Barnwell 7

On a day with a fluky north-westerly wind, the 8-strong fleet got away well in a closely-bunched group before taking different options on the fastest way to beat toward West buoy; whilst the bulk of the fleet opted to hug the Devon bank, Brian Pollard and Jane Anderson tacked away early over towards the Cornwall bank of the reservoir.  Nathan Pollard in his full-rig Laser wasted no time in moving into an early lead and as the fleet did a dogleg at the Home 2 buoy and headed up towards Pinky, he had already put a considerable distance between himself and the rest of the fleet.  However, despite sailing a Topper dinghy, nominally the slowest class of boat on the water, Jane Anderson was showing her customary sailing expertise to be at the head of the chasing pack in second place.  It wasn’t until the third lap that the Bosuns of Brian Pollard and John Dabbs managed to overtake Jane. 

The three Bosuns in the fleet were having a close fought tussle of their own, with Brian Pollard initially  leading the trio, before John Dabbs and crew Linda Spiller overtook  before the end of the third lap.  By the end of the hour-long race, Nathan Pollard had continued to leave the rest of the fleet far behind, crossing the line nearly nine minutes ahead of the second boat.  However, despite this it wasn’t enough to give him the win on corrected time, with Jane Anderson being a comfortable winner on handicap, leaving Nathan in second, followed in turn by Vicki Duncalf in another Topper taking third place.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
6. Roger Heasman and Jenny Routley (Bosun)
7. Dave Perrett (Solo)
   Robin Spiller (Solo) retired

Tamar 7

An altered course for the second race resulted in a biased start line and this led to a considerable melee of boats jostling for position at the favoured pin end but out this free-for-all Nathan Pollard managed to get clear away into clean air, closely followed by Dave Perrett in his Solo.  A short reach to the Zebra buoy was followed by a true beat to West, with Nathan once again soon disappearing into the far distance in his Laser.  Behind him, Linda Spiller was going well in the smaller-rigged Laser 4.7, managing second place behind Nathan at the end of the third lap, with Dave’s Solo only just behind.  The closest tussle on the water was between the two Bosuns, with Roger Heasman  initially just ahead, but with Brian Pollard bit-by-bit eating into the gap between them.  Uncharacteristically, Jane Anderson had made a poor start and was last away and it wasn’t until the end of the first lap that she managed to close up with the other Topper helmed by Vicki Duncalf.  The revised course gave a long broad reach all the way from Far buoy right down to the Dam and some of the faster boats were able to exploit this if the gusts of wind came at the right time, getting onto the plane and accelerating away.  

By the end of the race, Nathan Pollard again had exploited his superior boat speed to be first across the line by a huge margin, with Linda Spiller over six minutes behind.  The Bosun duel continued all the way to the finish: Brian rounded the penultimate mark two boat lengths ahead, but a rapid roll-gybe enabled Roger to inch ever nearer and he was agonisingly close as the two dinghies crossed the finish line almost side-by-side.  After calculation of boat handicaps, the leading positions were a reversal of the previous race’s, with Nathan in first place and the recovering Jane in second.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
6. Roger Heasman and Jenny Routley (Bosun)
7. Dave Perrett (Solo)
8. Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officer John Buckett and to photographer Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 3

The twiddley-thumbs boats had barely moved in their morning races but by two o’clock there were
gentle winds coming down the Lake from points west of north which enabled a fleet of six to cross
the start line, Robin Spiller (Solo) a little prematurely. Adam Hilton (Solo) set off first followed by the
two Bosuns of John Dabbs (with Leila Farmer) and Roger Heasman (sailing on his own). Linda Spiller,
her Laser equipped with a full-sized sail, had many places to make up but was second at the end of
lap 1 and took over the lead on the way to Pinkie on lap 2. A minute and a half’s lead at the finish
was not enough to overcome the Hilton Solo’s more advantageous handicap. The Dabbs Bosun kept
bumping into buoys and boats; the resultant penalty turns kept it at the rear but near enough Ethan
Walker’s Laser Radial for the handicap to promote it to fifth.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
3. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
4. Robin Spiller (Solo)
5. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
6. Ethan Walker (Laser Radial)

