Bartons Yawl Early May Open. - Blue Fleet Report.
Published 14:42 on 5 May 2026
The Salcombe Yawl Blue Fleet for classic designs attracted an excellent entry of 17 boats with no shortage of talent and well-prepared boats competing for the Elizabeth Mary Cup.
As the fleet rigged on Saturday, the heavens opened and the temperature dropped leaving many crews questioning their clothing choices. Race Officer, Roger Guess, faced with a solid Easterly breeze and a low tide elected to set a course which sent the fleets to sea to try and keep the numerous Open Meeting and Club racers apart for as long as possible.
Off a start that caught two boats premature, Toby Strauss and Ken Comrie in their first competitive outing in Y15, nailed the first beat to lead onto the long run out to sea. Tim Fells and Phil Magee in the equally venerable Y17 quickly snatched the lead and had extended a good lead on the exit from the harbour at which point the wind swung to the NE and brought the chasing pack onto their heels. At the leeward mark Tim and Phil just held the inside overlap on Toby and Ken and from this point on the two boats were locked in a match race all the way to the line with Tim and Phil taking the first gun by no more than a boat length great racing! Simon Dawes and Steve Walter in Y150 took a well-earned third. All crews then raced ashore in search of a hot bath.
Saturday provided drier conditions but a much lighter and patchier breeze on top of a strong ebbing tide. Race Officer for the day, Ian Stewart, had no option other than to set all fleets on a windward-leeward within the town section of the harbour. Tim and Phil navigated their way up the beat to bring Y15 round Blackstone Mark with a narrow lead and on to a long, tortuous run down to Crossways. Having got their noses ahead they were the first to cross the tide to the town side and the sanctuary of slacker tide and were able to extend away to take the gun on a shortened one-lap course. James Greenhill and local Youth Squad star Charlie McKenzie were travelling fast in Y138 to escape the pack and secure second ahead of Toby and Ken who recovered well to bring Y15 home in third.
The second race had a little more breeze and a little less tide. Freddie and John Smithers in another reborn old boat, Y19, took off up the first beat like a scalded cat to never be challenged. The chasing pack had brief glimpses of them when they were slowed in the more congested parts of the course, but they came home well clear for their first gun. Behind them Tim and Phil were in scramble mode after a poor first beat but managed to eventually shake off James and Charlie to pull into second which was enough to give them the event with a race to spare.
Forecasts for Sunday were universally in favour of there being no wind at all. Much to everyones surprise a sea-breeze established at a remarkably early 9am and built to give a fabulous last race in perfect Salcombe conditions. Race Officer for the day, Clive Jacobs, set an excellent long-distance course to maximise competitors enjoyment. Off the start line the breeze shifted right, burying those on the Portlemouth shore including Tim and Phil who trailed the fleet up to Blackstone.
After the long run to Saltstone, Simon and Nicki Dobson in Y112, had sailed the tides expertly to take the lead but on the long beat back to Blackstone in a building breeze, Toby and Ken put the hammer down in Y15 to extend away into a lead that grew and grew. An hour later, they crossed the line to a very impressive gun that secured second overall. Tim and Phil who had been battling away in mid fleet finally found the right buttons to pull Y17 up into second at the line from Freddie and John in Y19, a great race for the 70-year-old boats. James and Charlie brought Y138 home in fourth to take the third place on the podium.
By Tim Fells | Photos L.Burn
