25th July 2021 Race Report

Tamar 7

Eleven boats approached the start with such enthusiasm for the bright day and the fresh little northerly winds that half of them were already over the line when the horn blew. At the restart John Dabbs, sailing his Bosun reefed and alone, got away first on starboard tack as was the rest of the fleet. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial), Adam Hilton (Solo) and Vicki Duncalf (Topper) followed. The Bosun soon had to tack but was not clear of the others and Vicki Duncalf called starboard on him. There was a touch and the resultant penalty turns put the Dabbs Bosun at the back of the field. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) started sixth but in the course of the first lap got himself to the front of the fleet, a position he never lost and, with a two minute lead over second place Jane Anderson at the finish, his win was handicap-proof. Nathan Pollard’s Laser Full started in eighth but was soon chasing Adam Hilton’s Solo in third, and on the second lap overtook on the beat to Pinkie but didn’t manage to catch Jane Anderson ahead. The big-sailed Laser of Paul Anderson and the Streaker of Robin Spiller were never far apart, the Streaker ending the first two laps in fifth place, the Laser in sixth but the position was reversed at the finish, the two boats twelve seconds apart on the water. The Bosuns of Brian Pollard, Cilla Gilbert crewing, and Roger Heasman, with Linda Spiller, spent the day in close competition, the Pollard boat leading this race at the end of each lap and a little over half a minute ahead at the finish. Those forty seconds meant the difference between second and seventh places when the handicaps were applied!

 

  1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
  2. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
  3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
  4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  6. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
  7. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
  8. John Buckett (Otter)
  9. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
  10. Paul Anderson (Laser Full)
  11. John Dabbs (Bosun)

 

Tamar 8

The two warring Bosuns both started very well, Brian Pollard’s right on the line as the horn blew, but he was some way to leeward and Roger Heasman had an advantage which he held onto until the last lap; he finished seven seconds behind his rival. The third Bosun, now with John Buckett joining John Dabbs as crew, threatened to change the order, approaching Dam Green neck and neck with Brian Pollard, but finished each lap the third of the trio. Vicki Duncalf’s Topper chased the Bosuns throughout and was close enough at the finish for the handicap to put her above the Dabbs boat. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial) and Adam Hilton (Solo) were the other early starters; the Anderson boat too early and obliged to dive back over the line. This set-back put Jane Anderson in fourth at the end of lap one but she was gaining on the Solo when Adam Hilton added an extra buoy to the course and handed her third place. The leading places were held by the full-sailed Lasers of Nathan Pollard and Bob Sampson with the Pollard boat dominant.  Unusually the handicaps hardly changed the order on the water.

 

  1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
  2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
  3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
  4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
  6. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
  7. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  8. John Dabbs and John Buckett (Bosun)

 

Grateful thanks were given to Nicky Buckett, Officer of the Day and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Wednesday 21st July 2021 Race Report

Teatime Tankard 6

At noon there was no wind. At one there was no wind. The Spillers thought they would just eat their lunch in the shade and go home. Bob Sampson had brought a book. But by 2pm Stephanie Clark, the OOD, had whistled up a few breaths of wind from over the northwest hills and had set a course which went no higher up the Lake than Middle, anywhere beyond being completely glassy.

And so, a little late because no one had wanted to rig if they might not race, the seven boat fleet crossed the line with John Dabbs Bosun first, Adam Hilton’s Solo second and Sue Murray’s Laser Full third. The Lasers, Sue’s and Linda Spiller’s, soon disposed of the Bosun and Solo and Sue got lucky with the wind and pulled out a two minute lead over Linda which she kept to the end. Geoff Floyd’s Solo and Robin Spiller’s Streaker diced, Geoff ending the race nineteen seconds ahead. Bob Sampson, sailing the Club Topper which he would later use for teaching, got himself from last to as high as fourth at one point but was last again by the finish. Adam Hilton’s Solo, having stayed close to Linda Spiller’s Laser, was given the victory by the handicap.

