Salcombe Open Meeting

The long journey for many down to Salcombe with their National Twelves for the May bank holiday proved worthwhile, with a weekend of glorious sunshine and surprisingly unfickle winds. Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne showed the way round the first race, leading from start to finish, although Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley were hot on their heels by the end, timing their sprint not quite to perfection.

Race two, and the whole harbour and all the tributaries were visited, with Camm and Ballantyne again demonstrating apparent dominance, crossing the finish a long way ahead of the same chasers, Gifford and Mackley followed by Jon and Charlotte Ibbotson. Unfortunately it transpired that Camm and Ballantyne had started prematurely. 

Race three saw the lead change hands many times through “the bag”, known for the frequency of the fleet going in in one order, getting all shuffled up and coming out upside down. Camm and Ballantyne led in, David Peacock and Trisha Wood led out and by the time the fleet had been through it for a second time Jon Brown and Ros Brawn were leading.  They were ultimately overhauled by the Ibbotsons, who finally lost the lead in the last three tacks of the race to Gifford and Mackley.

Monday was lighter and there was potential for the testing of patience.  Camm and Ballantyne once again led from start to finish but the open meeting was by this point unattainable.  A very lovely weekend was had by all.

1^st – 3431, Frances Gifford and Sophie Mackley 4pts

2^nd – 3496, Graham Camm and Zoe Ballantyne, 5pts

3^rd – 3494, Jon and Charlotte Ibbotson, 7pts

Photo: John Murrell