Sailboat 6

The weather forecast was again for clear skies and hot sun, with just a challenging light wind due to veer from south to west to a northerly direction.  So for the first race of the day 12 dinghies set off on a course upwind to the dam, the breeze initially behaving as expected.  The four Laser sailors, Sue Murray, Nathan Pollard, Bob Sampson and Linda Spiller had all chosen full sails and they soon took a strong lead, along with James Pollard in his new Blaze.  This group were in tight contention throughout the race, jostling for position.  Bob maintained his place in front for laps 2 and 3 and just managed to hold off Sue at the finish as she gained extra momentum from a rogue gust.  Linda Spiller sadly didn’t stay with them, not coping well with these odd gusts and sometimes violent swirls of wind.  She retired after just half a lap and a messy capsize.  The rest of the very mixed fleet sailed without mishap, Rob Spiller’s Streaker and Paul Whybrow’s Solo battling for 5th place until Paul crossed the line just one second in front.  Then came Geoff Floyd in his Solo, 2 seconds ahead of John Dabbs’ Gull, whose PY elevated him from 8th on the water to 4th.  The later Topper of Vicky Duncalf benefitted similarly.

Sailboat 6

1.      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2.      Sue Murray (Laser Full)
3.      Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4.      John Dabbs (Gull)
5.      James Pollard (Blaze)
6.       Paul Whybrow (Solo)
7.       Robin Spiller (Streaker)
8.       Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
9.       Geoff Floyd (Solo)
10.       Cilla Gilbert & Brian Pollard (Bosun)
11.       Alan Comber & John Weller (Enterprise)

Retired: Linda Spiller (Laser Full)

Pursuit 6

By the second race, the wind had become a more decisive north westerly, giving none of the boats too much difficulty.  With start times adjusted according to dinghy PY and the helm’s previous placings in the series, slower members of the fleet started before the more speedy, who were challenged with overtaking within a set time.  John Dabbs’ Gull had almost completed a lap before James Pollard started in his Blaze, but gradually the fleet pulled closer together.  Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert’s Bosun passed Vicky Duncalf’s Topper and then managed to keep second place.  Meanwhile Bob Sampson worked his way through the fleet to the front, where he stayed to win his second victory of the day.  Paul Whybrow gained a couple of places to finish third and Nathan Pollard moved from starting ninth to fourth place.

1.      Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2.      Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
3.      Paul Whybrow (Solo)
4.      Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
5.      John Dabbs (Gull)
6.       John Weller & Alan Comber (Enterprise)
7.       Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
8.       Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
9.       James Pollard (Blaze)
10.       Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to Toby Tobias and Sally Wills who were Officers of the Day and to Mandy Pollard for photographs.

Teatime Tankard/Roger’s Bosuns 2

 

Another charming day, enough sun, enough wind from points around north west, gusty as ever. Inlet and the Devon bank were lined with fisher people so Nathan Pollard’s course (he was OOD) had a lop-sided look to it; there was a diversion to West but otherwise it was very much up and down the middle of the Lake. Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard in the Bosun were first across the line, but Linda Spiller’s Laser Radial soon took the lead and never relinquished it. Adam Hilton’s Solo started fifth but slipped past the Bosuns and up to Linda’s wake where he stayed. He never looked likely to overtake but they finished only twenty seconds apart and the Solo’s advantageous handicap gave him the victory. Sally Wills, with Bob Sampson crewing the Bosun, had a fine race only spoilt by an unnecessary gybe at West. John Dabbs was helming the Commodore’s Bosun solo. He started 4^th, dropped back with rudder problems but then hauled himself up to his previous position.

 

Teatime Tankard

1.      Adam Hilton (Solo)

2.      Sally Wills and Bob Sampson (Bosun)

3.      Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

4.      John Dabbs (Bosun)

5.      Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

 

Roger’s Bosuns

1.      Sally Wills

2.      Cilla Gilbert

 

Many thanks to Nathan Pollard and Robin Spiller who ran the race.

Cup 6

Powerful winds, even stronger gusts and driving rain had all become distant memories from the spring; they were forecast to return this day and come back they did. Half the sailors in the club stayed at home! However Brian and James Pollard put small sails on their Bosun and ventured out. Adam Hilton and his crew Alan Comber even risked full size sails on theirs. Nathan Pollard was reduced to a mere 4.7 square metres of sail on his Laser, while Jane Anderson down-sized to a Topper which is Vicki Duncalf’s regular mount.