 

  1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  2. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
  3. Bob Sampson (Topper)
  4. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  5. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
  6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
  7. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

 

Teatime Tankard 7

The scheduled race was the first of the Roger’s Bosuns series but there was only one Bosun rigged and in the heat no one wanted to rig any more boats. Even Roger himself wasn’t up for it because he had readied his lovingly refurbished, red white and blue Cherub for its first outing. So another Teatime Tankard was run on a course unchanged except that, with a more reliable looking wind, the fleet ventured as far north as Pinkie.

Robin Spiller crossed the start line first with Adam Hilton second, close to the windward buoy and with Sue Murray in his wake. Sue got position at West and took the lead, again finishing a couple of minutes ahead of the other Laser – Linda’s – but she, all unaware, had twice missed out Home 1 and had to be disqualified. Robin Spiller had kept his Streaker in contention, finishing the first lap in third and the second in fourth but then he retired (‘lost his hat’ the OOD’s note says). The handicap again benefitted the Hilton Solo (two and a half minutes behind Sue Murray’s Laser) and the Dabbs Bosun (seven minutes behind).

  1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  3. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
  4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
  5. Roger Heasman (Cherub)

Retired: Linda Spiller (Laser Full) Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Grateful thanks were given to Stephanie Clark , Officer of the Day.

18th July 2021 Race Report

Commodore 1

Linda Spiller was flying the largest sail on her Laser in recognition of the gentleness of the winds. She was rewarded with a good start, with rounding Dam Green first and with the lead on the long, faltering light wind run to Pinkie. The other Lasers, also with full-sized sails, were not going to give up and both Bob Sampson and Jane Anderson overtook Linda Spiller on the way to West. Spiller fought back, (if ‘fight’ is the right term; in such light winds racing was like sword fighting with feathers) overtook Jane Anderson and finished the lap in second place. Meanwhile the Solo of Adam Hilton was an intruder among the Lasers, sneaking up from the rear on the run to Pinkie by getting first dibs of whatever puff of wind was coming up. He passed Sue Murray’s Laser Radial but she got the place back on the second lap and finished the race twenty seconds ahead of him. John Dabbs, sailing alone in his Bosun, didn’t start well but did the same coming-from-the-rear trick to come up with the leading bunch and was only a minute and a half behind the leaders at the end. Bob Sampson forgot to go the correct side of Home 1 on lap 2, gave up his lead and retired. The Commodore series uses a handicapping format which takes into account the past performance of the skipper as well as of the boat with the result that John Dabbs was awarded with first position.

 

  1. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
  4. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
  5. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
  6. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Retired: Bob Sampson (Laser Full), Robin Spiller (Streaker)

 

Spalding 1

The wind was up to its tricks again. Almost frisky over lunch it went to play elsewhere at the beginning of the second race requiring Jane Anderson’s skill to pick up any remaining tiny zephyrs. She took the lead on the run to Pinkie (and kept it for the rest of the race). Then the wind filled in behind the fleet and around the rest of the Lake but didn’t affect any boats until they were all halfway to Pinkie. This enabled John Dabbs’ Bosun to repeat its trick of the previous race and make up for a slow start by coming up to the rear of the bunch of single-sailed dinghies.

On the second lap the wind became positively gusty as the leaders rounded Dam Green. Bob Sampson was in second place, Adam Hilton in third, Sue Murray fourth, Linda Spiller fifth; an order that had completely changed by the end of the race, with the Solo at the back of this bunch and Sue Murray running second to the unassailable Jane Anderson.

The wind became more capricious than ever, deciding to come over the western hills rather than the eastern ones and freshening at times but then again dropping at times too! After an hour’s racing the (conventional boat-based) handicaps turned the order on the water upside down to the benefit of Vicki Duncalf in her Topper and the Dabbs Bosun.

 

  1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  4. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
  5. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
  6. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
  7. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
  8. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)

 

Grateful thanks were given to Nathan Pollard, Officer of the Day.

Wednesday 14th July 2021 Race Report

Teatime Tankard 5

A lovely warm sunny Wednesday with northwesterlies, moderate in strength but gusty enough to force Sue Murray to practice her dry capsize routine in the middle of the Lake. A trio of Lasers took to the water, Linda Spiller’s with a big sail, Sue Murray’s and Mel Sampson’s with Radials. Robin Spiller and Adam Hilton had their familiar respective Streaker and Solo. The double-handers were represented by Ethan and Leila Farmer’s Hartley 12, John Dabbs’ Bosun with a visitor crewing and the Witchell Bosun, Louise at the helm.

Linda crossed the start line first, tacking to Home 2 and then up to Pinkie. The rest started in the order Sue, Adam, Mel, Robin, John, Leila and Louise. By Pinkie Mel had overtaken Adam and John Dabbs had got his Bosun up to fifth. On the second lap Sue’s little incident put her at the back of the leading quartet. John D and Robin kept changing places. On the third lap Sue overtook Adam but didn’t get enough lead over him to nullify her handicap disadvantage. Equally Linda’s twenty second lead over Mel at the finish got reversed by the handicap.

  1. Mel Sampson (Laser Radial)
  2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
  3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  4. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
  5. John Dabbs and visitor (Bosun)
  6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
  7. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)
  8. Ethan and Leila Farmer (Hartley 12)

 

Midweek Mug 1

Linda Spiller again started first but the big sail was proving tricky to handle in the slightly increased winds and she lost ground during her beat up to Pinkie so that both Sue and Mel got there ahead of her. The Radial twins had also got past, second starting, Adam. John Dabbs was next round Pinkie and then Leila now helming the Farmer Hartley. On the second lap Mel got past Sue and held that lead, although narrowly avoiding capsize at Dam Green during a period of decidedly freakish gusts.

Linda eventually pulled out a minute and a half’s lead over Adam: not enough! John Dabbs continued to circulate in fifth but, coping solo with the winds, was not close enough to the lead bunch to be promoted by the handicap.

  1. Mel Sampson (Laser Radial)
  2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
  3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  4. Linda Spiller (laser Full)
  5. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  6. Leila Farmer and visitor (Hartley 12)

Grateful thanks were given to Bob Sampson and Brian Clifton, Officers of the Day.

Wednesday 7th July 2021 Race Report

Teatime Tankard 4

Five boats hovered at a sheltered start-line with the sun shining down on them through the clouds and Sue crossed the line first closely followed by Adam who soon overtook as they headed for West White. They disappeared from sight from the race hut line astern with the Bosun of John Dabbs (who was testing out a reefed mainsail) bringing up the rear and then crossed to Inlet with the first three now in close order. Turning at Pinkie the order was Adam, Sue and Linda still close with Robin and John a growing distance behind. A 360 turn from Adam approaching Inlet moved him back to third with Sue now leading in her Laser 4.7 as they closed on Dam Green and Robin closing in fourth. At the start of lap two an early tack from Adam had shot him into the lead with Sue just in second and overlapped by Linda. With Adam pulling away the main battle was between Sue and Linda, the latter prevailing with her radial sail as they turned down the lake, both gaining on the leader. Positions held on the final lap with gaps increasing and at the finish Adam was the clear leader, though overtaken by Sue on handicap, with Linda coming in third, John fourth and Robin fifth.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
4. John Dabbs (Bosun)
5. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Teatime Plate 7

A revised start list for the second race added Geoff, set Adam as crew for John (now with his Bosun’s mainsail reef removed), rested Robin and attached Bob in a non-competing coaching role. The wind was a little fresher, the sun now hiding and the OOD donning an extra layer as the five boats approached the start. Sue crossed the line before the klaxon’s echo had died away with Linda and John close behind. At the first mark Sue and Linda had stretched a lead from Geoff and John with Bob accompanying. Going towards Pinkie the Bosun dropped to the rear but coming down the lake recovered to third with Linda overtaking Sue for the lead approaching Dam Green. The leading pair stretched their lead over John and Adam on the second lap with Bob keeping company with Geoff at the rear. By the start of the final lap the boats were in procession and, with the wind lightening, the gaps increased throughout the small fleet. Linda crossed the finish with a lead of a minute and a half over Sue, reversed on handicap to a 54 second win for Sue, whilst John and Adam came in third and Geoff fourth.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. John Dabbs & Adam Hilton (Bosun)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Grateful thanks to Jane Chadney, OOD and to Stuart Mealing for assisting.

4th July 2021 Race Report

Bosun Plus 4

Four Bosuns with very wet crews competed for the lunchtime race. At the gun, it was Roger Heasman with crew Linda Spiller who were quickest off the mark with Bob Sampson a close second. Behind them came Brian Pollard with crew Cilla Gilbert and John Dabbs with crew Vicki Duncalf following. On the first lap Bob managed to push Roger back into second place and once the boats had settled into the course there was to be no further overtaking. Despite several skirmishes for all of the positions there was not enough wind or shifts to allow the trailing boats to be more competitive. A late freshening of the wind encouraged some more action but it was too late to produce any difference to the sequence that left Brian and Cilla just doing enough to hold off John and Vicki for third place.

1. Bob Sampson (Bosun)
2. Roger Heasman & Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
4. John Dabbs and Vicki Duncalf (Bosun)

Pursuit 5

A sudden freshening of the wind minutes before the start left several sailors wishing they’d opted for extra crew or smaller sails for the afternoon race. Vicki Duncalf (Topper) was first away and managed to stay in the lead until late in the race when pipped on the last lap by James Pollard (Blaze). John Dabbs (Bosun) and Linda Spiller (Laser) were not too far behind but both got caught out by the strengthening winds with John the first for the early bath saying that he “just stuggled to control the boat” and Linda then throwing in the towel after saying it was like “Wrestling with a boar” (Though what experience she had of this cannot be verified). Lap 2 saw Bob Sampson bowing to the strength of the wind when he said “The mast was shaking so much, I could see disaster looming” leaving just 6 out of 9 starters to continue. The others proved slightly more resilient and Roger Heasman manfully handling his Bosun alone though with some difficulty. The remaining 6 after 45 minutes were 1.Vicki Duncalf (Topper) 2. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun) 3. James Pollard (Blaze) 4. Nathan Pollard (Laser) 5. Roger Heasman (Bosun) and 6. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial). As with all Pursuits, the boats got ever closer to each other towards the end of the race and within the space of 15 minutes James Pollard had eased out Vicki Duncalf for first place leaving Vicki second. Nathan Pollard had passed his Dad Brian to finish third and his Dad 4th and Jane Anderson sailed past Roger Heasman to finish fifth with him a fighting sixth and last place. Well done to James, Nathan and Jane for fighting back hard from a large time handicap and well done too to Vicki, Brian and Roger for holding out for so long. All sailors enjoyed a good cuppa and slice of John Duncalf’s birthday cake after battling the very strong gusts in the afternoon and looking forward to a well earned rest this evening.

1. James Pollard (Blaze)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser)
4. Brian & Cilla (Bosun)
5. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
6. Roger Heasman (Bosun)

Retired: Linda (Laser), Bob (Bosun), John Dabbs (Bosun)

Thanks to John Duncalf as Office of the Day, Paul Anderson as the reporter and Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Our best wishes to James Pollard in his new exciting career.

Wednesday 30th June 2021 Race Report

Teatime Tankard 3

The sun was strong enough to make one want to sit in the shade, the wind was strong enough to take one up and down the Lake and the Lake itself looked beautiful. Sue Murray (Laser Radial) and Linda Spiller (Laser Full) were across the start line first, beating towards Zebra, bearing away slightly to go to Inlet, beating across to West and reaching to Pinky, before staring the long run back to Dam Green. In the course of this lap Linda established a lead over Sue that she gradually stretched for the rest of the race, finishing two and a half minutes ahead. Bob Sampson, trying out the Club Wayfarer on his own, seemed attached by a rope to the stern of Sue Murray’s Laser once he had established himself ahead of Robin Spiller (Streaker), Adam Hilton (Solo) and Graham Joyce (Laser Full). He ended the race twelve seconds behind Sue. The Streaker, Solo and Laser changed places a time or two in front of John Dabbs, sailing his Bosun solo, who headed the rest of the fleet. The handicaps tossed the order up in the air. Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun) may have crossed the line last but are now moving up the fleet when handicaps are applied.

Rank HelmName CrewName Class Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 John Dabbs BOSUN 1233 00:46:33 0:37:45
2 Linda Spiller LASER 1075 00:40:57 0:38:06
3 Sue Murray LASER RADIAL 1113 00:42:25 0:38:07
4 Adam Hilton SOLO 1144 00:43:50 0:38:19
5 Bob Sampson WAYFARER 1102 00:42:37 0:38:40
6 Robin Spiller STREAKER 1134 00:44:27 0:39:12
7 Colin Witchell Louise Witchell BOSUN 1233 00:50:59 0:41:21
8 Graham Joyce LASER 1075 00:44:54 0:41:46
9 Geoff Floyd SOLO 1144 00:48:45 0:42:37

 

Teatime Plate 6

Linda Spiller and Sue Murray decided to start on starboard whereas Bob Sampson came from port. Linda called starboard on Bob who ducked under her stern, nearly compromising Graham Joyce, also on the starboard tack. Linda again led, although coming back on the run to Dam Green she and Sue were neck and neck with the Wayfarer similarly side by side with Adam Hilton’s Solo and Graham Joyce just behind. On the second lap the Adam managed to establish his lead over the Sampson Wayfarer and the fleet in general spread out. Geoff Floyd had the alarming experience of having the boom of his Solo come out of the goose neck. The handicaps again gave John Dabbs the victory, brought Adam Hilton’s Solo up to second and put Sue Murray’s Radial ahead of Linda Spiller’s Full.

Rank HelmName CrewName Class Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 John Dabbs BOSUN 1233 00:46:11 0:37:27
2 Adam Hilton SOLO 1144 00:44:00 0:38:28
3 Sue Murray LASER RADIAL 1113 00:42:50 0:38:29
4 Linda Spiller LASER 1075 00:41:30 0:38:36
5 Bob Sampson WAYFARER 1102 00:44:15 0:40:09
6 Graham Joyce LASER 1075 00:44:53 0:41:45
7 Geoff Floyd SOLO 1144 RET

Thank you, Roger Heasman, for running the races.

27th June 2021 Race Report

 

 

Sailboat 2

The day belonged to James Pollard and his Blaze, his Blaze of glory it is impossible not to write. He started first and finished first, some five minutes in front of everyone else, having lapped a large part of the fleet. Applying the handicaps took him down to third. But it was a grim day; there had been talk of heavy rain and force 6 gusts. The Lakes Trust had failed to provide safety boat cover and so Bob Sampson and Sue Murray had to give up their afternoon’s racing and sit in a chilly safety boat. In the end what rain there was, was not heavy and the winds, highly gusty and variable, came from the southeast at the Dam end and the north east at the top of the Lake! Boat and sail choice was cautious, Jane Anderson joining Vicky Duncalf in Toppers, Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller putting the smallest sail on their Lasers and John Dabbs, Adam Hilton crewing, flying small sails on his Bosun.

Brian Pollard (with John Weller, a much welcomed return) had full size sails on his Bosun which made him and his crew work very hard! Nathan Pollard started fourth but finished every lap in second and was given first place by the handicap. Jane Anderson started second, stayed close to the faster boats, finished fourth on the water and was rewarded with second place by the handicap.

 

Rank HelmName CrewName Class Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 Nathan Pollard LASER 4.7 1188 0:35:52 0:30:11
2 Jane Anderson TOPPER 1334 0:40:40 0:30:29
3 James Pollard BLAZE 1033 0:31:30 0:30:30
4 Vicki Duncalf TOPPER 1334 0:43:53 0:32:54
5 Linda Spiller LASER 4.7 1188 0:39:20 0:33:07
6 Brian Pollard John Weller BOSUN 1233 0:41:47 0:33:53
7 John Dabbs Adam Hilton BOSUN 1233 0:42:54 0:34:48

 

Pursuit 4

There were no pesky handicaps to demote James Pollard and his Blaze in the Pursuit race or rather they were imposed in advance; James, starting many minutes after the first boat, roared through the fleet to first. By contrast Jane Anderson in her Topper started second and finished second. Linda Spiller stayed ahead of Nathan Pollard and finished third. Brian Pollard’s Bosun finished a long way ahead of the Dabbs Bosun, which, with its small sails, was slow in the now much reduced winds.

 

  1. James Pollard (Blaze)
  2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
  3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
  4. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
  5. Brian Pollard and John Weller (Bosun)
  6. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  7. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

 

Grateful thanks were given to Paul Anderson, Officer of the Day, Bob Sampson & Sue Murray in the Safety Boat and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Wednesday 23rd June 2021 Race Report

Teatime Tankard 2

It was a bright day, not particularly warm because sharp little breezes, somewhat stronger than the 9mph forecast, from the north and west kept the temperature down. Sue Murray, who was running the afternoon’s races, set a course that went up to Pinky, came back to West, across to Inlet and back to Dam Green, a good course providing all the beats, runs, reaches, and gybes that you could want, but requiring nine buoys to define it, more than a wrist could comfortably hold. The Commodore’s afternoon had not started well when he set off from land with the bungs on their little strings trailing behind the Solo, but that rectified, he got a good start, on starboard, beating out to the west before going about and making a useful tack, well to windward, up the Lake. The Solo was pointing so well that it was to the west (starboard) of Home 2, which the course required be left to port. Linda Spiller (prudently flying a 4.7 on her Laser) generously pointed this out and the Solo returned to have another go but not correctly and the OOD subsequently had to ‘retire’ it. The 4.7 got to Pinky first, then the Solo. John Dabbs, with Jane Chadney, was leading the Bosuns with Bob Sampson (Stephanie Clarke as crew) next. Roger Heasman’s Bosun spent the afternoon refusing to point as high as its sisters; he followed with Leila Farmer’s Hartley 12 at the rear and the Chatterton Enterprise sometimes following along.

On Lap2  the Commodore overtook the 4.7 only to need Linda to remind him to go the right side of Home 1. Doing so put him back among the Bosuns which were now being led by Bob Sampson until his main sheet grazed Zebra and he was delayed doing a 360, leaving John Dabbs to lead the Bosuns from then on. More helms missed Home 2. On Lap 3 the Solo was hauled by its big sail past Linda Spiller’s Laser but despite her being the first of only three legal finishers, the handicap placed her behind the Bosuns.

Rank HelmName CrewName Class Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 John Dabbs Jane Chadney BOSUN 1233 0:49:55 0:40:29
2 Bob Sampson Stephanie Clarke BOSUN 1233 0:55:45 0:45:13
3 Linda Spiller LASER 4.7 1188 0:54:16 0:45:41
4 Adam Hilton SOLO 1144 RET
4 Roger Heasman BOSUN 1233 RET
4 Leila Farmer HARTLEY 12.2 1188 RET

Teatime Plate 5

The fleet was reduced to four boats; three Bosuns and the Laser 4.7. Bob Sampson crossed the line first closely followed by Roger Heasman (now with Adam Hilton sitting on his front thwart), John Dabbs and then Linda Spiller. Home 2 was no longer a mark of the course which seemed to enable everyone to keep clear and the right side of all the buoys. Linda Spiller made up for her start by getting to the top of the course first and continued to increase her lead. Bob Sampson stayed as lead Bosun with John Dabbs half a minute behind and Roger Heasman’s Bosun still refused to point. Finishing was difficult; having rounded Dam Green and hardened up, skippers tacked towards the pontoon, went about and tended to find themselves on a beat parallel to the finish line! Another tack was required to cross it. With handicaps applied Linda’s lead was reduced from nearly two minutes to just three seconds!

