Spectacular Showcase of Sailing Prowess at Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta 2025

The Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta, sponsored by Salcombe Gin, emerged as a post-Covid phenomenon in 2025. Not only did it record a high turnout of vessels, but it also witnessed an impressive revival of Salcombe Yawl fleet, making for a splendid sight for both competitors and spectators alike.

A potpourri of weather conditions, with virtually equal bouts of strong and light winds, rain and sunshine, created an array of sailing conditions for the competitors throughout the week. The races commenced in the morning or afternoon over the period of six days, each class experiencing different tidal conditions, which added to the thrilling challenge of sailing in Salcombe.

The seven-strong RS400 fleet was dominated by Figs Cain and Olli Scrimshaw. The only respite that competitors found from their dominance was when Mike and June Baker nabbed a win. The Handicap class was packed with talent, with a rich tapestry of boats participating, including the Jamie Stewart Thames A Rater and the Ultra National 18 of Michael Wilson, along with Salcombe classes of Enterprises, Larks, Merlin Rockets and National 12s.

Among the Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial fleets, the 7-boat ILCA radial fleet saw domination by Andrew Groves, but Selena King emerged second, followed by Allan Willcox. Nanosecond away from utter dominance by Charlotte Simmonds in the near all-female ILCA 4.7 fleet, Ivy Hart managed to navigate her way to victory in one race sealing the second spot.

The Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta 2025 offered a captivating testament to the resilience and competitive spirit of the sailing fraternity in a post-Covid world, marked by impressive performances, diverse participants and an incredible range of sailing conditions.