Race Report by Tor Cheney

The Royal Southern Yacht Club hosted the third event in the Summer Series on the 8-9 July – the Salcombe Gin July Regatta. It was a weekend with mixed conditions making it challenging for the sailors and race committees alike.

The club was buzzing on Saturday afternoon and crews enjoyed sampling the delights at the Salcombe Gin reception. The reception was followed by street food and live music from Katy Kelly into the evening.

Ian Bullock IRO ran six races for the five classes in Black Group. The teams enjoyed a mix of Round the cans and windward leeward races over the weekend.

IRC Two fleet

In IRC 3 the results were neck and neck with the winner being decided on count back and just two points separating the top four teams. David Greehalgh came first on J92 J’ronimo with Ian Handley’s Banter, coming second on count back. After leading after day one John Allen’s AntiX came third. Ian Handley, Banter, said “Many thanks to the Royal Southern Yacht Club and Salcombe Gin for a wonderful weekend of racing and great race management.”

Brian Denney’s J99 Jalapeno 3 took home the top prize in IRC 2 with John Howell’s Arcus just one point behind in second and Hot Rats in third. IRC 1 was won by Charlie Whelan’s Cape 31 The Bodfather. In the J111 Class Louise Makin’s Journeymaker continued their winning streak in the Summer Series with three bullets in six races. Jagerbomb came second and McFly third. Jeremy Hill won the HP30 Class on Moral Compass securing his place at the top of the Summer Series leaderboard. Jamie Rankin’s Pandemonium came second with Jester coming third on countback to Mako.

J111,IRC One fleet

In White Group Race Officer Charlie Stowe and his team ran 9 great windward leeward races for the J70 Class. Timothy Dickson and crew on Jelly Fish almost finished the regatta with a picket fence discarding their only second. A great performance in a competitive J70 Class. Jack Davies on Yeti came second and Ian Wilson completed the podium in third on Geisha.

Charlie Stowe said, “‘The small but select J70 fleet completed 9 races over the weekend in some extremely variable conditions. Saturday especially saw the light wind come from every compass angle at some point during the day, keeping the mark layers very busy. The evening drinks courtesy of the sponsors, Salcombe gin, were well deserved! Sunday dawned looking light and shifty again however was more stable than forecasted and by the final 2 races up to 15kts saw plenty of downwind planing and exciting mark roundings. In the end consistency, good boat speed and handling saw Team Dickinson take a comfortable victory’

Moral Compass,HP30

For Prize Giving, sponsors, Salcombe Gin, had some great prizes lined up for class winners. The prizes were gratefully received Club thanked their sponsor Salcombe Gin, Principal Race Officer, Tanya Robinson, the Course Race Officers and those who had lent their boats as Committee Vessels.

Hot Rats

The final regatta of the 2023 Royal Southern Yacht Club Summer Series will be the September Regatta on the 15th-17th September. The regatta will feature a much-anticipated Oktoberfest onshore, generous prizes and regatta support from North Sails once again. The September Regatta will also bring the Cape 31 Class back to the summer series with up to 30 teams racing for Round 5 of their Race Circuit. Racing for Red Group begins on the 15th and for Black and White on the 16th. As the final event of the series, class winners for a highly competitive series will also be announced.