by Adam Hilton
Mandy Pollard
Frostbite 5
Bob Sampson, James Pollard and Nathan Pollard ignored the dire forecasts of powerful winds and more powerful gusts, trusted the evidence of their own eyes, which were looking out onto a calm and barely ruffled Tamar Lake and put full-sized sails on their Lasers. Robin Spiller went full-size on his Streaker. But others were more cautious. Sue Murray and Linda Spiller had the smallest available sails on their Lasers. Adam Hilton retreated to the safety of crewing John Dabbs Bosun and Brian Pollard was left on the shore, wary of sailing his Bosun on his own.
In the event the start, from the Home 1 line towards the Dam, was a gentle affair with Linda Spiller getting off in the lead followed by James Pollard, Robin Spiller, Sue Murray, Bob Sampson, Nathan Pollard and John Dabbs. But then the vagaries of the south-westerly breezes pushed others ahead and the usual push-and-shove rounding Dam Green had its winners and losers too. James Pollard emerged running north to Zebra in the lead with Robin Spiller next, and, following, the other two big-sailed Lasers, Sue Murray’s 4.7, the Bosun and poor Linda Spiller’s 4.7 was pushed to the back. The leading Lasers drew away and continued to spar, Bob Sampson leading at the end of the first two laps but being overtaken in front of the pontoon by Nathan Pollard, James Pollard dropping back; three minutes back at the finish. John Dabbs kept his Bosun not too far behind the Spiller Streaker and got clear of the Laser 4.7s.The handicap gave him third place as a result.
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
- John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
- Robin Spiller (Streaker)
- James Pollard (Laser Full)
- Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
- Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
Icicle 5
There were some changes in the fleet in response to the first race light winds. Linda Spiller put a Radial sail on her Laser and Adam Hilton launched his Solo. Leila Farmer crewed for John Dabbs and Ethan Walker for Brian Pollard in his Bosun. But even before the start it was clear that the winds had become more powerful and capricious and they up-ended two helms (Adam Hilton and Robin Spiller) before the end of the first lap.
The beat from the start to Dam Green took less time with more wind but was just as congested with various helms getting the bows of their boats a little ahead. Emerging victorious from the melee rounding Dam Green and running first to Zebra was Nathan Pollard followed by James Pollard, Bob Sampson, John Dabbs, Adam Hilton, Linda Spiller, Sue Murray, Robin Spiller and Brian Pollard. After rounding Pinky the single handed dinghies were planing up the Lake like a bunch of speed boats which made the gybes at Home 2 and Inlet tricky. From lap 2 on the winds moderated somewhat. The Pollard brothers increased their lead over the rest of the fleet, Nathan leading at the end of each lap and keeping the victory when the handicaps were applied.
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- James Pollard (Laser Full)
- Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
- John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
- Brian Pollard and Ethan Walker (Bosun)
- Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
- Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Robin Spiller (Streaker)
Grateful thanks were given to Jane Anderson for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for taking the photographs.