by Jane Anderson

Mandy Pollard

Barnwell 8

With 8 boats setting off in a light to moderate breeze, it was Brian Pollard and crew Cilla who were first away at the start line, with the Lasers of Nathan Pollard (Full Rig) and Jane Anderson (Radial) in hot pursuit.  These 3 stayed together as the fleet progressed up the lake, followed by a fleet of Bosuns in full racing challenge mode.  John Dabbs with crew Penny were first in this group until a wrong rounding of Home buoy (together with Graham Joyce in his Laser who joined them) meant that both boats had to undo their course and re-round the buoy correctly, thus loosing precious time!  In lap 2 Nathan extended a slender lead ahead of Jane and Bob. Colin and Louise Witchell were going very well in their Bosun in what was becoming tricky and gusty sailing conditions in the ENE’ly strengthening breeze.  At the top of the lake, Graham, in his full rig Laser, came to grief and capsized during one of the many  unpredictable gusts which were developing.  He did manage to right his boat and carry on his way, but eventually retired.  After the handicaps had been applied to the finishing times the results were as follows:

Sailboat 8

Bob Sampson (Laser Full) was first away this time, with Jane Anderson (Laser Radial) and Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) in pursuit.  Linder Spiller joined the fleet in her Laser Radial, but the gusty conditions had strengthened over the lunchtime period, making this race rather a fight to stay upright. The rapid oscillating gusty winds had come round more to the north as the developing afternoon sea breeze interacted with the prevailing Ene’ly.   This made racing quite a challenge at the northern end of the lake as the winds whipped up and then vanished just as quickly!  In lap 2 Jane lost ground rounding a mark the wrong way and then having to return to correct the error.  This led to a battle being set up between her and Linda Spiller in her Laser Radial.  Both by this time were struggling in the heavy gusts.  Meanwhile, John Dabbs and crew Penny were sailing very well and were now competing with the 2 ladies in their Laser R’s.  At the front of the fleet, Bob and Nathan were having their own battle for first place, Nathan nipping in and taking the lead at the last mark to attain first place!

Grateful thanks to Vicki Duncalf who was race officer for the day, and kept a steadfast lookout for us all as we made our way around the course in some quite challenging conditions!

Midweek Mug 3

by Adam Hilton

All morning the Lake had been glassy while a small posse (Leila, Louise, Geoff, technical assistant Roger) had been removing green mould and putrid snails from the Club’s Toppers, but when the race started, 1 pm, there was enough westerly wind to make sitting on the gunwale possible, most of the time at least. Nicky Buckett, the day’s Officer, was watching the start line hawklike, thinking that Adam Hilton’s Solo would cross it prematurely; but no, he was able to set off on the long beat to Pinkie unrepremanded. Linda Spiller took her Radial on a different line but was behind at Pinkie; she grabbed the lead at Dam Green and led at the end of the first lap. The position was reversed for the second lap but Linda was ahead again on the third after a racelong battle between the two.

It was the tacking up to Pinkie that made or broke many competitors’ races; how high did their boat point? Had they chosen the bit of the Lake which had the most wind just then? On the first lap John Dabbs, sailing his Bosun alone, emerged in third place in front of Geoff Floyd’s Solo and the Heasman/Perrett Bosun but on the next lap the single-hander’s – Geoff’s and Robin Spiller’s Streaker – took up third and fourth places in front of the Bosuns and they kept them until the end. The handicaps tried to reverse the position. Leila Farmer took out one of the newly cleaned Club Toppers and followed in a creditable seventh.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. John Dabbs (Bosun)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
5. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
7. Leila Farmer (Topper)
8. John Buckett (Otter)
9. Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)

Midweek Mug 4

by John Buckett
A much reduced fleet of three boats went out for the second race, just sufficient to make a quorum for a race.  Nevertheless, there was still a sufficiently keen competitive spirit that two boats were over the line at the start and there was a general recall.  On the second time of asking, Linda Spiller was nail-bitingly close to again being OCS but in the end got it just right and made a very fast start.  The wind had strengthened considerably from the first race and John Dabbs was pleased to take on Dave Perrett as crew.  Not only was the wind gustier, but it was also quite shifty, with the north or north-westerly breeze alternating with sudden puffs from the west, probably caused by the sea breeze building in the strong sunshine.  Linda built on her good start to draw out a clear lead, but Geoff Floyd was also going well in the Solo to stay more-or-less in touch and had already passed Zebra as Linda approached Dam Green on the second lap.  The fluctuating wind direction meant that the course had a couple of awkward gybes on the return back from Pinkie via West and Middle  (at which booms didn’t always come across when expected) to keep the competitors on their toes, but all stayed upright. On the final lap, Linda caught a gust and made a very fast transit from West to Middle, sufficient to open up the lead over Geoff.  John and Dave looked to be sailing comfortably and might well have caught the Solo on handicap, but on rounding Dam Green to beat up to the finish line for the final time, John tacked early and the Bosun then hit a header and couldn’t quite make the line, so he had to put in a couple of slow tacks, probably sufficient to push him back to third place.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
3. John Dabbs and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

