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.

Midweek Tankard – Spare

Sue kindly stood in as OOD, and set a short course to suit the gentle southerly breeze. The five crews were just beginning to launch their boats when it became apparent that the wind had started to fill in from the west. It was too late to change the race course, so the start commenced on a very broad reach.

John was first across the line, closely followed by Ian (sailing single-handed in his Enterprise), and they held these positions as they rounded Dam Green. It was then a pleasant beat to Home 2 buoy, where Bob took the lead, the only helm to manage this with a single tack. This race section significantly spread out the field.

Sue had set the race course to test the sail, trim and balance of the helms and this was certainly achieved in the gentle and constantly-varying wind speed and direction.

On the second lap, John found a lucky breeze and started catch up some ground on the leading boats, whilst Louise was struggling to find a favourable wind speed and direction.

With the wind dropping down to a very gentle breeze, Sue shortened the race to just three laps.

1. Dave Perrett
2. Bob Sampson
3. John Dabbs with Leila Farmer as crew
4. Ian Chatterton
5. Louise Witchell with Colin Witchell as crew

Thanks go to Sue Murray as OOD

Midweek Tankard 12

It was a nice sunny day with very light winds which came from many directions but generally from somewhere between east and north. It looked like a start from the near side towards Dam Green would be something like a beat. It wasn’t. It was a run and few skippers were able to control the speed of their boats to arrive at the start at the correct time. Some turned back, some were too early. However the start was allowed to stand and Sue Murray rounded Dam Green first.

The race split into a lead group with Bob Sampson’s Laser Full in the lead Sue’s Radial in second, Linda Spiller’s Radial in third and Dave Perrett’s Solo in fourth. This stayed the same until Dave overtook Linda on the fourth lap after more than an hour’s racing.

A second group consisted of Roger Heasman’s Bosun with the remaining three Solos. The Bosun began at the front with Adam Hilton at the back but, after many low speed thrills, by the third lap this had been reversed. Then Adam got bored and retired leaving Robin Spiller leading Geoff Floyd and Roger’s Bosun. The handicaps gave Roger back the lead of the group.

1. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Roger Heasman and Dave (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
7. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
8. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun))

Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officer Leila Farmer.

Tamar 5

Nathan Pollard in his Laser crossed the line first, followed to leeward by Brian Pollard’s Bosun with Bob Sampson’s Laser under his transom. It wasn’t until Inlet that the Laser was able to get out of the big Bosun’s dirty wind and race away. Thus on lap 1 Nathan Pollard was able to forge a good lead. The other Lasers followed, first Bob Sampson, then the two Radials of Jane Anderson and Linda Spiller. The Pollard/Hilton Bosun stayed ahead of its Heasman/Perrett sister throughout.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Brian Pollard and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
6. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

Barnwell 5

Vicki Duncalf exited race control and got into her Topper, entering a race which was powered by a thoroughly erratic bunch of west to north-west winds, gusty enough to up-end Bob Sampson’s Laser before the race even started. Jane Anderson crossed the line first with Vicki Duncalf second. She was still well up the order when she clipped the over-taking Bosun of Brian Pollard and had to do penalties. Jane Anderson tussled with Dave Perrett now in his Solo before establishing a lead. Bob Sampson had a lot of water to make up after his troubled start but overtook his competitors one by one, only temporarily set back by another capsize as he went past Dave Perrett. John Dabbs’ Bosun passed Brian Pollard’s on lap 1 and stayed ahead.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Brian Pollard and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officers Nathan Pollard and Vicki Duncalf and to photographer Mandy Pollard.

Sailboat 3

Jane Anderson (Topper) got away first but Nathan Pollard’s Laser 4.7 powered past well before they reached West, the buoy marking the end of the first leg. The north-westerly winds were decidedly brisk and all skippers except Brian Pollard, secure in his Bosun, had chosen small boats or small sails. The Lake was lined with anglers making course setting a difficult art. Bob Sampson’s Laser 4.7 was sailing away from the line at the start but he managed to get it up to second before the end of the first lap. Brian Pollard and Jane Anderson were unable to decide who should lead, swapping places from time to time and finishing two seconds apart.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper))
3. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

Cup 4

Two more Bosuns were added to the fleet; John Dabbs’ (with Linda Spiller) spent the race in fourth place but Roger Heasman’s (with Fiona Darey) got tangled up on the pontoon and did not start. It was Vicki Duncalf’s Topper that started first this time but as before, the extra speed of the Lasers, even with only 4.7 square metres of sail, took them past, Bob Sampson leading until late in the first lap when Nathan Pollard overtook. Brian Pollard’s Bosun again diced with a Topper but this time it was Vicki Duncalf’s which crossed the finish line all of four seconds ahead.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
6. Brian Pollard and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

DNS: Roger Heasman and Fiona Darey (Bosun)

Thanks were given to race officer Adam Hilton and to photographer Mandy Pollard.

Midweek Tankard 9

Our Wednesday race fleet was supplemented by several enthusiastic young sailors, introduced to us by through their parents and friends. In all, nine boats took to the water in a very useful north-ish wind, force 3-4 and under cloudy but dry conditions.

The start line favoured a port tack start, but Sue and Ethan chose to start on starboard in the hope that this may challenge the other starters. This tactic paid off, as they (Sue, then Ethan) led the other boats across the start line and on to pass Zebra to port en route to West. John/Leila, Ian, Dave, Louise/Colin, Joseph and Rob soon followed. Milo was stalled back from the start line so made a delayed start. John and Dave were together at the first mark (Zebra), but from then on, Dave gradually pulled away for the rest of the race, with Ian, sailing single-handed, closely following John for the rest of the race.

On Lap 2, Ethan managed to overtake Sue, and Joseph managed to pass Rob. But not for long – Rob regained his position in the long run back from Far to Dam Green. Linda, as OOD, shortened the race to 3 laps as the race had spread out the boats into two groups: the leading 2 boats in the Dam Green area whilst four of them were at the far end of the lake. Of these four, Joseph finally got past Louise until he lost this lead of this second fleet to Louise.

Ethan was first to cross the finish line, followed closely by Sue then Dave. It took a further 15 minutes for the rest of the fleet to finish. Sympathies went to Ian, who capsized on gybing round Dam Green just before the final beat to the finish. Although he managed a dry capsize, he was unable to sail his water-logged boat and retired.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. John Dabbs/Leila Farmer (Bosun)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Ethan Walker Laser (Radial)
5. Joseph Nicholson (Topper)
6. Milo Steer (Topper)
7. Louise/Colin Witchell (Bosun)
8. Robin Spiller (Solo)

Retired: Ian Chatterton

Thanks go to Linda for her work as our OOD.

Midweek Tankard 6

In a really light wind but at least dry conditions, six boats ventured onto the lake to test their light-wind sailing techniques. First across the start line was Bob, followed closely by Sue then Roger. Positions had changed by the time the fleet reached the West mark, with Sue now in the lead, followed by Adam and Dave. The race course took the fleet up to Pinkie, but that was where the wind reduced to a whisper. There was a bit of a tussle between Dave and Adam as they both tried to round Dam Green, and Bob, sailing single-handed in a Club Bosun, took advantage of this by passing them both, only to be subsequently overtaken by Adam. Roger, also sailing single-handed in his Bosun, finally gave up the attempt to keep moving and retired.

1. Sue Murray
2. Bob Sampson
3. Adam Hilton
4. Dave Perrett
5. Leila Farmer

Thanks go to Graham Joyce as OOD