Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Week 2025: An Epic Display of Competitive Sailing at Salcombe Yacht Club

Salcombe Yacht Club hums with excitement and competitive energy as the Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Week 2025 sets sails on a new day. The weather, having passed the halfway point, serves up another unique layer of challenge as the dreaded Northwesterly winds blow, making the starting line one of the more daring tasks to conquer. Sailors deal with gusts from every direction, pushing their navigation skills to the limit.

Over the long stretch up to Gerston, the building breeze of 15 knots sees sailors Stu and Katherine cleverly navigate their way into a lead. They maintain their advantage over a 200-metre distance from William and Andy, who remain locked in a vicious battle for the second place with George Yeoman and Mark Oakey. Throughout the race, leaders exchange, suspense builds, and the day concludes with the afternoon race, featuring a tough start against the ebbing tide and an intense display of skillful navigation and knowledge of sailing rules.

The saga of the sailing competition does not end there. On the final day, under a beautiful blue sky, a light Southwester breathes life into the harbour, with the overall result still hanging in the balance. The morning race ensues with the flood tide making a challenging start. Yet, amid this dramatic scenario, Tom Gillard and Rachel Gray manage to take a commanding lead, providing an exciting climax to the eventful Helly Hansen Merlin Rocket Week at Salcombe Yacht Club.