Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week 2023

Published 01:00 on 18 Jul 2023

---

Salcombe Yacht Club's Merlin Rocket Week is the centrepiece of the calendar for Merlin Rocket sailors, and there's a long tradition at Tamesis of sending a contingent to South Devon. This year there were six Tamesis crews competing as well as a large representation of support crew and spectators from the club.

Merlin Rockets leaving Mill Bay for their race

Richard and Maddie Harris took 1079 Passing Cloud, by some considerable distance the oldest boat out of the nearly 120 competitors. They were joined by Richard's brother Andy and crew Matty Key in 3625 Point Break; Tom and Ed Low in 3684 Keyser Soze (albeit sailing under the flag of West Hoe SC); Tim Barr and Chris Martin in 3677 Indecision; Rob and Joe Hatley in 3675 White Saucerer; and John Adams and Ros Warwick-Haller in 3333 Precious.

3684 Keyser Soze and 3625 Point Break3677 Indecision

The forecast for the week showed that it would be a breezy one, but it proved to be a more dramatic and challenging regatta than usual.

A very familiar sight throughout the week. You didn't think we were going to show a Tammy boat capsizing, did you?

The first races on Sunday 9th were in glorious sunshine, with a strong southerly wind that would persist throughout the week. The Low brothers started in fine fashion, working hard on a physically demanding sail to finish 20th out of 58 starters in their half of the draw. In the other half, Point Break registered their first points with a 27th. Everyone else found the very un-Tammy conditions too hard, with the older boat/crew combos in particular having to decide whether to risk breakages. There were plenty of capsizes as the long run inland past Salcombe itself proved a real handful.

3684 Keyser Soze passing yet another capsizee

If Sunday was a challenge, Monday was a thriller. By the afternoon, with the wind gusting precociously, only about half the entrants risked the course. When the second place boat tore across the river on a knife-edge run and blew its mast in front of the gathered spectators, it was clear that everyone had a real fight against the elements on their hands. In among the morass of capsized boats Andy Harris and Matty Key held it together enough to earn a fine 16th, while Tom and Ed Low were unfortunate enough to be disqualified for a Fairway infringement: it would haunt their week.

3625 Point Break

A BRIEF SALCOMBE PHOTOSTORY

Second place tries to hold the run on Monday afternoonbut where's the top of the mast gone?Oh

By Tuesday the tone of the week was clear. The wind was barely lighter than Monday. After Rob and Joe Hatley had registered their first finish of the week on Monday morning, the rest of the Tammy boats enjoyed a more manageable Tuesday morning race, with Tom Low, John Adams and Tim Barr all finishing clean. In the afternoon, with the wind gusting again, only Point Break was out, overcoming a difficult first run to clamber back up the fleet to 25th.

3333 Precious3677 Indecision

Wednesday started fine, but the forecast brought bad news for all: the predicted weekend storm was closing in for Friday, and so that day's racing was cancelled in advance. One consequence was that there would be no discard. This was bad news for the Lows in particular, who were registering top 20 finishes but were carrying that DSQ.

3684 Keyser Soze

In the morning, Andy Harris showed how effective town-side starts could be, briefly leading the fleet before the full-time sailors at the top of the table reasserted themselves. Things were looking good for a top 15 finish until a dislodged rudder meant lost places and a 25th. Rob and Joe Hatley suffered one of a serious of small breakages to put paid to their hopes of another finish.

In the afternoon, the Lows put in another excellent round, 16th this time. Tim Barr and Chris Martin were also starting to master the conditions, 38th this time.

3677 Indecision

Thursday was the last opportunity to race, and every Tammy sailor was out to make the most of slightly lighter conditions. In the morning, Indecision and Precious enjoyed a farewell circuit, finishing 37th and 47th respectively.

1079 Passing Cloud

The rest of the Tammy racers were out in the afternoon, with Richard and Maddie Harris briefly looked like showing up some of the new Merlins, taking Passing Cloud round the first mark in 23rd place before a disintegrating shroud fitting forced a retirement. The Hatleys registered 40th. It was great to see the teams finishing the week on a high, with the Lows pushing the top boats hard to finish 11th their best result of the week while Andy Harris and Matty Key were right behind them for much of the race, until a broken spinnaker pole saw them flying the kite by hand to finish a fine 15th.

3333 Precious3625 Point Break leading the fleet from the start (with the fleet not even in shot)

Point Break finished the week a creditable 40th, with Keyser Soze 45th, rueing that DSQ. But with a final flourish, Tammy nevertheless took home two prizes, with Passing Cloud the lead vintage boat of the week and Precious the lead classic boat. Special congratulations to Richard Harris and to John Adams for that, on top of the credit all the sailors earned for surviving the spiciest Salcombe Week in years.

3333 Precious

Report & photos by Jonathan Key

Last updated 11:46 on 27 May 2025