Roger’s Bowl 3

The forecast brisk NW wind had dissuaded many of our usual Wednesday sailors from making the journey to Upper Tamar Lake. However, these weather conditions are those that Nathan and Bob revel in, so they launched their Aero 5 and Laser 4.7 respectively. John in his Bosun, with Linda as crew, also entered the race albeit with a set of small sails.

The course was a simple one: three trips up to Pinky and down to Dam Green with excursions via Zebra to Inlet and West. Just a few canoeists and the occasional hydro-foil to avoid.

Nathan took an early lead, closely shadowed by Bob, and so it continued to the end of the race less than 40 minutes later, with just one minute separating them on corrected time.

After completing the first long downwind leg from Pinky to Dam Green, John decided that he had no appetite to repeat that exercise twice more, so he retired.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
   Retired: John Dabbs & Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Thanks go to Robin Spiller as Race Officer.

Cup 7

Good start from Nathan and Dave close to the Clubhouse in light airs. The front three boats (Nathan, Dave & Linda) gained an advantage by starting near the bank as Bob, Jane, Brian & Tash, Liam & Robin were soon becalmed. Bob soon took 4th place from Jane now 5th. The front 5 then rounded Dam Green buoy for their run up the lake with Liam, Brian + Tash & Robin still only a few boat lengths from the start. Few changes at the front but Robin passes Liam and starts to close on Brian & Tash. Boats became becalmed again at the ‘Zebra’ mark. A series of gusts arrived helping Dave to bear down on Nathan for the lead when the gusts cause reverse conditions for both leaving Nathan consolidating his lead and Dave being overtaken by Bob. Liam and Robin retired on the second lap.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser)
5. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
6. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Liam Routley (Laser) and Robin Spiller (Solo)

Tamar 7

Zoom, Brian and Tash away like a flash in their Bosun but lose out 1st place to Nathan around Dam Green and with Bob & Jane soon after. As the race progressed there was a huge wind shift from SE to NNE meaning the simple run from Dam Green turned into a series of tacks for all. Vicki had joined the 2nd race in her Topper and kept in touch with the back markers and looked to be well placed after handicaps were applied as the end results proved with only Nathan getting the better of her.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser)
6. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Bosun)
7. Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks go to Paul Anderson as race officer and Mandy Pollard for the photos.

Roger’s Bowl 2

The order over the start line was Robin Spiller (Solo), Geoff Floyd (Solo), Ian Chatterton (Enterprise), Linda Spiller (Laser Radial), John Dabbs with Leila Farmer (Bosun) and Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun). If Linda was unlucky with her start she was amazingly lucky with her winds which took her past everyone to be first at West White and then at Pinkie and from then on. The two Solos were battling but got separated when Ian’s Enterprise got past Geoff on the second lap. On the third Ian overtook Robin. The handicaps took the Dabbs/Farmer Bosun up the order from fifth to second and shoved Ian Chatterton down from second to third.

Results:

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
3. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
4. Robin Spiller (Solo)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Egg Cup 5

There was more wind but fewer boats. Sue Murray in her Laser Radial had however joined the fleet and crossed the line in first place chased by John Dabbs, now with Louise Witchell, Linda Spiller and Geoff Floyd. Linda took over the lead, probably at West and held it. Geoff Floyd took the inside line at Dam Green and got ahead of the Dabbs Bosun. Sue Murray tacked early on the way to West hoping to gain advantage but the wind dropped. The handicaps shoved Geoff back down below John.

Results:

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
3. John Dabbs and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to Bob Sampson, who ran the race.

