by Adam Hilton
Mandy Pollard
Tamar 9
A gorgeous sunny day, not too hot, had northerly winds, notably variable in direction as well as strength. Nicky Buckett and Brian Clifton, the Officers of the Day, responded to these conditions by setting a course which featured a long beat up to Pinky and a great deal of water was won or lost depending on how well boats and helms handled the beating. On the whole the single handed boats could point higher than the two-handers and required fewer tacks to get to the top of the Lake. This, as much as speed, was the deciding factor. Roger Heasman, in his Bosun with Linda Spiller, got over the line first, but a touch before the horn. Second over, and legitimately, was Paul Anderson (Laser Full) who thought the subsequent signal from the shore was meant for him. He turned back and had to fight his way back up the order, gaining a place every lap. Third away were Colin and Louise Witchell in their Bosun and then came Jane Anderson whose Laser had, for once, a big sail. As they sailed up the Lake the single-handers began to assert themselves, with Jane Anderson not needing to tack until just before Pinky. Behind her were Adam Hilton (Solo), soon overhauled by Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) who he’d impeded on the start line, and Robin Spiller (Streaker). Nathan Pollard set off in pursuit of Jane Anderson but the others continued to change places until settling for the Solo in third and the Streaker in fourth. The Bosun race had John Dabbs with newcomer Chris Smith in fifth at the end of lap 1, Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in fifth at the end of laps 2 and 3 and beating the Dabbs Bosun by a dozen seconds at the end. The course featured the Sea Cadets RIB as it most southerly mark and this proved strangely hard for helms to avoid, catching Robin Spiller on the second lap and John Dabbs at the end.
- Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
- Adam Hilton (Solo).
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
- Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
- John Dabbs and Chris Smith (Bosun)
- John Buckett (Otter)
- Robin Spiller (Streaker)
- Paul Anderson (Laser Full)
- Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
Disqualified: Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
Tamar 10
Robin Spiller hit the line as the horn blew and led away the now longer beat up to Far but familiar problems with the higher pointing Lasers had put him down to fourth at the end of the lap and fifth at the end. Jane Anderson was again the first to reach the top of the course with Adam Hilton second. But Nathan Pollard, fourth at the start, had overtaken the Solo before the end of the lap and went on a long chase of Jane Anderson, successful on the last lap. Paul Anderson had an extended battle with the Solo, finishing the first lap in front of it but then losing the place. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller finished each lap in sixth, as the leading Bosun, with Brian Pollard behind them (by twenty seconds at the finish) and, towards the end, John Dabbs, now sailing alone, making up the third of the Bosun queue. The handicaps recognized that the Buckett Otter and Duncalf Topper had been well sailed.
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
- Adam Hilton (Solo)
- Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
- John Buckett (Otter)
- Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
- Robin Spiller (Streaker)
- Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
- John Dabbs (Bosun)
- Paul Anderson (Laser Full)
Grateful thanks were given to Brian Clifton and Nicky Buckett for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.