by Adam Hilton

Barnwell 7

Nathan Pollard

Jane Anderson in her Laser Radial crossed the line first on a day of very light and highly variable westerly winds. Various participants in a four boat Bosun scrap followed, the Dabbs/Spiller boat in front of the others at that point, with Graham Joyce’s Laser intervening. Adam Hilton in his Solo was slow to get over the line – sixth – but was then able to make use of the boat’s inherent light wind advantages to get past two Bosuns by the time they reached the top of the Lake and a third by the end of the lap. Graham Joyce was also in front of the Bosuns and finished third on the water. At the end of lap one it was still Dabbs/Spiller leading the Bosuns  but at the finish it was Pollard/Gilbert the first double-hander and Heasman/Perrett had had their turn leading the Bosuns in between times. Despite Jane Anderson finishing four minutes before the leading Bosun the handicap gave Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert the victory.

1. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)
4. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
7. Graham Joyce (Laser Full)
8. Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)

Sailboat 7

Nathan Pollard

Four fast-starting boats came over the line close together, the Dabbs/Spiller Bosun leading, Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial second, Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert third, but furthest to windward and able to take advantage of clean air was Adam Hilton’s Solo which reached West White first and stayed at the front until just after the end of the first lap when Jane Anderson took over a lead she was not to relinquish, building a gap of four and a half minutes over the first Bosun, enough, this time, to give her the victory after the handicaps were applied. The winds were a little stronger and more consistent for this race, giving time for three laps. Dabbs/Spiller mostly led the Bosuns with Pollard/ Gilbert following and Heasman/Perrett threatening to overtake from time to time.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
5. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

Many thanks were given to Nathan Pollard who ran the race and took the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Midweek Mug 2

Force 4 gusting 6 was the forecast and the forecasters had it right. Black gusts and white streaks came down the waters of the Lake from the Northwest. But the assembled sailors had had enough of going to the Lake only to go home again without sailing and so three Bosuns went out; there were the two regulars – the Dabbs/Spiller boat and the Heasman/Perret boat. The third consisted of Geoff Floyd and Robin Spiller crewing with Adam Hilton at the helm.

Home 2 was the first buoy; West White the next. Dabbs/Spiller passed the first buoy first. Heasman/Perrett came next but some way to leeward of the buoy; Roger tacked and set off towards the Cornwall bank, calling starboard to the up-coming Hilton/Floyd/Spiller boat as he and they neared the buoy. The three-up boat, like the leading Bosun, stayed on port tack and went about later to approach West White on starboard. The Heasman/Perrett passed under its stern, but on the next tack Roger Heasman had got his Bosun half a length ahead. Adam Hilton failed to take avoiding action and struck the other Bosun amidships. It capsized; both boats retired.

The Dabbs/Spiller boat continued and completed the three laps, if not perhaps serenely (it was observed granny-tacking to avoid the gybe at Pinkie) but certainly triumphantly.

1. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Retired: Adam Hilton, Robin Spiller and Geoff Floyd (Bosun), Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Ian Chatterton who ran the race.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Barnwell 6

Dave Perrett’s Solo crossed the line first with Paul Anderson (Laser Full) second but well to leeward. It was a day of light and variable westerly winds and the light wind specialists – boats and helms – soon took over. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial was ahead but downwind of Adam Hilton’s high-pointing Solo on the long beat to west. She rounded the buoy first. Sue Murray in another Laser Radial was next to establish herself ahead of the Solo. It was proving hard to make the most of the extra canvas of a full size sail on a Laser. Nathan Pollard got his up to second on the first lap but never caught the flying Jane Anderson. Linda Spiller’s overtook the Solo on lap 1 and Sue Murray’s Radial on lap 2, finishing in third on the water. Paul Anderson’s big Laser was cruising in sixth place when a mishap at Inlet required penalty turns and put him back. Dave Perrett eventually lost out to Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert’s Bosun with Vicki Duncalf’s Topper in the mix. The handicaps promoted Radials and Solos.

