Midweek Mug 5

Half of the starting six boats were Bosuns. The others comprised a Laser 4.7, an Enterprise and a Solo. The helms and crews had to cope with a beautifully sunny but hot day (25degC) combined with a skittish SE wind to add a bit of interest.

Dave was first across the start line, followed closely by Roger with new crew Lou. An unlucky hole in the wind saw John with Leila as crew to be the last boat to round Dam Green on the first lap. However, John managed to recover most of the lost ground against the other Bosuns before Pinky was reached via Zebra and West.

Ian was sailing his Enterprise single-handed and with a cut-down mainsail which seemed a good match for the prevailing conditions. Linda in her Laser with a borrowed 4.7 rig was having trouble shaking off John’s Bosun during most of the 2nd and 3rd laps but pulled well clear during the 4th (and final) lap. She was later to discover that her sail was batten-less and this could possibly have cost her first place.

The four laps were completed in just over an hour with only seven minutes covering the fleet when handicaps had been applied.

Results:

1. Dave Perrett (Solo)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. John Dabbs & Leila Farmer (Bosun)
4. Roger Heasman & Lou (Bosun)
5. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
6. Louise & Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Many thanks to Sue Murray who stepped into assist the OOD role whilst waiting for repairs to be undertaken to her car.

OOD: Leila Farmer and Sue Murray

Midweek Mug 3

Results:

1. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
2. John Dabbs, Leila Farmer and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

Thanks go to Barney from SWLT Activity Centre for starting the race.

OOD: Sue Murray

Cup 3

When Bob Sampson set the course the ultra light breeze had been coming over the Dam but now, at the start, it blew from the north and so the fleet, Dave Perrett (Solo) and Nathan Pollard (Aero7) leading, drifted towards Dam Green with what wind there was behind them. These zephyrs took up or abandoned competitors at random and progress was very slow; the race being shortened to one lap. Getting around Inlet, always a sheltered buoy, took an age but completely unpredictable was the wind which blew Nathan Pollard, Adam Hilton and Sue Murray past the rest of the fleet to finish within five seconds of each other!

1. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Robin Spiller (Solo)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
7. Nathan Pollard (Aero7)

Tamar 3

John Dabbs, with Adam Hilton as crew of his Bosun, crossed the line first in completely changed and tolerable reliable winds coming from the top of the Lake. By the first buoy, Home 2, the single-handed boats had taken over, Linda Spiller’s Radial leading the Aero of Nathan Pollard and Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial. At the top of the Lake Jane Anderson led, Nathan Pollard having been surprised by a gust and overturned. He did not lead again until well into the second lap and his near minute lead at the finish was not enough to overcome the Aero’s disadvantageous handicap.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
4. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
   Retired; Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks were given to Bob Sampson, race officer, and to Brian Pollard in the safety boat with Natasha Routley who also took the photographs.

Spare 1

Jane Anderson (Laser Radial), Adam Hilton (Solo) and Nathan Pollard (Aero7) all started well in gentle easterly winds and cold vertical rain. At the first buoy, Dam Green, Jane Anderson, Nathan Pollard and then Liam Routley (Laser Radial) got away, but the rest of the fleet bunched up, impeding each other. It was not until lap 2 that the Pollard Aero overtook Jane Anderson but the handicap gave her back the victory. Dave Perrett’s Solo led the rest.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
6. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Commodore 2

The rain had stopped but the winds remained light and highly variable in direction. Jane Anderson, Dave Perrett and Nathan Pollard were the fast starters but it was the Aero which took the lead followed by Jane Anderson and, closely (by only 23 seconds at the finish) by Dave Perrett’s Solo. A second double-handed boat had joined the fleet – the Bosun of John Dabbs and Adam Hilton. It followed Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley’s Graduate, with Liam Routley’s Laser Radial ending up at the rear. The handicaps radically changed the results on the water.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser)
2. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
6. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

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

Sailboat 2 

Bob Sampson’s Laser with his full-sized sail was the first boat to cross the start line at 12:00 heading down towards the dam on the sunny but deceivingly cold morning. The north-easterly wind averaging at 5 MPH but gusting up to 13 MPH.  After rounding Dam Green, Dave Perret’s solo passed Jane Anderson’s tiny Topper allowing him to gain second place in the race order. The weather conditions made getting to inlet a little tricky; each sailor taking a different approach, hoping to overtake, but all having no luck. No further changes in positions meant the race continued in suit.  

