in a procession of reaches — Race Officer Simon Ballentine had a bold solution: send the fleet out to sea. Posted on 14 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week overall
Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray take the trophy The final day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week dawned to another day of blue skies with a light Southwester forming in the harbour and forecast to increase. The overall result was still up for grabs with both leading protagonists in the morning race. Posted on 4 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 5
Wall to wall sunshine for the 102 teams The fifth morning dawned with wall to wall sunshine and a 5 knot SW sea breeze popped in at the surprisingly early time of 8.30, promising a good day's racing for the 102 teams. Posted on 3 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 4
Random gusts from every direction, including vertical Past the halfway stage and the weather served up another wind direction for the fourth day of Helly Hansen Salcombe Merlin Week. Posted on 2 Jul
Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week Day 3
South-Westerly establishes itself after a windless dawn The third day dawned with light cloud and absolutely no wind in the harbour. As often happens at Salcombe, by the time the fleet started to launch a South-Westerly had started to establish itself and by the 10.30 start time there was 4-5 knots. Posted on 1 Jul
TNI Pindar SW Ads_728x90px-3 BOTTOMRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERKZRaceFurlers