Frostbite 1

There was a lot of wind and cloud and, as they rigged their boats, rain; force 4 gusting to 5, it proved to be.  Some sailors turned up and signed in thinking they would sail their single handed dinghies, but found themselves asking whether they could help crew double-handers.  Those single-handers that did venture onto the water (Robin Spiller’s blew over twice before he’d even got in it) flew small sails, except for Nathan Pollard’s Laser Radial and that was only because he had forgotten to bring his 4.7.  Sue Murray (Laser 4.7) got off to a flyer; not quite as much of a flyer as Roger Heasman’s Club-owned Bosun (Sally Wills and Penny Abbott crewing) which was over the line and got a toot on the starting horn to go back.  Then the horn stuck on and much of the fleet thought it must be a general recall and started back.  But it wasn’t.  Nathan Pollard grabbed the lead and the other Lasers followed, Sue Murray in front of Linda Spiller.  Jane Anderson was the lead Topper in fourth and Adam Hilton (Solo), who’d wasted a lot of time at the start, got himself past the jolly three-up Bosuns, and up to fifth.  John Dabbs with Jane Chadney and Paul Petvin (Bosun) led the other Topper of Vicki Duncalf and the other Solo of Geoff Floyd.  The other two Bosuns brought up the rear.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)
4. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
6. John Dabbs, Jane Chadney and Paul Petvin (Bosun)
7. Adam Hilton (Solo)
8. Brian Pollard, John Buckett and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
9. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
10. Roger Heasman, Sally Wills and Penny Abbott (Bosun)

Icicle 1

The field was reduced; the Club Bosun that John Dabbs had helmed wouldn’t allow the mainsail to go up the mast!  Brian Pollard and Co. shot over the line first with Sue Murray, Adam Hilton and Nathan Pollard following.  By the time they had rounded Zebra, Inlet and West and were tacking up to Pinkie, Nathan Pollard had taken the lead, way ahead of Sue Murray and a close fought battle between Linda Spiller, Adam Hilton and the Pollard Bosun.  The Toppers followed.  At the end of the lap, Linda Spiller was briefly up-ended, allowing Adam Hilton to get ahead, but not for long.  Her Laser planed past him on the way from Inlet to West, just as it had on lap 1. Jane Anderson missed Zebra, had to go back and work her way up from last which she did, getting up to sixth, but an eleven minute deficit was too great to upset the lead of the front two Lasers even when the handicaps were applied.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. Jane Anderson (Topper)
4. Linda Spiller(Laser 4.7)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Brian Pollard, John Buckett and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
7. Adam Hilton (Solo)
8. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)

Many thanks to Paul Anderson who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Sailboat 7

A cool blustery morning saw only five boats venturing onto the choppy water to sail the final sailboat race.

Jane Anderson (Topper) was smartly off the mark first followed closely by Nathan Pollard (Laser radial) and then the three Bosuns, although Commodore Adam Hilton was in reverse gear for a few moments.

All then tacked up the lake gradually showing an increase in confidence as they became acclimatised to the gusts. Nathan soon got into his stride and forged a good lead as he broad reached back down the lake from the Pinkie buoy. John Dabbs and crew Sally Wills (Bosun) decided to call it a day as Pinkie presented a big challenge with fishermen close by and especially difficult conditions.  Adam Hilton and new member Paul Petvin found this to their cost as they capsized here a few moments afterwards. They quickly righted the boat but retired due to being helped and feeling cold.

The remaining three boats sailed incredibly well in the tough conditions with Nathan keeping his lead, but close on his heels in the final lap were Jane and then Brian Pollard and crew Cilla Gilbert (Bosun) On handicap the results were as follows…

1. Jane Anderson
2. Nathan Pollard
3. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert

Retired: John Dabbs and Sally Wills (Bosun), Adam Hilton and Paul Petvin (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Vicki and John Duncalf for running the race and writing this report and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.

Cup 8

Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7) started a touch too soon and had to go back. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) got it dead right and was the first around Dam Green in a start made tricky by a fitful south west wind that did not guarantee getting from Home 1 to Dam Green in one tack. Adam Hilton (Solo) followed Bob closely but then there was a gap before the rest came round – Steve Axford (Laser Full), the Bosuns, the rest of the Lasers and Robin Spiller (Streaker). Bob Sampson extended his lead as he made his way up, round Middle, then West, to Pinkie. The beat back was achieved, that lap, without tacking, but every inch of windward water needed to be hoarded and on later laps everyone had to tack as the wind shifted. The Solo remained in second place until Steve Axford (Laser Full) caught up at Dam Green at the beginning of the second lap. These two were luckier with the wind near the Dam; Bob Sampson had lost a lot of time trying to find the motive power to get himself round Dam Green. Nathan Pollard was the next Laser Full to get free of the pack and come up to the leaders; he overtook the Solo at Pinkie on lap 2 but never troubled the front two. At the start of lap 2 Jane Anderson had caught up with Penny Abbott’s Radial and Sue Murray’s 4.7 and overtook. Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert began as the leading Bosun but were overtaken by the Sally Wills, Roger Heasman boat. Poor Robin Spiller, who’d believed the forecasts of powerful winds and only brought a small sail for his Streaker, had his woes compounded by forgetting to leave Zebra to port. He retired.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Steve Axford (Laser Full)
4. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
5. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
6. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
7. Sally Wills and Roger Heasman (Bosun)
8. Penny Abbott (Laser Radial)
9. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Retired, Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Ladies/Gents/Gosling Cups 7

With similar winds lap times remained much the same for the afternoon race at around fifteen minutes, but this time Jane Anderson did successfully get away first followed by Steve Axford, Adam Hilton and Bob Sampson. The big sails of Steve’s and Bob’s Lasers soon disposed of Jane’s 4.7 but it took the Solo a lot longer, despite having not far off double the 4.7’s canvas. Bob caught up with Steve and strove valiantly all race to overtake him. The titanic struggle often took them off the fastest course, probably contributing to their not getting the top places when the handicaps were applied. Nathan Pollard got pushed out at the start line and was the last away but he had already made up places by Dam Green and was on Bob Sampson’s stern by Zebra. They had both got free of Roger Heasman’s Bosun (Sally Wills now crewing) but Jane Anderson was more persistent, nudging past Nathan towards the end of lap 1 only to be reovertaken before they rounded Dam Green. Nathan was then free to chase the front three but it took him a couple of laps. He slipped past Adam Hilton’s Solo at Pinkie on lap 4 but got no further. The handicaps radically changed the order. Steve Axford’s five minutes over the well-sailed Bosun of Roger Heasman and Sally Wills was not enough to give him the victory.

1. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
4. Steve Axford (Laser Full)
5. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
6. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
7. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
8. Penny Abbott (Laser Radial)
9. Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

Many thanks to Linda Spiller who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Commodore 7

 

Fourteen boats entered the race on a day of sun and cloud with strong westerly winds promised. It was not easy to decide what boat or sail to choose for the conditions; there was at times very little wind at the Dam but lots of it in the middle of the Lake. Three Laser helms chose full size sails, one chose a Radial and three chose 4.7s. In the event Jane Anderson’s 4.7 was first over the start line followed by Sue Murray’s similarly equipped Laser and Bob Sampson’s Full. But it was Bob Sampson who took the lead and held it, fighting off Nathan Pollard in another big sailed Laser. Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson’s pretty blue/green Wayfarer, after a disappointing start, worked its way up to third place on the water and retained it after handicapping. The Bosun battle was won by Jane Chadney (John Dabbs crewing). Her boat was the first non-Laser to round Zebra and then Inlet and she finished three minutes ahead of the sister Bosun of Toby Tobias and Sally Wills. The promised Streaker/Solo battle was ruined when Adam Hilton capsized at Middle on the first lap, Robin Spiller’s Streaker finishing over two minutes ahead. In the end the size of the sail on the Lasers did make a difference. On the water the boats finished more or less in order of sail size, although Jane Anderson’s 4.7 was fourth, half a minute ahead of Linda Spiller’s Radial. The handicap gave Jane the victory and tossed Linda three places down the order.

 

1.      Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)

2.      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

3.      Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)

4.      Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)

5.      Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)

6.      Jane Chadney and John Dabbs (Bosun)

7.      Penny Abbott (Laser 4.7)

8.      Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

9.      Toby Tobias and Sally Wills (Bosun)

10.   Robin Spiller (Streaker)

11.   Adam Hilton (Solo)

12.   Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

Retired Steve Axford (Laser Full), John Savage (Otter)

 

Pursuit

 

Toby Tobias’ Bosun (Sally Wills crewing) was first to start and managed to stay at the front for half the race. He was followed after three minutes by John Dabbs, helming the Club’s Bosun with Jane Chadney now crewing; they had only given up one place by half time.  But then the Lasers began to dominate. The  4.7 of Penny Abbott, which had started fourth, got to the front and stayed there; the Full of Steve Axford roared through the fleet from tenth to second closely followed by Bob Sampson’s sister Laser. The Solo and the Streaker, which started a minute apart fifth and sixth, ended up eighth and ninth, having been overwhelmed by the fleet of Lasers. The wind continued to serve up massive gusts and capsizes were plentiful.

 

1.      Penny Abbott (Laser 4.7)

2.      Steve Axford (Laser Full)

3.      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

4.      Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)

5.      Toby Tobias and Sally Wills (Bosun)

6.      John Dabbs and Jane Chadney (Bosun)

7.      Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)

8.      Adam Hilton (Solo)

9.      Robin Spiller (Streaker)

10.   John Weller and Alan Comber (Enterprise)

11.   Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)

12.   Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

 

Many thanks to Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard who were the race officers and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Teatime Tankard / Roger’s Bosuns 6

With the anemometer reading force 4, gusting 5, Nathan Pollard opted for the 4.7 sail on his Laser while John Dabbs and Sally Wills decided on smaller sails for their Bosun.  Although offered a smaller set of sails Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert chose to go out on his full rig.

Nathan got away first, with John Dabbs following quite closely.  Unfortunately a wind switch caught Brian well back from the line and from that moment he was chasing to try and catch the front two boats.

After the first lap the wind abated slightly and became more consistent.  Nathan was never in difficulty, gradually extending his lead over the three laps.  John Dabbs settled down after lap one and was valiantly trying not to let Nathan gain a big enough lead to win on handicap.  Meanwhile. Brian gradually pulled back the distance between the Bosuns and had the race had an extra lap he might well have recovered the deficit.

1.  Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)

2.  John Dabbs & Sally Wills (Bosun)

3.  Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

There were no results for the Roger’s Bosuns series as no novices were at the helm.

Cup 7

The Vice Commodore, as officer responsible for the sailing programme, arrived at Tamar Lakes not intending to race and not having any real expectation of seeing others brave enough to do so, with the prospect of driving rain and winds of force 4-5, gusting 6-7 forecast.  She was therefore surprised to see six sails already on the water, ready for a midday start as scheduled.  Admittedly the weather was not quite so harsh as predicted, but this was none the less another exhibition of stoicism by some of the most determined enthusiasts in the club.

Vicky Duncalf was enjoying the pre race “warm up” in her Topper, but reluctantly decided on a judicious retirement.  A few minutes later there was a well judged flying race start led by Jane Anderson’s Topper, closely followed by Nathan Pollard in a Laser Radial, Bob Sampson who had optimistically chosen a full sail for his Laser, then the two Bosuns of Adam Hilton/ John Dabbs and Brian Pollard/ Cilla Gilbert also both opting for a large sail area.  By the first buoy Nathan had overtaken Jane and as the small fleet approached the blustery centre of the lake, Bob had gained second place.

The course was narrow to avoid multiple fishing lines, culminating in a challenging gybe around “Pinkie” at the top of the lake.  Here Adam emerged clear of Jane who used all her skills to stay ahead of the other Bosun.  For the next two laps the race became more of a procession, with Nathan steadily extending his lead over a somewhat overpowered Bob…. until an unfortunate capsize.  Despite Nathan’s quick recovery and fight to the finish, Bob overtook, crossing the finish line ahead of him with Adam’s Bosun, the Topper and Brian’s Bosun in 3rd, 4th and 5th on the water.  With PY’s applied first and fourth places were reversed, giving Jane the victory.  A very well done to all.

Results

1.  Jane Anderson  (Topper)

2.  Nathan Pollard  (Laser Radial)

3.  Adam Hilton & John Dabbs  (Bosun)

4.  Bob Sampson  (Laser Full)

5.  Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert  (Bosun)

Sailboat 7

Four crews initially signed up for a second race, but with damp encroaching even through dry suits, it seemed most had done so for the benefit of others and in the end there was not sufficient enthusiasm to take to the water again.

Many thanks to Penny Abbott for running the race and to Sally Wills for acting as photographer.

Commodore 6

The weather forecast was for a dry day with light cloud and force 4 winds gusting to force 6. But what  greeted competitors was a lightly powered fog with occasional gusts of wind. Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard had cautiously chosen 4.7 sails for their Lasers. Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf were in Toppers and Adam Hilton (with John Dabbs) as well as Jane Chadney (with Sally Wills) had small sails on their Bosuns. Only Brian Pollard (Cilla Gilbert crewing)  got the equation right by choosing full sails for his Bosun.

Jane Anderson set off into the murk first but the two Lasers had got past before they got to the top of the course. Bob Sampson led from then on and finished the four laps some 80 seconds ahead of Nathan Pollard. Adam Hilton’s was the first of the Bosuns over the line but Brian Pollard had powered past him and then Jane Anderson before the end of the lap. It took a little longer for Jane Chadney to overtake the Hilton/Dabbs Bosun. At the end the leading Topper was some five minutes behind the winner on the water but the handicap gave Jane Anderson the victory.

