Twenty-seven Salcombe Yawls with fifty four sailors emerged to take part in their first open weekend of the season. The Red (modern) fleet and the Blue (classic fleet) were evenly divided, with thirteen Reds and fourteen Blues. It was great to see several new participants in both fleets, both as owners' jockeys and crew, which definitely augurs well for a competitive season.
For Saturday's PM race PRO Tim Fells caused consternation by postponing the starting sequences for forty minutes to allow a southerly breeze to establish.
The Red Yawls were first to start with the Rayson's and Stones making the early running at the Blackstone windward mark, however as the fleet reached the Ferry, a light Northerly breeze had established itself resulting in a restart, with the Rayson's and Savells moving forward. On the penultimate beat to Crossways the Rayson's sailed themselves out of wind allowing the Savells to round in the lead followed by Greening and Gifford, with Will Henderson and Tristan Stone working through to third. Greening and Gifford kept the breeze on the run to round the final Mill Bay mark ahead of the Savells and Henderson Stone combo, who were to finish in that order, barely a bowsprit apart.