Sailboat 6

Brian Pollard (Bosun) got away first and Dave Perrett (Solo), again fast-starting, in second but both were again immediately engulfed by faster boats. The winds were still light but a little stonger and more consistent. Nathan Pollard this time made his big sail pay and was first around West White with Adam Hilton second, Jane Anderson third and Linda Spiller fourth. The Pollard/Gilbert Bosun interrupted the line of single-handers in fifth beating Sue Murray’s Radial to the first buoy. She was ahead of the Bosun after Inlet, got past the Solo and then spent the race competing with Linda Spiller and Jane Anderson for second and third places. Nathan Pollard, in clear air, extended his lead; nearly three and half minutes at the end; enough to overcome his handicap disadvantage and give him the victory. Brian Pollard, again swapping places with Dave Perrett, finished sixth on the water and the handicap rewarded him with third. Vicki Duncalf, closer to the leaders this time, was brought up by the handicap to fifth. But the biggest beneficiary of the handicapping system was again Adam Hilton’s Solo which, with a handicap thirty points better than the Laser Radials, had only to keep in touch with the scrap in front to be given second place.

Many thanks were given to Roger Heasman who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Barnwell 5

After an initial General Recall due to over enthusiasm on the line at the start, the morning race set off again with the Lasers of Sue Murray, Linda Spiller and Jane Anderson leading the way in a light breeze. There were 8 competitors and they all settled into their own rhythm as the laps progressed.  The full length and width of the lake was used which produced an excellent course which everyone much enjoyed!

Sailboat 5

The breeze was much stronger in the afternoon which provided more of a challenge for helmsmen and women! Roger Heasman had an unfortunate capsize in his Bosun and he was forced to retire with a boat full of water to empty when he reached the Pontoon.  Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet once again enjoyed an excellent course with only the upwind legs being quite challenging in the gusty puffs!  Everyone enjoyed a great bank holiday racing day – even though the sunshine proved elusive!

by Colin Witchell

April Bonus 4

Due to insufficient numbers, Louise and Colin Witchell gave up OOD duties to participate in the race and Cameron kindly started the horn for us.  John Dabbs and Linda Spiller were away first in the Bosun, closely followed by Geoff Floyd in his Solo, then Louise and Colin with their first outing this season.  Having borrowed a Club Boson as theirs had squatters in the form of a robin’s nest full of chicks!  Very cute!  The moderate breeze was from the south east and consistent.  John and Linda remained in the lead but Geoff was hard on their heels throughout the race, successfully taking the lead before the finish.

by Adam Hilton

Geoff Floyd

Tamar 1

Sue Murray in her Laser Radial crossed the start line first, rounded Zebra first and reached Inlet first but it all happened in very slow motion. There was very little wind, it was raining and not at all warm. Adam Hilton’s Solo started second but was soon overtaken by Bob Sampson’s Laser Full and a little later by Nathan Pollard’s Laser. The wind abandoned Sue Murray at Inlet; she seemed glued to the buoy, allowing all the following single-handers to catch up and the two Lasers to overtake. Nathan Pollard took over the lead in the drift back down the Lake and arrived at the end of a single lap in just under an hour.

The conditions were even more difficult for the three double-handers which were less able to respond to each tiny zephyr. Roger Heasman, Dave Perrett crewing, retired gracefully (but slowly). Brian Pollard (with Cilla Gilbert), who had started as the lead Bosun, was overtaken by John Dabbs (with Linda Spiller).

The Solo’s superior handicap promoted Adam Hilton above Sue Murray.

Tamar 2

Sue Murray again got away first but this time made it stick and still led even when the familiar three leading Lasers entered the doldrums at the top of the Lake. Somehow she got through them and made a stately progress to the finish line. Nathan Pollard and then Bob Sampson followed her home.

Adam Hilton, up with the Lasers, was abandoned by the wind at West and retired, eventually being towed home by a passing paddle-boarder! The Bosuns gave up too. The safety boat did a good deal of towing. But as boats were hauled up the slipway and sails taken down the wind returned and the Lake ceased to be glassy; laps would have taken their usual fifteen minutes!

