Salcombe Yawl sailors, Pete Cook and Janet Exelby, came to the Icebreaker series at Coombe Cellars and gave a superb demonstration of sailing skills. Using a traditional classic Firefly, which was designed in 1946, they very comprehensively beat the much more modern opposition and collected both the Saturday and the Sunday trophies.

 

Saturday’s first Handicap race was notable only for the failure of almost the entire fleet to sail the correct course. Chris Tilbrook in his Vortex was the winner and only one not disqualified. He then went on to win the second race ahead of the Firefly which was second and Paul Craft, in a Vareo, third.

 

The fresh North-westerly wind kept the Solos busy with no one a clear winner until the closing stages.  Nick Whyte, who was clearly pacing himself, emerged at the front to win ahead of Andy Colyer who was second and James Stephenson third. Race two saw Whyte break away early on and never seriously challenged, but unfortunately he missed a mark so was obliged to retire. Colyer was the victor and winner of the Solo Saturday series overall. Second was Peter Hearne ahead of Dave Lee, who normally sails a Merlin Rocket at Starcross SC.

 

Sunday was almost too calm with the wind gradually becoming very light and variable.  The Solos were led from the off by Stephenson with rest playing catch up. Whyte finished second and Colyer third. In the second race luck was a big factor. Whyte will testify that he was robbed. After leading comfortably in the latter stages, he almost stopped while Colyer and John Davey sailed around him to finish first and second respectively. Whyte had to settle for a slightly unfair third place. Colyer definitely went home happy as he took the Sunday trophy as well.

 

The Salcombe team mopped up with another two wins in the Handicap races. Daryl Geary was second twice in his RS400. Buzz Burrows was third in his Finn in race one and Sammie Colyer in her Laser 4.7 in race two.

 

The Teign Corinthian Spring series starts next Saturday at 2 pm and Sunday at 3 pm.