Thanks were given to race to Ian Chatterton who ran the race

Tamar 1

Jane Anderson (Laser Radial) crossed the start line first followed by Dave Perrett (Solo) on a day of
very light westerlies. Linda Spiller (Laser Full) had been a little too eager and had to duck back; Adam
Hilton (Solo) had got into irons and started last except for Brian Pollard’s Bosun (John Weller
crewing) which was unsuited to such light winds. The run back from Pinkie favoured big sails all day
and Linda Spiller overtook Jane Anderson only to re-lose the place at Dam Green. On the second
(last) lap the Solos, first Dave Perrett’s, then Adam Hilton’s, increasingly threatened the Lasers with
Adam Hilton eventually crossing the finish line first. The handicaps restored Jane Anderson’s lead.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Robin Spiller (Solo)
5. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
   Retired: Brian Pollard and John Weller(Bosun)

Barnwell 5

Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) joined the fleet, started third but soon led, although temporarily
overtaken by Dave Perrett’s Solo at West. Jane Anderson and Adam Hilton were caught in a familiar
struggle, the Solo eventually crossing the line nine seconds in front of the Laser. The wind finally
disappeared leaving the back markers to get home as best they could.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
   Retired: Brian Pollard and John Weller (Bosun), Paul Anderson

Thanks were given to race officer Vicki Duncalf and to photographer Mandy Pollard

Roger’s Bowl 1

The combination of the low water level and fishermen sitting in the lake off the Inlet buoy precluded the use of the Inlet race buoy.   With a gusty and fickle west wind in a dull drizzle, the race course was limited to Dam Green to Pinky with a diversion round Middle to West.

Dave, with a reduced sail, was first over the start line followed by Bob who managed to overtake him on the first lap before Dam Green.  A battle between Dave and John (with Linda as his crew) then ensued for the best part of the following 2 laps, with John eventually taking the lead from Dave.  Nessy (with Roger as her crew) bravely followed in very challenging conditions for her first outing as helm in a race.  This race sequence of Bob, John, Dave and Nessy continued unchanged for the rest of this 4-lap race.  It was an indicator of the race conditions that all boats completed the course, sailing each of the laps in under 13 minutes.

1. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perritt (Solo)
4. Nessy Johns and Roger Heasman (Bosun)

Thanks were given to race to Geoff Floyd who ran the race.

A damp start to the day for racing at Tamar with a light WNW breeze but drying later.

Pursuit 4

Start time handicaps in minutes:

Vicki Duncalf (Topper) 0
Brian Pollard & Natasha Routley crew (Bosun) +6
Liam Routley (Laser) +14
Nathan (Laser) +19

Vicki managed the best start and this stood her in good stead for the rest of the race lapping both Nathan & Liam before they’d even started. Nathan overtook Liam halfway through their 1st Lap. Liam got into a spot of bother by Dam Green Buoy but quickly recovered to continue. By mid-race Nathan managed to unlap himself by passing Vicki but never managed to catch her up again and she finished 1st ahead of Nathan with both Brian & Natasha and Liam retiring.

1. Vicki Duncalf
2. Nathan Pollard

Retired – Brian Pollard & Natasha, Liam.

Barnwell 6

At the start it was the following order:

Jane Anderson (Topper)
Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
Brian Pollard & crew Natasha Routley (Bosun)
Nathan Pollard (Laser)
John Dabbs & Linda Spiller crew (Bosun)
Robin Spiller (Solo)

It was Nathan though who quickly worked his way up to 1st by the Home 2 mark with Jane a close 2nd. By Pinky Nathan had extended his dominance and John Dabbs and Linda had picked off Vicki Duncalf. There then developed an exciting battle for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places as Jane tried her hardest to fend off the Bosuns with them equally keen to overtake. For the first two laps Jane and Brian & Natasha swapped places on a few occasions with John Dabbs and Linda Spiller close on hand in case of any mistakes by the two in front. Finally though, the Bosuns won through early on lap 3 and with John Dabbs and Linda Spiller overtaking Brian & Natasha approaching inlet. The tone was then set for the final positions across the line with the gaps between boats slowly increasing. Nathan, John & Linda, Brian & Natasha, Jane, then Vicki with Robin retiring with gear failure.

1. Jane Anderson
2. Nathan Pollard
3. John Dabbs & Linda Spiller
4. Brian Pollard & Natasha Routley
5. Vicki Duncalf

Retired – Robin Spiller.