Many thanks were given to Geoff Floyd who ran the race and took the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Barnwell 4

Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was the first to cross the start line, but following her and moving faster, was Adam Hilton’s Solo, which overtook and made the short beat to Dam Green in the lead. The gentle winds were coming over the dam from the southwest and helms needed to start close up to the windward buoy if they were to make Game Green in one tack. Roger Heasman’s Bosun, with Dave Perrett as crew, started only moments later than the leaders but further to leeward and had had to tack before reaching Dam Green allowing others, notably Geoff Floyd’s Solo, to round the buoy before it. The run to Home 2 saw Nathan Pollard in his familiar full-sailed Laser, begin to assert himself, taking over second place from Geoff Floyd. Jane Anderson too, sailing her Laser with a little 4.7 sail, got free of the increasingly quarrelsome Bosuns, two of which, the Heasman and Dabbs boats, ending up doing penalty turns after Home 2. This enabled Brian Pollard, Cilla Gilbert crewing, to establish himself as lead Bosun.

Nathan Pollard continued to chase Adam Hilton who had benefitted from the clean air away from the squabbling fleet and had a substantial lead. The Pollard Laser finally took over that lead on the way to Pinkie on the second lap, Adam Hilton retaining second place until he capsized near the end of the third and final lap! The other Solo, Geoff Floyd’s, faired better; scrapping with Paul Anderson’s Laser (Full) which finished in third place on the water. The main beneficiaries of the handicaps were Brian Pollard’s Bosun, up to 3^rd from 6^th on the water, and Jane Anderson’s Laser 4.7 which was given the victory after crossing the finish line in fourth.

Sailboat 4

Paul Anderson got away well and rounded Dam Green first. He benefitted from the wind having moved a little further west, reducing the need to start up against the windward buoy if dinghies were to reach Dam Green in one tack. Vicky Duncalf made her usual fine start and Robin Spiller would have done too if he hadn’t decided he was going to cross the line too early and turned back. From the shore it looked as though he could have carried on. He started from the back of the field. However the Streaker was going well and he had overtaken one Bosun by the time he rounded Dam Green, another before going round Home 2 and was up to third on the way back down the Lake, behind the two big Lasers of Paul Anderson (still leading) and Nathan Pollard. Robin Spiller retained that position for the rest of the race but Nathan Pollard overtook Paul Anderson just after the first buoy of lap 2 to lead the fleet for the rest of the way.

The Bosuns swapped places a good deal; Roger Heasman starting well at second around Dam Green and leading the other Bosuns at 4^th in the fleet at the end of lap 1 but down to 5^th on lap 2 and 7^th at the finish. John Dabbs’ boat did better; finishing the race only five minutes behind the leading Laser caused the handicap to give him the victory.

Many thanks were given to Bob Sampson who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Barnwell 3

Nathan Pollard’s Laser was only the fourth boat to cross the start line but he had overtaken the rest before the first buoy and led every other inch of the race, finishing seven minutes ahead of the rest of the fleet. That was not enough to convince the handicapping system that he should be regarded as the winner however; it demoted him to third. The winds were from the south with increasing touches of west as the day went on. The gusts were frequent, powerful and variable in direction, but mercifully brief. These conditions led some sailors to make cautious choices as to the boat they went out in. Jane Anderson was in her Topper, the two Solo skippers present retreated to crewing rather more stable Bosuns.

Jane Anderson was the first to start but had dropped to fourth by the first buoy. Vicki Duncalf in another Topper was second at the first buoy and on the way up to Inlet, these two little Toppers scrapping with the lumbering Bosuns. The Bosuns began in the order John Dabbs, Brian Pollard, Roger Heasman but by Inlet the Pollard/Gilbert boat had overtaken the Dabbs/ Hilton one. Jane Anderson was a continuing threat to Brian Pollard’s second place, the two boats converging at Dam Green on lap 3 with Jane Anderson emerging and finishing the race in second place, whereas Brian Pollard had to do a penalty turn for hitting the buoy.

Sailboat 3

The Toppers started first, Jane Anderson in the lead.  By Dam Green Vicki Duncalf headed her but they both had been overtaken by Nathan Pollard. His race followed a similar pattern to the last – leading throughout, despite a brief capsize on lap 2, but being demoted by the handicap.

The Toppers were under threat from the Heasman Bosun which had overtaken Vicki Duncalf before Pinkie and Jane Anderson before the end of the lap. However on lap 2 it was the Pollard/Gilbert Bosun which posed a threat to the Anderson Topper, finishing that lap and the rest of the race in second place. At the end the Heasman/Perrett Bosun also headed both Toppers but the Dabbs/ Hilton Bosun managed to touch a couple of buoys in the course of the race and remained firmly at the back of the field.

Many thanks (and some chocolate eggs) were given to James Pollard who volunteered to run the safety boat in the absence of any Lakes Trust operative. Thanks were also given to Linda Spiller who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.