Rank HelmName CrewName Class Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 Linda Spiller LASER 4.7 1188 0:45:30 0:38:18
2 Bob Sampson Stephanie Clarke BOSUN 1233 0:47:17 0:38:21
3 John Dabbs Jane Chadney BOSUN 1233 0:47:32 0:38:33
4 Roger Heasman Adam Hilton BOSUN 1233 0:50:57 0:41:19

Thank you, Sue Murray, for running the races.

20th June 2021 Race Report

Tamar 5

Robin Spiller (Streaker) and Adam Hilton (Solo) started neck and neck on a grey, damp day with light and highly variable airs coming from points east to south. But it was Nathan Pollard (Laser Full), always a keen competitor – lying second before this race – in the Tamar race series, who came up fast and rounded the first buoy, Zebra, in the lead, a lead he never lost. He was still being closely tracked by Robin Spiller, but his Streaker was ill-adapted to the very light winds, refusing to point as high as the other dinghies, and his frequent rival, Adam Hilton, was able to overtake before the end of the first lap. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) had a frustrating start. Arriving at the line slightly too early, he thought to do a gybe turn but Roger Heasman’s Bosun (Linda Spiller crewing) was using the water needed for the gybe and Bob had to go the long way round resulting in his starting last. But at the end of lap 1 he was up to third and he overtook Adam Hilton on lap 2 to take second at the finish. The Bosuns spent both races in close company. Roger Heasman started in front but it was John Dabbs (with a visitor as crew) who finished the race in that position. Applying the handicaps gave Adam Hilton and his Solo, which finished a couple of minutes behind the winner on the water, the victory.

Rank Class HelmName CrewName Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 SOLO Adam Hilton 1144 0:33:30 0:29:17
2 LASER Nathan Pollard 1075 0:31:41 0:29:28
3 LASER Bob Sampson 1075 0:33:11 0:30:52
4 STREAKER Robin Spiller 1134 0:35:09 0:31:00
5 BOSUN John Dabbs Colin 1233 0:42:56 0:34:49
6 BOSUN Roger Heasman Linda Spiller 1233 0:43:14 0:35:04

Tamar 6

The winds had moved a little eastwards and the top of the Lake, blanketed by the hills, was looking alarmingly glassy. Brian Pollard, running the races for the day, cut out the northernmost buoy, Pinky, and added in Dam Green in the south in the hope of supplying competitors with some wind. Robin Spiller again started first from the Home 2 start line, with Nathan Pollard and Bob Sampson following. The wind had picked up a little but the mist and the rain had descended, leaving competitors wet and chilly. Robin Spiller kept his lead on the way to West White but the Pollard and Sampson Lasers soon swept past with the Solo also getting ahead on lap 2. An added indignity was going aground in the shallow waters of a Tamar Lake already dropping in height; the Streaker retired. Roger Heasman led the close-running Bosuns at the end of lap1 but John Dabbs got ahead on lap 2 and finished each lap ahead, all of twenty five seconds ahead at the finish!

Rank Class HelmName CrewName Rating Elapsed Corrected
1 LASER Nathan Pollard 1075 0:51:20 0:47:45
2 LASER Bob Sampson 1075 0:51:53 0:48:16
3 SOLO Adam Hilton 1144 0:56:04 0:49:01
4 BOSUN John Dabbs Colin 1233 1:10:56 0:57:32
5 BOSUN Roger Heasman Linda Spiller 1233 1:11:21 0:57:52
6 STREAKER Robin Spiller 1134 RET

Grateful thanks were given to Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert, Officers of the Day, and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs

by Adam Hilton