Thanks to Race Officers (Paul Anderson & Ricky Thurlow) and Mandy Pollard for the photographs.

Tamar 6

In surprisingly cold and gusty winds (considering the local weather forecast), 5 boats set of for the morning race heading northwards for Home 2 buoy.  Dave Perrett (Solo) was first over the line at the start gun followed by Roger Heasman and Liam Routley  (Bosun).  However, it was Nathan Pollard (Laser) who was first to the buoy, then Dave (Solo), Jane Anderson (Topper), Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun), and Roger with Liam then brought up the rear.  Brian and Natasha managed to overtake Jane just before the final buoy of the lap at Dam.  But it was Nathan who shot ahead on the 2nd lap in some challenging gusts.  Jane then managed to overtake Brian and Natasha again by H2 buoy and fended him off for the rest of the race.  Dave was chasing Nathan and also pulling away from the fleet ahead of Jane and that was how the positions stayed until the end of what was a gusty and sometimes uncomfortable morning!!

Results:  After the Portsmouth Handicaps were applied to the different classes of boats (depending on size, speed through the water, etc) the results were as follows:-

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Brian Pollard with crew Natasha Routley (Bosun)
4. David Perrett (Solo)
5. Roger Heasman with crew Liam Routley (Bosun)

Sailboat 5

We were all hoping that the moderating winds over the lunch period would remain for the afternoon race, but no such luck!  Nathan, Dave, Brian and Natasha, Jane, and new Junior Member Liam (now helming the Heasman Bosun) all started in that order with Brian and Natasha (Bosun) and John Dabbs and Linda Spillar (Bosun) bringing up the rear . In the somewhat feisty conditions John with Crew Linda Spiller touched a mark and had to do a penalty turn.  As the race progressed, overcrowding by 3 boats whilst rounding Dam Mark produced a momentary windless patch which Jane promptly fell into.  This then put John Dabbs and Linda into an awkward rounding position, but all eventually sorted themselves out with Liam and Roger coming out on top!  As then race progressed in an orderly fashion until the finish.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. David Perrett (Solo)
4. Brian Pollard and Tasha (Bosun)
5. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Sadly, Liam (with Roger as crew) had to retire when he missed a mark of the course, which was a shame, but he managed the Bosun very comfortably – well done!!.

Thanks to Bob Sampson for Race Officer Duties, Mandy Pollard for the photo, and Jane for writing this report.

Midweek Tankard 13

It was sunny and hot and the southwest to northwest winds were gentle but, by the Lake’s standards, reliable. These conditions brought out all four of the Club’s Solo sailors, three of the Bosun helms and Linda Spiller in her Laser Radial. Paul floated his GP14 for the first time but did not sign on for the race.

Various starts were compromised, the Solos of Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton getting tangled up and Linda Spiller trying to draw the safety boat’s attention to the GP14’s dangerous closeness to the Dam. John Dabbs with Leila Farmer in the Bosun got away first followed by the Solos of Adam Hilton and Robin Spiller. The course required helms to go from Zebra to West, to Pinkie, Middle, Inlet, then to leave Home 1 to starboard, which caught out Dave Perrett and Robin Spiller, before rounding Dam Green and re-crossing the start line. The Dabbs/Farmer Bosun held onto the lead until the run from Inlet to Dam Green during which the lead Solo gradually pulled past. On lap 2 Dave Perrett, all unaware of his disqualification, took over the lead, Linda Spiller followed, then the lead Bosun, Robin Spiller and Geoff Floyd’s Solos and finally the other two Bosuns. On the last lap the two ‘lead’ Solos and Linda Spiller’s Radial were very close together; the renegade Perrett boat crossing two seconds ahead of Linda who was followed a second later by Adam.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Roger Heasman and Anna Walker (Bosun)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6. Louise and Colin Witchel (Bosun)

Disqualified: Dave Perrett (Solo), Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks were given to race to Sue Murray who ran the race.