Roger’s Bowl 1

The winds were substantially stronger and gustier than the 7mph forecast, nonetheless eight boats took the start. The Aeros set off first, Nathan taking a lead he meant to keep. The Solos followed, Adam’s with a small sail, Geoff’s with a standard but 8.7 sq meters proved too much and Geoff retired after one lap. By White West Sue had taken over third place. The northerly winds meant tacking up to Pinkie with the high-pointing Solo giving Adam an advantage which Sue generally pulled back elsewhere. This battle continued throughout the three laps of the race. John and Linda in the Bosun were close at the beginning, less so by the end. They were followed by Ian Chatterton’s Enterprise, admirably sailed in the wind and by Louise piloting the Bosun.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Bob Sampson (Aero 6)
4. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
5. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
6. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
7. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)
   Retired: Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Egg Cup 4

Sue Murray and Bob Sampson were neck and neck at the start behind Nathan’s Aero but a familiar patern soon emerged with Nathan well ahead, Bob following, Sue’s Laser valiantly chasing and John and Linda bringing up the rear. The gaps got bigger as the race went on but the order stayed the same.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Bob Sampson (Aero 6)
3. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
4. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Roger Heasman very kindly took over from Nathan Pollard as Officer of the Day.

Tamar 6

Twin boats dominated a race run in very light easterly winds. The Aero 7s led, Bob Sampson’s off the start but Nathan Pollard’s by the third buoy. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial trounced Linda Spiller’s. Anderson had a great start, Spiller a terrible one. The Solos of Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton were never far apart, Perrett’s generally leading until he retired at the end of lap one. The Pollard/Routley Bosun and the Liam Routley Laser Full were the non-conforming singletons.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
6. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
7. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
   Retired: Dave Perrett (Solo)

Barnwell 7

The winds had turned right round to the northwest and strengthened. The Solo twins had gone but there was now a Bosun pair, John Dabbs joining the race with Adam Hilton as crew but Brian Pollard/Tash Routley leading the Bosuns once they had recovered from a highly congested start. Bob Sampson led away and Nathan Pollard took some time to catch him. Meanwhile Liam Routley’s Laser held a very creditable second place. However the handicap demoted him to fourth with the Radial twins – Linda Spiller leading Jane Anderson – taking second and third places. Vicki Duncalf’s Topper mainsheet malfunctioned and she limped home with no help from the safety boat.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
5. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
6. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
7. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
   Retired: Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Grateful thanks were offered to Robin Spiller for running the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

Midweek Mug 11

Nine boats took the start! Bob and Nathan and Sue and Roger and Rob and Geoff and (new) Dave and Colin with Louise and John D with Adam. It was windy which made the heat comfortable but meant 5s on the Aeros, a 4.7 for Sue and small sails for Rob and the Witchells. The Aeros were neck and neck at the start, but Bob had a rig malfunction; putting it right caused a capsize and let Nathan get away not to be seen again. Bob had Sue snapping at his heels and the John D Bosun not far behind. Roger’s Miracle was ill-behaved, throwing him in the water before he’d left the pontoon and then again when the goose neck failed to keep the boom in place. He retired as did Robin when the Solo proved too uncomfortable and then Geoff too, the Solo too demanding in the winds. Already at the end of the second of four laps the finishing order was established; the Aeros in front, Sue’s 4.7 following closely enough to easily beat Bob when the handicaps were applied; John Dabbs’ Bosun gradually falling back, Dave Dewhurst keeping well up in Bob’s Laser Radial, the Witchells bringing up the rear.

Results

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
4. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
5. Dave Dewhurst (Laser Radial)
6. Colin and Louise Whitchell (Bosun)
   Retired: Roger Heasman (Miracle), Robin Spiller (Solo), Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Linda Spiller ran the race and took photos. Thanks, Linda

Commodore 1

All three boats got off to a great start in the brisk easterly winds. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5) took the lead at the first mark followed by Brian Pollard and Tash Routley and Adam Hilton with Liam Routley in the two Bosuns. By the end of the first lap Nathan had extended his lead with the Pollard/Routley Bosun second and the other Bosun, with its smaller mainsail, bringing up the rear. With powerful gusts descending upon everyone the lap times for the Aero were roughly 13 minutes. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley had a gallant sail and came in second; the other Bosun had a few difficulties rounding Inlet buoy which delayed it.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
3. Adam Hilton and Liam Routley (Bosun)

Pursuit 4

Vicki Duncalf in her Topper set off first with Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7) 7 minutes later. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun) started two minutes after that, and last speedy Nathan Pollard (Aero 5), fifteen minutes after the Topper so with quite a chase to finish in front.

After lap 1 Vicki Duncalf was well ahead of Bob Sampson and managing the brisk winds very ably. By the end of lap 2, however, the Laser was only a few metres behind; the Bosun was keeping a steady pace and Nathan Pollard was streaking across the water, determined to catch up.

