Page 22 - Salcombe Masthead 2020

20 Fleet Reports
SALCOMBE GIN MERLIN ROCKET WEEK 2019 – OVERALL
The final day brought further wall-to-wall sunshine with a North- Westerly force 2-3. The morning race included title contenders Mike and Jane Calvert and Alex Jackson and Mary Henderson, plus front runners Andy ‘Taxi’ Davis and Pippa Kilsby and Roger and Jane Gilbert.
Over the next loop to Gerston, Taxi and Pippa worked up into second, but the race had only just started as there was a tricky loop down to Blackstone to complete. As the leaders ran down they started to fall out of pressure with the chasers coming up behind. This resulted in the leading eight boats running line abreast into the mark. Alex and Mary were inside boat and were first around but then were unable to tack immediately across to the main current.
Roger and Jane were first across and were able to hook into a good right-hander up the town side to come home for a third cannon of the week. Taxi and Pippa took second ahead of Chris Jennings and John Hackett. Alex and Mary were fourth ahead
Red v Black flights.
Course sailed: 7,3,7,1
With the flood tide starting to flow to windward the fleet lined up early and there was a big general recall. A lot of boats were seen heading for an early shower including title contenders Mike and Jane Calvert, a hugely disappointing way to end to their challenge.
On the second clean start, Roger and Jane Gilbert made a ballsy early tack onto port to just cross the fleet and were away into pressure up the harbour. The other leading contenders were also away in good positions and when the leaders re-emerged to round Crossways, Roger and Jane were leading from Alex and Mary with Taxi and Pippa in third.