Mandy Pollard
Commodore 2
Storm Antoni had blown through, leaving behind force 3 winds from the northwest and big gusts. The sun mostly shone and it was pleasantly warm for a change. Five Lasers went out; three with small 4.7 sails (Murray, Spiller, Thurlow), one with a Radial (Sampson) and one with a Full (Pollard). The field was completed by three Bosuns; Brian Pollard’s, three-up and none the worse for it, Roger Heasman’s with Rick Thurlow as crew and the Witchells’ with small sails and Louise at the helm.
Nathan Pollard was the first to get from the start line to Middle buoy but had to take a tack to get round it. Linda Spiller made the mark in one tack, second. Bob Sampson’s Radial was the fourth Laser to round the first buoy but had overtaken the 4.7s by the end of the lap. He remained at second on the water until the end.
The leading Bosun throughout was Brian Pollard’s with his jolly party of Cilla Gilbert and Adam Hilton crewing. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow were slightly delayed at the start and then followed.
The handicaps promoted Linda Spiller from third to second, put Bob Sampson and Sue Murray in third and fourth respectively and Nathan Pollard remained first. The winds were perhaps strong enough to make it easier to exploit a small sail to its maximum.
- Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
- Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
- Bob Sampson (Laser Radial)
- Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
- Brian Pollard, Cilla Gilbert and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
- Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow (Bosun)
- Wendy Thurlow (Laser 4.7)
- Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)
Spalding Cup 2
The fleet of six now consisted of four Lasers and two Bosuns. Nathan Pollard’s Full again led but his two and a bit minutes margin at the finish over Bob Sampson’s Radial was not enough. Nor was Bob Sampson’s forty one second’s over Sue Murray’s 4.7. Sue had kept close to the Radial throughout, even leading it at the beginning. The handicaps rewarded her with victory.
Brian Pollard’s laden Bosun kept ahead of Roger Heasman’s throughout, although seriously threatened at several points.
1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Radial)
4. Brian Pollard, Cilla Gilbert and Adam Hilton(Bosun)
5. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow (Bosun)
Retired: Wendy Thurlow (Laser 4.7)
Grateful thanks were given to John Dabbs who ran the first race and to Mandy Pollard who ran the second as well as taking the photographs.