By the middle of lap 3 Bob Sampson had overtaken Vicki Duncalf while Nathan Pollard headed the Bosun and the Topper but still at the finish Bob Sampson was in front!

Results:

1. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)

Many thanks to Jane Anderson for running the races.

Midweek Mug 10

The northwesterlies had abandoned Pinkie which was glassy and so the course was very short, going to West but no further north than Middle and avoiding the equally flat calm Inlet. Rob Spiller got his Solo over the line first and proceeded in a stately manner towards Zebra. As it turned out the winds freshened with each mini-lap to such an extent that Linda Spiller could be seen, after the race was done, planing across the Middle of the Lake for the pure joy of it. She had followed her husband across the start line and soon slipped past him, finishing with a three and a half minute advantage over the Solo. John Dabbs with Leila Farmer were next to start and finish in the Bosun with Louise and Colin Witchell’s Bosun following on. Applying the handicaps made no change to the order on the water. The Commodore, the official OOD, had persuaded Roger to Heasman to start the race and spent a couple of laps following the race in his Solo.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
2. Robin Spiller (Solo)
3. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
4. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Many thanks to Roger Heasman who started the race, thus enabling the designated OOD to enjoy getting on the water.

Midweek Mug 9

8 sailors took to the water to do 4 laps of the Tamar Lake under an overcast sky with a brisk westerly wind.

At race start Linda Spiller in her Laser with the small 4.7 sail got away first followed closely by Bob Sampson in his RS Aero sporting the smallest 5 metre sail. Next came John Dabbs in his Bosun crewed by Robin Spiller, closely bunched with Geoff Floyd in his Solo sorting a small sail, Sue Murray in her Laser with small 4.7 sail. Then came Ian Chatterton sailing his Enterprise single handed and Colin and Louise Witchell in their Bosun with the small mainsail.

(Dave Dewhurst, having his first race/sail in Bob Sampson’s Laser with the 4.7 rig got a good start, but unfortunately he started on the port Devon side of the race pin and so had to be disqualified. )

Half way around the first lap, Bob Sampson had overtaken Linda Spiller and from then on was never headed. Gradually as the race progressed, Sue got closer and closer to Linda and on the 3rd lap moved into second. With Bob establishing an ever increasing lead and second and third decided, it was left to Geoff and John to fight for fourth. Geoff was doing really well, but unfortunately a rigging failure affected his performance and allowed John to just finish ahead of him.

Unfortunately Ian was also plagued with rigging failures and so finished some distance back. Being their first outing for the season Colin and Louise decided to give it best and retired after 2 laps.

Dave must be commended for sailing so well in the Laser 4.7 and would have finished 5th if it had not been for his start on the wrong side.

Results:

1. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. John Dabbs and Robin Spiller (Bosun)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6. Ian Chatterton (Solo)
   Disqualified: Dave Dewhurst (Laser 4.7)
   Retired: Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)

Sailboat 5

In a fresh north-westerly breeze Nathan Pollard (Aero 6) made the best start followed closely by Bob Sampson (Aero 5). All the boats made excellent progress and with a good plane coming back up the lake. Liam Routley (Laser Radial) looked extremely competent almost catching up to the Aeros. Liam caught Bob at the end of lap 2 and overtook him at Dam buoy, however later Bob did a fantastic plane too at the end of lap 3 and pulled away from Liam. It was good to see new member Rachel Wilson crewing in the club Bosun with Roger Heasman at the helm. Welcome Rachel.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
4. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
6. Roger Heasman and Rachel Wilson (Bosun)
   Retired: David Dewhurst (Laser Pico)

Tamar 4

A reduced fleet started the second race with Brian and Tash making a superb start and forging a good lead towards the first buoy. Again, it was a good wind for planing from Pinkie buoy to the Dam buoy. Linda was heard squealing with joy or maybe terror! Liam caught Linda at Dam buoy and they sailed up the lake neck and neck with Liam well positioned on Linda’s windward side.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
4. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Thanks go to the officer of the day Vicki Duncalf and Mandy Pollard for taking the photos.