Sailboat 4

Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial was the first of a leading bunch that comprised Nathan Pollard’s Laser Full and the Solos of Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton. In the lightest of winds the fleet crept towards Home 2 with Nathan Pollard just managing to pass Jane Anderson before they set off for West only to lose the place before they rounded the buoy. It wasn’t until the return leg from Pinkie that he was able to establish the lead. Meanwhile Adam Hilton’s was the lead Solo while Dave Perrett’s had succumbed to the advancing Bob Sampson and Brian Pollard who had both started from the rear. The course was shortened to two laps. Becalmed before Dam Green, Adam Hilton dropped from third to fifth. At the finish Bob Sampson was 17 seconds ahead of the Anderson Radial, not nearly enough to stop the handicap giving Jane the victory. Not even Nathan Pollard’s minute and a half lead was enough.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
7. Roger Heasman and Liam Routley (Bosun)

Pursuit 3

The winds still light and fickle, it was decided to shorten the race to half its usual length. The Pollard/Routley Bosun started first, with Adam Hilton’s Solo following after three minutes and Jane Anderson’s Radial after four. The Solo went past the Bosun at the top of the course with Bob Sampsons’ soon becoming the leading Laser. The Solo still led at the end of the lap and was just holding on at West when the race finished.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
5. Brian Pollard and Liam Routley (Bosun)

Thanks were given to race officers John Dabbs and Graham Joyce and to photographer Mandy Pollard

Midweek Tankard 11

In a gentle, occasional moderate and variable NW wind, ten boats were launched comprising 3 Bosuns, 4 Solos, an Enterprise, a Laser with a 4.7 rig and another Laser with a Radial rig. The fishing competition which, with the still-absent Home 1 buoy and similar wind direction had so restricted the previous Sunday’s race plan, were all still in progress. Accordingly, the Race Officer set the same race course but this time over 5 laps.

Sue was first over the Home 2 start line, followed closely by Linda, Dave and Adam, in the first leg race to West. Sue rounded it first, with Adam, Geoff and Dave in hot pursuit. Sue led the flotilla as they all gybed around Dam Green, where Dave overtook Adam with Geoff close behind sporting his new sail, with Linda in close contention.

A drop in the wind strength at the start of the second lap resulted in several place changes between these five front runners. As the wind returned, Sue re-took the lead approaching Dam Green again. Behind them there was a race-long tussle going on between Ian’s Enterprise and John’s Bosun. Taking up the rear was a friendly contest between the Bosuns of Colin and Nessy as they rounded Dam Green.

At the end of the final lap, Dave squeezed past Linda to take line honours, with Sue and Adam not far behind. When the respective boats’ handicaps were taken into consideration, Sue came out on top, followed by Linda then Dave.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. John Dabbs/Leila Farmer (Bosun)
6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
7. Ian Chatterton/Andy (Enterprise)
8. Colin Witchell/Louise Witchell (Bosun)
9. Nessy Johns/Roger Heasman (Bosun)

Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks go to Bob for his work as our OOD.

Midweek Tankard 10

It was great to see the return of both John Buckett and Toby to our race fleet today. As a result, four Bosuns launched with initial trepidation into the now familiar Force 3-4 NW wind, joined by Sue in her Laser 4.7 and Dave in his Solo, sporting his older sail. John B’s Bosun (John helming, with Toby as crew), Roger’s Bosun (Nessy helming – her first race as helm, with Roger as crew) and John D’s Bosun with John helming and Adam as crew) all decided after some mutual discussion to go for full size sails. Louise’s Bosun (Louise helming, Colin as crew) decided to play safer and hoist their set of small sails.

Sue was first across the start line, closely followed by Ian then John D. John D managed to overtake Ian’s Enterprise (Ian helming, Linda as crew) on the first beat to Inlet, but had to defer to Ian at the buoy as Ian had acquired an inside overlap. The result was that Ian emerged in front of John D’s Bosun after rounded the buoy and led these two boats’ race to West, following Sue in her Laser 4.7. These all retained their positions until the end of the 4-lap race.

Sadly, Louise’s Bosun suffered from a torn sail and was forced to retire on only their first lap. Dave hung on doggedly to his 4th place, while the two Bosuns of John B and Nessy were having their own contest at the back of the fleet, becoming just a bit too friendly at one point resulting in a penalty 720 deg for one of them. Congratulations to Nessy for completing her first race as helm in rather robust weather conditions.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. John Dabbs/Adam Hilton (Bosun)
3. Ian Chatterton/Linda Spiller (Enterprise)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. John Buckett/Toby Tobias (Bosun)
6. Nessy Johns (Bosun)

Retired: Louise/Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Thanks go to Robin for his work as our OOD.