by Adam Hilton

@Roadford Lake

Roadford was hosting a triathlon on Sunday so RLSC switched their races to the Saturday. Their fleet was reduced to two Supernovas. UTLSC was represented by John Dabbs with Cilla Gilbert in John’s Bosun, Adam Hilton in his Solo and Bob Sampson’s Laser.

Results shown are copied from RLSC files.

14 Sep at Roadford Lake

There was a good bit more blow than the 8mph south-easterlies forecast but it had subsided by the time we got on the water and the sun came out. Leila Farmer, crewing in John Dabbs’ Bosun, blew her whistle for the start and we set off towards a yellow buoy somewhere in that unfamiliarly large expanse of water. The Supernovas took to the front but Bob Sampson (Laser) kept up and the handicap gave him the win. Linda Spiller (Radial) drew away from Adam Hilton’s Solo. Geoff Floyd (Solo) followed along with the Bosun. Robin Spiller did two laps of the three in his Streaker. A nice little sail.

National PNs

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Roadford Lake Sailing Club August Series

While Upper Tamar Lake remains the unsailable Upper Tamar Pond a number of club members have taken their boats to Roadford Lake where the sailing club has been generous in its welcome and invitation to join in their races without fuss or formality. And so on Sunday 21^st five Tamar boats signed on for that day’s RLSC August series; two races run back-to-back. John Dabbs had brought his Bosun and Cilla Gilbert had offered to crew. There were two Lasers; Bob Sampson’s Full and Linda Spiller’s Radial. Robin Spiller had his Streaker and Adam Hilton his Solo. Geoff Floyd had taken his Solo to Roadford but wasn’t available that Sunday.

Roadford Lake was massively down from full but it’s a very large lake and there was plenty of water to sail on; indeed without coming anywhere near using the extremities of the lake the course had legs of unfamiliar length, somewhat disturbing when helms were not at all sure which buoy they were aiming at until the leader rounded it, particularly when the course was changed after the first race without anyone being able to go ashore to look at it on a plan or even borrow a pen to write it down! The wind varied from barely present to squally with accompanying rain.

The RLSC fleet at present seems to consist of Supernovas (racing with a 1077 handicap), Lasers (on the national 1100 handicap) and a lone Wayfarer. The home team won both races; Bob Sampson however, was up there with the leaders, fourth in the first race and third in the second.

Race 1

4^th      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

7^th      Adam Hilton (Solo)

8^th      Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

10^th    John Dabbs and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

11^th    Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Race 2

3^rd      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

5^th      Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

8^th      John Dabbs and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Commodore Cup 2 (National PNs)

The water in Tamar Lake continues to drop making it too shallow to get to West. In addition a big fishing competition meant there was too little space between the fishing lines to get into Inlet or go further north than Middle. So a new buoy was dropped, west of Middle, to add a little breadth to the course. But the sun shone and there was more wind than the force 1s and 2s forecast with the result that two excellent races took place.

The winds being from points around north, with occasional decidedly eastern gusts, reaching Middle meant tacking and Penny Abbott, who was running the races, made sure those tacks were important by demanding that Zebra be taken to starboard but Home 2 and Middle be taken to port.  Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was first over the line but it was Nathan Pollard’s Laser that passed Home 2 in first place with Bob Sampson’s sister Laser chasing and John Dabbs’ Bosun, with David Perrett, in third. By the time they reached the new western buoy, tentatively called New Dabbs after the hero who dropped it, Adam Hilton’s Solo had taken third place and Brian Pollard, with Cilla Gilbert, had caught up the other Bosun. Thereafter the order changed little, the two Lasers lapping the rear of the field on the last lap.

Spalding Cup 2 (UTLSC PNs)

The wind had come round more to the north which made the startline windward buoy a very congested place with the result that the first start was recalled with boats prematurely over the line. At the second start the Solo of Adam Hilton was first and led up the course although to leeward of the warring Lasers of Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard who arrived at the northernmost buoy in front. The Solo got stuck in irons, allowed the whole field to pass and spent the rest of the race recovering. The Lasers continued to battle, Bob Sampson ending lap 1 in front but Nathan Pollard leading at the end of each subsequent lap. The two Bosuns were also locked in conflict after Brian Pollard had made up for a slow start and led the Dabbs Bosun for the first two laps. Lap 3 was epic with the Bosun order reversing at Home 2 and again at Middle with the two boats very close at Dam Green; Dabbs just ahead. The Officer of the Day had added an extra buoy to add spice to the rather featureless run back towards the Dam. So many buoys to round caught out Graham Joyce who having a fine race in his Laser; he had to retire after going the wrong side of Zebra. The handicaps tossed the order in the air, with Vicki Duncalf, who had finished this race last but much closer to the faster boats than in the previous race, being awarded first place.

Penny Abbott was Officer Of the Day; Mandy Pollard took the photos. Many thanks to both of them.

by Adam Hilton

Teatime Plate 1

The forecast was for grey skies and force 3 gusting 4. What turned up was sun and force 2 gusting 3. Too late! The fair-weather sailors had already decided there were more important things to do (mending knees, tending children). On the other hand the fleet received a very welcome visit from a rare bird, Steve Axford, who took out his Laser Radial. John Dabbs had Louise Witchell as crew in Quebec and Adam Hilton’s Bosun had David Perrett up front. The water of the Lake was still just as low so all that was done to Nicky Buckett’s Sunday straight-up-and-down course was to extend it, now that there were no fishermen, to Pinky. Steve Axford got away well and soon pulled out a lead although not a big one until the third (and last) lap. John Dabbs followed, kept thoroughly honest (again for the first two laps) by the Hilton/Perret Bosun. John and Ruth Savage came to the Lake and Dave Perrett took the opportunity to buy John’s Solo. Expect to see it on the water with a sparkling new coat of paint shortly.

1. John Dabbs and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
2. Adam Hilton and David Perrett (Bosun)
3. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)

Adam Hilton should have run the races but was needed on the water so pressed the button and ran.