Merlin Rocket Open

Published 10:47 on 15 Apr 2026

Wind, Sunshine and a Whole Lot of Action

Salcombe delivered a thrilling weekend of racing on 11-12 April, with 23 boats taking to the water in testing conditions. 

Saturday brought blue skies but powerful gusts of over 30 knots, causing capsizes and dramatic moments across the fleet. Despite the chaos, racing went ahead, with Alex Jackson and Andy Taxi Davis taking the win in Race 1, followed by strong performances from Jack Norton & Fran Gifford and Paul Rayson & Christian Hill.

Sunday offered sunshine and slightly steadier conditions, allowing three competitive races on the Ria. Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley dominated the day with consistent sailing, securing the overall victory. Alex Jackson & Andy Davis finished second overall, while Caroline Gould & Livvy Bell completed the podium.

With tight racing, shifting positions, and impressive resilience in challenging conditions, the event was a fantastic start to the South West Series.

Read the full report HERE