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) 
2. Dave Perrett (Solo) 
3. Jane Anderson (Topper) 
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)   

Barnwell 3 

The 14:00 afternoon start and improving weather conditions alongside two new additions to the fleet meant the race was looking more promising. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 was hard to beat after crossing the busy start line first. Both Linda Spiller’s and Bob Sampson’s Lasers didn’t have room to pass the start buoy so had to turn back and start again, delaying them slightly at the start line.  The fleet progressed on, not long after Bob Sampson’s Laser Full managed to pass Linda’s Laser with the smaller Radial sail.  With the consistent increased winds, the positions were held for the entirety of the race. 

1. Jane Anderson (Topper) 
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7) 
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) 
4. Dave Perrett (Solo) 
5. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial) 
6. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)  

Thanks were given to the race officers Brian Pollard and Tash Routley for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for taking the photos.  

Tamar 2

On shore it was a gloriously sunny day. For the eight boats on the water the westerlies were very light and fickle.

The start line was busy, with some jostling which left Vicki Duncalf (Topper) having to go back. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7) crossed first closely followed by John Dabbs (with Linda Spiller, Bosun) and then Adam Hilton (Solo)

Tacking to West was a challenge as boats criss-crossed, but the running order was established by the second mark as the faster boats moved up to the front, with Nathan Pollard leading, followed by Bob Sampson (Laser Full) and Jane Anderson (Laser Radial). John Dabbs had a couple of mishaps, hitting a buoy and another boat. Nathan Pollard missed a mark but fortunately realised his mistake so didn’t lose too much ground. Applying the handicaps promoted Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf by a place each.

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

Cup 2

Nathan Pollard crossed the line early and amongst the tightly packed boats nearby some contact was made and penalties earned. Adam Hilton emerged well ahead, followed by Jane Anderson. Bob tacked earlier than the rest, which paid off as he rounded the first mark in second place.

Nathan Pollard had clawed back his lead by the end of the first lap which was quicker than the morning but the wind dropped off and boats were becalmed on their way to Dam Green. John Dabbs managed to pass Brian Pollard to arrive fifth at the finish line.

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

Thanks were given to Dave Perrett, race officer, and Mandy Pollard, photographer.

Commodore 1

What wind there was came from the south and the start was therefore towards Dam Green buoy. However there was so little propulsive power that the two Solos in the race – Dave Perrett’s and Adam Hilton’s – were both facing towards the top of the Lake when the starting horn blew. Nathan Pollard’s new (to him) Aero 7 got round Dam Green first with Bob Sampson’s Laser (a craft designed some half century before the Aero) second. Jane Anderson’s Topper got ahead of Liam Routley’s fast-starting Laser Radial which left Vicki Duncalf’s Topper to go round the buoy in front of the tardy Solo pair. The breezes frequently disappeared leaving helms drifting; three disheartened sailors retired.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Topper)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate),
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Liam Routley (Laser Radial), Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Pursuit 1

In this pursuit race the formula had Dave Perrett in his Solo starting first and Nathan Pollard in the Aero 7 starting last, some eight minutes later. The wind, still a gentle force 2 to 3 but now from the north east, was at least more consistent for this afternoon race. In the 58 minutes allotted, Dave Perrett got away well and looked as though he might retain his position at the front. Liam Routley spent the race passing and being passed by the Pollard/Routley Graduate but Nathan Pollard’s Aero made its relentless way through the fleet and took over the lead.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

Many thanks were given to Sue Murray who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Barnwell 2

Nathan Pollard’s Laser sailed away, the first of a fleet of five boats, on a day of light winds from the north west. He was followed on port tack by Bob Sampson’s similar craft, Vicki Duncalf’s Topper, Adam Hilton’s Solo and, on the opposite tack, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley’s Bosun. Once round Home 2 buoy, the course took the fleet to the four corners of the Lake: West, Far, Inlet and Dam Green. Nathan Pollard’s lead over Bob Sampson hardly changed. The only change to the order took place when Adam Hilton overtook Vicki Duncalf. With laps taking the leaders a quarter of an hour, the race officer, Jane Anderson shortened the race to three laps.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Sailboat 1

