Spare – Sailboat 2
This race should have run on 28 April, but was cancelled when the wind completely deserted Upper Tamar Lake. Today seemed more hopeful with a promising, if variable easterly breeze as competitors set out. However, as the starting hooter sounded the wind again faded, determined to be in unco-operative.
By Dam Green the Lasers of Jane Anderson (radial), Nathan Pollard (full) and Paul Anderson (full) had pulled ahead, thereafter to remain in that order. The Gull of John Dabbs was then going well in pursuit but behind him there was some congestion as Cilla Gilbert with Brian Pollard crewing in a Bosun brushed the buoy, took another tack to round it successfully and completed a penalty turn, while Robin Spiller had to do a loop after heading the wrong way in his Streaker and Vicky Duncalf’s Topper sail lost the wind, stalling.
This all lost the latter group valuable time, giving the Lasers a huge advantage. Although John Dabbs was overtaken by the Streaker and finally the Bosun, he kept up a reasonable pace. The breeze came and went from various directions, catching Vicky Duncalf unbalanced in a slight gust and tipping her in the lake. After a quick recovery she returned to the shore to dry off.
The race was shortened to 2 laps.
1. Jane Anderson (Laser radial)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser full)
3. John Dabbs (Gull)
4. Paul Anderson (Laser full)
5. Cilla Gilbert & Brian Pollard (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
Retired – Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
Tamar 7
With the breeze still light, not everyone fancied a second sluggish sail. The Bosun crew swapped places and Paul Petvin went out in the Gull. Jane Anderson and Nathan Pollard in the remaining Lasers got away well with Brian Pollard in close contention, followed by the Topper, but the last dinghy away took a while to cross the line.
Later, as the wind died completely at the far end of the lake, Vicky Duncalf and Paul Petvin were left stranded in glassy calm, while the more fortunate Lasers were neck and neck on the way back to the dam. The Bosun was not far behind at first but lost momentum as it too succumbed to lack of wind.
By the time a more encouraging north easterly breeze set in Nathan Pollard had established his lead over Jane Anderson on the water, but it proved difficult to extend over the three laps. The Bosun moved well, catching up a bit and the Topper persevered. The Gull slipped sideways, backwards and finally retired after 2 laps, it’s helm having enjoyed the learning experience.
1. Jane Anderson (Laser radial)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser full)
3. Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
4. Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
Retired – Paul Petvin (Gull)
Thanks to Linda Spiller and Paul Petvin for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for photographs.