The Last Race

The interesting thing about yachting is that two yachts on the water constitutes a race.

We passed over the bar at Salcombe on our last day with Bob en route to Dartmouth to find a choppy sea and a force 4/5 for the first time on this trip. The wind direction was pretty much where we were wanting to head (another truth of yachting); a north/north easterly. Amongst the general exodus from Salcombe were two yachts which appeared to be heading in the same direction as us but perhaps a half mile ahead. Not wishing to miss an opportunity we hardened up the sails and set off off in pursuit.

Non Bob is a very good helmsman and comes into his own in these conditions. He has sailed in waters from the Azores to Greenland and is only happy if being dowsed with sea water. This was right up his street; and he did us proud.

We sailed as close to the wind was we could heading east south east. We wanted to the do this with one tack that would take us around Bolt Head on a course for Dartmouth. We began catching the other two yachts. One tacked; much too early. They would have to tack again to get around the head. We tacked half an hour later just on the tail of the other yacht. This was the perfect course for Dartmouth just avoiding the sand bank in Start Bay. We were within two boat lengths of the other yacht. It appeared on AIS for the first time. A 49 footer. We had done well.

A slight detour had to be made to go around a trawler, and we lost a little time. By the time we passed the buoy at the entrance to Dartmouth we were three boat lengths behind. What an exciting morning's sailing and well done to Bob.

We were home.