1.      Jane Anderson (Topper)

2.      Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)

3.      Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

4.      Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)

5.      Vicky Duncalf (Topper)

6.      Jane Chadney and Sally Wills (Bosun)

7.      John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

The fog was thick enough for Steph Colwill to go out in the safety boat to make sure she could see any difficulties that competitors might get into. With it if anything thicker after lunch the second race was cancelled.

Many thanks to Geoff Floyd and Rachael Pomeroy who ran the race.

Teatime Tankard/Roger’s Bosuns 5

Seven boats took to the water encouraged by a brisk little wind from the north west and occasional sunny spells. Taking advantage of the comparative lack of fishermen, the course used every extremity of the Lake – Far, West, Inlet and Dam Red  and the fleet began with a long sometimes beat, sometimes reach, up to Far. The Laser, Streaker and Gull could not be separated as they crossed the start line. The Solo, the Bosuns and the Otter followed. The Gull was still well up as they reached the middle of the Lake but was increasingly to windward. Nathan Pollard in his Full sailed Laser established a lead which he never relinquished, indeed increasing it as the laps went by. Robin Spiller in the Streaker was just ahead of Adam Hilton in the Solo, beginning a race long contest. He kept ahead until right at the end of the first lap when a shortage of lifting gusts between Dam Red and Home 1 obliged him to put in an extra tack and allowed the Solo a slender lead which it retained. Robin was not alone; the Otter and the Gull needed extra tacks at that point too. Neither of these two battling single-handers could get a really convincing distance ahead of Cilla Gilbert and Bob Sampson’s Bosun, despite regularly planing from Inlet towards the Dam. As a result the Bosun finished only a minute or so behind them. The Sally Wills/Roger Heasman Bosun finished another couple of minutes later. Four minutes after it came the Otter and two minutes after that the Gull. So the major reversal of the on-the-water finishing order which took place when the handicaps were applied could have been predicted. Well sailed Cilla Gilbert!

Teatime Tankard  5

1.      Cilla Gilbert and Bob Sampson (Bosun)

2.      Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)

3.      John Dabbs  (Gull)

4.      Adam Hilton (Solo)

5.      Robin Spiller (Streaker)

6.      Sally Wills and Roger Heasman (Bosun)

7.       John Buckett (Otter)

Roger’s Bosuns 5

1.      Cilla Gilbert

2.      Sally Wills

Many thanks to Linda Spiller who ran the race.

Teatime Tankard/Roger’s Bosuns 4

Bob Sampson, who had been on the water teaching new sailors, said we wouldn’t be having a race, but we did.  The problem was seriously violent gusts from points west; not impossibly too much wind when it wasn’t gusting, particularly away from the middle of the Lake, but when it was, boats were frequently blown right up into the wind and in danger of broaching.  Four Bosuns took to the water and two single-handers.  Robin Spiller bravely took out his Streaker, didn’t start well, but had powered past three Bosuns to third at the end of the first lap.  Despite this effort though he was down to fifth at the end of lap 2 and gave up, after two capsizes on lap 3.  John Dabbs, helming Adam Hilton’s Bosun, was first over the start line.  Hanging about for the horn had taken him well downwind from the rest but the gusts were kind for once and lifted him up to Zebra, the first buoy, where Bob Sampson and Linda Spiller’s Bosun was second and Roger Heasman’s sister ship (Sally Wills crewing) was third.  However Nathan Pollard, who had put a 4.7 on his Laser, zoomed past these two on the reach to Inlet and had an overlap on John Dabbs before the buoy.  Thereafter Nathan was a streak of spray well in front of the rest, finishing eight minutes ahead.  In his wake four Bosuns took different approaches to the beat to West.  The order at that buoy was Sampson, Heasman, Dabbs, Pollard (with Cilla Gilbert).  Brian was the only one to have opted for full size Bosun sails – the others were all flying Otters – and it seemed to take him a lap to get used to being constantly over-powered by gusts.  Thereafter he succeeded in overtaking the Dabbs/Hilton Bosun and was often in close pursuit of the on-going Sampson/Heasman chase.  However those gusts would insist in blowing the Bosun off course and Brian had to re-overtake the Dabbs boat.  Roger never did manage to get past Bob who ended winner of the Bosun race.

Results

Teatime Tankard

1.      Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)

2.      Bob Sampson and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

3.      Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)

4.      Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

5.      John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Roger’s Bosuns

Although anyone may race a Bosun in this series, only a novice helm can score and there weren’t any novices present brave enough to helm!

Many thanks to Penny Abbott who ran the race.