Final results for Sailing Southwest Series 2025/6
Published 12:07 on 28 Mar 2026
It has been a season of all extremes as I guess might be expected from a inter in the Southwest! Having kicked off back in November last year with the Wrecker at NDYC with a decent breeze cats dominated to places but the first monohulls were Ben Pascoe crewed by his father Sam in a 2000 in 5th overall and Alan Harris-Guerrero in 6th.
Moving to Paignton in late November for the annual Christmas Cracker firdt place was taken by local Thomas Semmens in ILCA 224335 but second to Alan Harris-Guerrero and 3rd to RS400 sailed by Richard Cain and barney Dearsley from Starcross YC.
On the 14th December we all travelled to Castle Cove won by local Fireball sailed by Graham and William Cook. Second also local Jon Emmett in his ILCA and third in a Contender was Rob Smith with Benjamine and Sam Pascoe taking 4th.
So far so good with 3 events sailed late 2025 out of 3 planned, but it was going to get tougher soon. The Starcross Steamer was scheduled for the 11th January with boisterous conditions the 3 hour pursuit started. Fun while it lasted but with deteriorating conditions the race committee had no option to abandon the race. Sutton Bingham Icicle was next on Feb 1st but with absolutely no wind again racing was cancelled. So onto the Roadford Rocket running an alternative format of 2 off 1 hour pursuit races which looked sensible with very light winds in case we only managed 1 race. As it happens race 2 saw some big gusts with a fair bit of swimming involved. The race was won by Ian Horlock in a Supernova and with an 11th from the Wrecker he could have been in the running overall. Second was Stacy Bray giving him a stron position with an 8th from the Wrecker and 11th at the Cracker. Ellie Craig took 3rd in an Aero.
The weather struck again on the 1st march for the Plymouth Pounder with no wind but the event was rescheduled to be the final event on the 28th March. Hooe Point sailing from the Mountbatten centre which was being redeveloped so was closed on Sundays - hence events on a Saturday. Unfortunately the event was finally cancelled again due this time to too much wind. On the 15th march Porthpean had to cancel due to storms earlier in the year washing away the slipway. Hopefully they will be back in action again soon.
So that leaves the Wimbleball Beastie 3 hour race. When we all arrived it was very light and at the start for the first hour we all drifted around picking little gusts were possible. Finally the wind filled in as forecast and a steady 8-10 kn breeze saw Chris Jones taking first giving him a chance for the series if all went his way at Plymouth. Alan Harris-Guerrero kept overall control with a good 2nd fighting with Chris Dyer most of the race. The Firefly of Angus Cook and Leila Farmer kept them honest in 4th but they needed a good result at Plymouth as well.
So there were 5 races in the series with 3 counting. Congratulations to Alan Harris-Guerrero in his Blaze 848 winning with 2 second places at Wimbleball and Paignton and a 6th at the Wrecker at NDYC giving 10 points. Second overall was Stacy Bray also of Porthpean also in a Blaze on 21 points counting an 8th, 11th and 2nd at Roadford. In 3rd place one point behind was Chris Dyer of NDYC also in a Blaze with a second at the Beastie. 4th on count-back also on 22 points was Phil Bevan from Lyme in an ILCA Finally in 5th place was Chris Jones sailing an Aero on 26 points overall having won the Beastie but counting a 19th at Castle Cove.
A special mention to George Lenney from Restronguet sailing an RS Aero who completed every race in the series - very well done and hope to see you back next season.
Well done all on a fun series and I look forward to announcing dates for next winter soon.
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Last updated 12:08 on 28 March 2026
