by Adam Hilton
Brian Pollard
Frostbite 1
First away were Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf in Toppers, theoretically the slowest boats in this fleet of ten. Following but soon at the front were the Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard Lasers, the fastest dinghies in both theory and practice. The northwesterlies had an autumnal strength although the sun was still out and Tamar Lake was still attracting a slew of paddle-boarders and kayakers while also hosting a fishing competition that dominated much of the water. At Middle Sampson was a little ahead of Pollard. Then came the next pair, the Laser 4.7s of Sue Murray and Linda Spiller, followed by Jane Anderson, Adam Hilton, a cut-down sail making his Solo manageable, Vicki Duncalf, Robin Spiller with a small ‘Wave’ sail on his Streaker, John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd in the first Bosun with Colin and Louise Witchell in the small-sailed second. In this four lap race of epic battles between pairs Nathan Pollard eventually got the better of Bob Sampson (al of 12 seconds better!), Sue Murray led Linda Spiller (38 seconds) and Adam Hilton’s Solo ended ahead of Jane Anderson’s Topper (20 seconds). The Dabbs/Floyd Bosun finished ahead of Vicki Duncalf’s Topper. The handicaps scrambled the order on the water; the big-sailed Lasers hadn’t got themselves far enough ahead so that the Anderson Topper took the victory with Sue Murray’s 4.7 Laser second.
- Jane Anderson (Topper)
- Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
- Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
- Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
- John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd (Bosun)
- Adam Hilton (Solo).
Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker Wave), Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
Icicle 1
Brian Pollard (generously volunteering to run the races) had the tricky job of designed a course to make the most of what water the rain-deprived Lake had deep enough for sailing, while keeping clear of the competing fishermen. The first half of a lap was all beating, the return half, a long run. Jane Anderson again got off on a flyer with Vicki Duncalf in the other Topper following. Â Bob Sampson was next and Linda Spiller was already ahead of her pair, Sue Murray, a position she retained throughout. Nathan Pollard crossed the start line sixth but was up to second at the first mark, Middle. The two big-sailed Lasers were never far apart; Pollard slipping past coming towards the dam on lap 2 only to have Sampson retake the place. On lap 3 Pollard took the lead again on the way north to Pinky and this time made the move stick. The Dabbs/Floyd Bosun was again swapping places with the Anderson Topper, notably between Dam Green and the line on lap 1, but on lap 2 the Bosun was again in front of the Topper at the dam and finished in that position. The handicaps gave Linda Spiller the victory with Jane Anderson second and the leaders on the water in fifth and sixth.
- Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
- Jane Anderson (Topper)
- Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
- Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Bob Sampson (laser Full)
- John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd (Bosun)
Retired: Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)
Grateful thanks were given to Brian Pollard for not only running the races but also taking the photographs. His assistant was Paul Anderson.