They started towards the Dam with the Bosuns crossing the line first, but Nathan Pollard was the first to round Dam Green. Brian Pollard followed only to be rammed from behind by the other Bosun as he set his sails for the close reach up the Lake. The resultant penalty turns put the offending boat last, behind the Toppers of Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf.  Nathan Pollard continued to lead throughout the race but it was hardly plain sailing. At one point a gust took him so far off course he had to do what looked like penalty turns! It was a short course – including neither West nor Inlet to avoid the fishermen who packed the banks – and laps were taking a mere ten minutes. At the top of the Lake on lap 1 the Toppers were ahead of the Bosuns but Brian Pollard got past Vicki Duncalf on the way to Middle only to be repassed by her on lap 2. A capsize finally relegated Vicki to the back of the fleet. By the third lap the big-sailed Bosun had caught up with the small-sailed one and on the long port tack up to Pinkie took the lead. At that point Jane Anderson was returning down the lake on starboard, her path crossing the trajectory of the two Bosuns, neither of which was able to take avoiding action. This led to the retirement of the Bosuns under threat of disqualification. Nathan Pollard crossed the finish line as Jane Anderson rounded the buoy at the top of the course; nonetheless the handicap gave her the victory, but only by three seconds!

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Retired: Brian and James Pollard (Bosun), Adam Hilton and Alan Comber (Bosun)

 

Ladies/Gents/Junior/Gosling Cups 5.

The winds were even stronger for the afternoon race. The Hilton/Comber Bosun scratched, reducing the fleet to four. The Toppers were both reefed but were still hard to control. Shortly after the start Jane Anderson capsized hers but was on her way with admirable speed. Vicki Duncalf retired her Topper. Nathan Pollard, who had capsized twice before the race had even started, led throughout, despite yet another capsize. James Pollard was now helming the remaining Bosun in second place, each lap taking the gybe at Dam Green in fine style. At the end Nathan Pollard was three minutes ahead of the Bosun and five ahead of the Topper; the handicaps allowed him the victory.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
3. James and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

Retired: Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

The races were run by Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson. To them and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos, many thanks.

 

Teatime Tankard (Roger’s Bosuns)

Wednesday and the beginning of two new series; the ‘Teatime Tankard’ which is open to all and ‘Roger’s Bosuns’ which is open to novices at the helm. In the end Cilla Gilbert was the only novice on the water so perhaps her trouncing of the Commodore in his Bosun will not count for much.

The wind was infuriating. When it was present it was north westerly but often it wasn’t present at all. Paul Whybrow found himself in vacuums a couple of times. On the other hand it occasionally gusted powerfully, enough to knock over the Graduate of Adeney Pooler which he was continuing to reacquaint himself with. The sun shone.

On the first lap Nathan Pollard’s Full-sailed Laser and Paul Whybrow’s Solo kept close company as did Cilla Gilbert, under the watchful eye of Roger Heasman, and Adam Hilton, his Bosun crewed by John Dabbs. In the subsequent two laps Nathan remained ahead but never ran away from Paul, whereas Cilla’s lead increased by leaps and bounds. After the race it was discovered that one of the boats had caught a fisherman’s lines and pulled two rods into the water where they could not be found. A warning to us all: the Lake is smaller than usual and we need to stay well clear of fishermen!

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
3. Cilla Gilbert and Roger Heasman (Bosun)
4. Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Bosun)

Many thanks are due to Bob Sampson and Sue Murray who were coaching novices who may well race before the season is out, to Sue Murray who ran the race and to Roger Heasman and Adam Hilton who carried on the work of refendering the pontoon.

 

Barnwell 4

Jane Anderson dominated the day’s racing. Her Laser Radial was first in the noon race and first in the afternoon, first on the water and on handicap, first over the start lines (near as dammit in the second race) and first to finish each lap raced. Twelve boats took the start of Barnwell 4 on another baking day of clouds and sun with enough wind to get the boats on the plane from time to time. Sue Murray (Laser Radial) and John Dabbs (Gull) were second and third at the start but at the first mark it was Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton’s Solos that were trying to chase the Anderson Laser with the other Lasers close behind. Further back Vicki Duncalf ‘s Topper headed Toby Tobias’ Bosun with Roger Heasman closing on them at the second buoy. Heading up to Far Jane Anderson stretched her lead over Paul Whybrow and the fleet was then clearly divided in two. This division disappeared on the way back to the Dam, the boats arriving at Dam Green evenly spaced with Jane Anderson still leading Paul Whybrow and Vicki Duncalf still looking very competitive further down the field. Passing the clubhouse many boats had a burst of planing and the full-sailed Lasers of Graham Joyce and Nathan Pollard passed Paul Whybrow with Adam Hilton close behind and Sue Murray in their lee. During lap 2 Nathan Pollard moved into second place, with the Hilton Solo splitting the two Lasers and these positions held at the start of the final lap. Further back the Comber/Weller Enterprise had jumped up two places leaving the Bosuns of Toby Tobias and Brian Pollard/Cilla Gilbert scrapping behind them. Vicki Duncalf and John Dabbs had their own battle in the rear. Sue Murray overtook Adam Hilton on the last lap and just before the finish got past Graham Joyce. It wasn’t a day for the Full-sailed Lasers; the handicap took one down six places and the other seven!

