16th May 2021 Race Report

Barnwell 6

James Pollard got his Blaze over the line first, was first round the first buoy and was never headed, finishing the three lap race three minutes ahead of the rest of the fleet. Adam Hilton was second at the first buoy but he was flying a cut down sail on his Solo in response to a forecast of powerful winds and vicious gusts which never materialised. He was rapidly overtaken by the rest of the field. By the time the fleet reached West White the Laser Radials had established themselves behind the flying Blaze, Bob Sampson leading Nathan Pollard. Jane Anderson whose Laser flew the smaller 4.7 sail followed. Then came the double-handers. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller’s Bosun had begun the race well to the fore but by the end of lap 1 John Dabbs and Penny Abbott’s sister dinghy was ahead of them behind the Lasers. Vicki Duncalf’s little Topper scrapped with the Solo at the back of the fleet, Vicki coming out in front. A stray gust from the tempest that never came had up-ended Robin Spiller’s Streaker Wave and put him out of the race.

Sailboat 6

When the horn sounded for the start of the afternoon race Penny Abbott, now helming the Dabbs Bosun, had been forced to cross the line by a looming pontoon. She had to return and restart. But James Pollard thought the false start signal was aimed at him and turned back too, thus preventing a repeat of the earlier race. He eventually got up to second on the water. The charming weather gods were now providing mist and steady drizzle, but accompanied by a decent little wind which had taken Bob Sampson’s Laser Radial past Jane Anderson’s 4.7 to the lead by the time they reached Inlet. Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial) took over second place before West. Well up the order at this stage of the race (third on the beat to West) was the Bosun helmed by Roger Heasman. Adam Hilton’s Solo (with its proper sail) and the rest of the single-handers had overtaken him by the end of the lap and the Abbott/Dabbs Bosun was ahead by the end of lap 2. The handicaps allowed Bob Sampson his first place on the water but promoted Jane Anderson from 4th to 2nd, Penny Abbott from 6th to 3rd and Vicki Duncalf from 8th to 5th.

Grateful thanks were given to John Buckett and Leila Farmer, Officers of the Day, and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.