With the winds a little lighter, the clouds thicker and the odd drop of rain, Bob Sampson crossed the line first followed by two Bosuns, Brian Pollard’s probably a touch ahead of John Dabbs and Linda Spiller’s. However the Pollard/Routley boat was not pointing as high as the Dabbs/Spiller Bosun and was overtaken before the first buoy. Nathan Pollard was soon past the rest of the fleet and chasing Bob Sampson but made no progress until the Sampson main sheet snagged his buoyancy aid causing a brief capsize. Liam Routley’s Radial-sailed Laser overtook the Pollard Bosun.

1. Nathan Pollard(Laser Full)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Many thanks were given to Jane Anderson who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Tamar 1

Paul Anderson, Officer of the Day, had the best view of it and he recorded Bob Sampson’s Laser 4.7 as starting first but it was a close run thing, Liam Routley’s Laser Radial and the Toppers of Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf being the other boats doing the close running. The wind was from the southeast and strongish so the start was towards the Dam. So the first buoy was Dam Green and there the order was not in doubt; Bob Sampson rounded the buoy first with Jane Anderson second and Vicki Duncalf third, Liam Routley being delayed by the need to do a penalty turn. Various pre-start disasters disasters befell the Graduate of Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley leading to their retirement as well as Adam Hilton’s Bosun which had to be pushed off a lee shore by his long-suffering crew, Jenny Routley. Bob Sampson finished the race four minutes ahead of Jane Anderson but it was not enough to give him victory when the handicaps were applied.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Retired: Brian Pollard (Graduate), Adam Hilton and Jenny Routley (Bosun), Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Cup 1

Conditions remained much the same for the second race; laps of a simple course going out to West and up to Pinkie were taking twelve minutes or so and Bob Sampson was again the first to start; the two Toppers were second and third. John Dabbs joined the fleet in his Bosun with Linda Spiller crewing but he mistimed his assault on the start line and crossed at the back of the field. No matter, they had the satisfaction of hauling the Bosun up to fifth at the end of lap 1, third at lap two and second at the finish on lap 4. The handicap gave them third place and again deprived Bob Sampson of victory.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
6. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Many thanks were given to Paul Anderson who ran the race, to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs and to Dave Perrett with Nathan Pollard who manned the safety boat.

Barnwell 1

Nathan Pollard began the new sailing season at Upper Tamar Lake in the style which he, no doubt, intends to maintain; he crossed the line first and was never headed, gradually pulling away from the rest of the field and finishing, after three laps, more than three minutes ahead of the second boat. He was sailing his Laser with a little 4.7 sail on a day of bright sun but strong and penetratingly cold winds from points around the northwest. White streaks of foam stretched the length of the lake.

John Dabbs, Officer of the Day, had set a course that had the fleet tacking to Zebra buoy, making for West and continuing to tack up to Pinkie. Here a gybe was needed to set helms on a return journey that included a visit to Inlet, where competition fishermen were camped in the water. How did they survive the cold? Finally a reach to Home 2 took the fleet to the centre of the Lake before the run down to the Dam.

Second over the starting line were Brian Pollard and crew Natasha Routley racing, indeed sailing, for the first time the Graduate two-handed dinghy, a long-term Tamar Lake resident but unsailed since Adeney Pooler gave up. It was an impressive effort; the Graduate is a small boat, only four centimetres longer than a Solo but with one and a half square metres more sail. It could have been a handful in the winds; perhaps was; there were times when it looked close to going over. And in theory the boat should have won the race; it has a handicap similar to a Laser with a full-sized sail. Perhaps, when Brian Pollard knows it better, he’ll see off the competition.

In this race, Vicki Duncalf, sailing her familiar little Topper, and starting third, managed to judge the two tacks to the first buoy perfectly and rounded it in second place. It took most of the first lap for Brian Pollard to get the Graduate firmly ahead of the Topper. But once his lead was established the order didn’t change. However when the handicaps were applied to the boats’ times, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley’s three and a half minute lead over Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was reversed. On corrected times Vicki Duncalf had second place by six minutes.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Grateful thanks were extended to John Dabbs and Linda Spiller who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.