Teign Corinthian YC was host to some serious sailors at it’s three day Ship in a Bottle Regatta on the estuary over Easter. Pete Cook and Janet Exelby, from Salcombe YC, came back for more of the Teign after cleaning up during the recent Winter series in their Firefly. Hannah Showell and Stuart Hydon from Shustoke SC, who are more familiar in their Solos, brought a Lark to the event. Malcolm and Fiona Davies arrived with their Tasar from Paignton SC and Simon Jones, the Solo Class Training Coodinator, from Plymouth.

 

In light, sometimes frustrating, airs home Solo sailor Nick Whyte took the honours in the first race, with Simon Jones, also in a Solo, second. An uncharacteristic third place went to the Salcombe Firefly crew. The second race on the Saturday was sailed in a fiercely ebbing tide, with many heading for the shore before they were pushed too far downriver.  Of the five finishers, Jones was the winner, with the Firefly second and the Showell/Hydon team third in the Lark.

 

Sunday’s wind remained more or less in one direction, but  with plenty of parking places for the unwary.  The overall runner-up slot from Saturday was shared by Whyte and the Cook/Exelby team. Races three and four kept them on equal points with both taking a first and second apiece to make them joint overall leaders. Both the third places were filled by the Lark from Shustoke.

 

Easter Monday’s races were delayed while the wind settled in. Once away, the Lark set the pace with the Firefly and another Solo sailed by John Davey trying to keep up. After the handicap adjustments the Lark took the victory. The Firefly was placed second ahead of Davey. In the final race,  the Showell/Hydon Lark was just too quick and over the line at the start. Davey did get everything right, for once, and finished first ahead of the Salcombe crew. Graham Tapper was third in his two week old Solo.
With the four best results to count, the overall winner was Pete Cook and Janet Exelby(Firefly) 7pts, 2nd Nick Whyte (Solo) 8pts and 3rd Hannah Showell and Stuart Hydon (Lark) 10pts.