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. John Dabbs (Gull)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
6. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
7. Roger Heasman (Streaker)
8. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
9. Toby Tobias (Bosun)
10. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
11. Graham Joyce (Laser Full)
12. Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

Tamar 7

The wind had picked up a little and lap times were down three minutes or so. The race officials changed the course so that the zig-zags in the middle of the Lake took place on the way back from Far rather than on the way to it. At the start Vicki Duncalf, Toby Tobias, Nathan Pollard and Jane Anderson were overlapping at the pontoon end of the line. Sue Murray, Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton were scrambling to get the right side of the buoy at the other, having failed to realise the start had been switched to ‘this side’. In the light of this, Sue Murray’s second place at the first mark, West White, represented a remarkable recovery from a position well to leeward of the other leading boats. As the fleet came back from Far the order was Jane Anderson, Sue Murray, Nathan Pollard, Roger Heasman and Toby Tobias. The Solos were still trying to make up ground after their slow start with Paul Whybrow not clearing the Bosuns and the Enterprise until lap 2.  Sue Murray kept closing on Jane Anderson, without quite being able to pass, and then dropping back, as much as a minute and a half at the finish. Roger Heasman started behind Vicki Duncalf and the Tobias Bosun (which now had John Dabbs as crew) but he was soon in fourth place, clear of all but the Lasers and determined to keep in front of the Solos. He did. The handicaps left the first five boats in the positions they finished on the water but brought both Toby Tobias and Vicki Duncalf up a place.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)
4. Roger Heasman (Streaker)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Toby Tobias and John Dabbs (Bosun)
7. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
8. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
9. Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun)
10. John Weller and Alan Comber (Enterprise)

The Club offered particularly grateful thanks to the race officer, Jane Chadney, a member for many years who sadly has now sold her boat! She was ably assisted by Stuart Mealing and by Mandy Pollard who also took the photographs.

 

This was the last of the midweek mug series and although the winner had already been decided, second and third places were up for grabs.  In a fickle light to moderate breeze only 5 boats took to the water and one of these, Paul Whybrow’s Solo had turned turtle before the start, hampering his progress, as it took one lap to expel all the water taken onboard.  The two lasers of Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller were first across the line, battling for first place on the water throughout.  They were the first to encounter two kayakers parked on one of the buoys, effectively concealing the course!  The remainder of the fleet, Sally Wills and Roger Heasman in a Bosun, Paul Whybrow and John Dabbs in a Gull maintained their 3rd, 4th & 5th positions, although final rankings would all be to play for when PYs were applied.

Results:

1. Sally Wills & Roger Heasman (Bosun)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser full)
3. John Dabbs (Gull)
4. Nathan Pollard (Laser full)
5. Paul Wybrow (Solo)

Thanks to Robin Spiller for acting as Officer of the Day and to Mandy Pollard for photos.

Commodore 5

More sun and more wind, enough to cause a couple of capsizes. Jane Anderson was caught by a gust shortly after rounding West and James Pollard succumbed as he approached Inlet. Jane Chadney (Laser Full) led the first couple of laps before being swallowed up by Steve Axford and Bob Sampson. The battling Solos of Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton with the similarly paced Streaker of Robin Spiller all followed the Laser race with Paul making an excellent start and leading the trio until Adam and, for a while, Robin overtook him. He got his revenge on the last lap when Adam hit Dam Green and the resultant penalty turn put him just behind Paul on the finish line with Robin another three seconds back. Nicky Buckett and Linda Spiller in the Bosun were the first of the double-handers.

OOD Nathan Pollard

Rank	Class	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed times	Corrected times
1st	LASER	Steve Axford		0.42.00	0.39.09
2nd	LASER	Bob Sampson		0.47.15	0.44.02
3rd	SOLO	Paul Whybrow		0.50.40	0.44.08
4th	SOLO	Adam Hilton		0.50.46	0.44.13
5th	STREAKER	Robin Spiller		0.50.49	0.44.35
6th	LASER	Penny Abbott		0.48.27	0.45.09
7th	LASER	Jane Chadney		0.48.31	0.45.13
8th	BOSUN	Nicola Buckett	 Linda Spiller	0.55.18	0.45.22
9th	TOPPER	Vicki Duncalf		1.01.39	0.46.21
10th	OTTER	John Buckett		0.59.14	0.46.27
11th	LASER	Paul Anderson		0.50.14	0.46.49
12th	LASER	Jane Anderson		0.50.23	0.46.57
13th	BLAZE	James Pollard		0.50.51	0.49.31
14th	BOSUN	Cilla Gilbert	Brian Pollard	1.02.06	0.50.57
15th	ENTERPRISE	Alan Comber	John Weller	0.59.21	0.53.11
16th	OTTER	John Savage		1.09.00	0.54.07

 

Pursuit 5

John Savage in his Otter was first to start but couldn’t fight off his pursuers. Vicki Duncalf (Topper) started four minutes later and held off everyone but Roger Heasman with Sally Wills in the Bosun who had started five minutes after her. Steve Axford had the best start in that he crossed the line less than a second after his appointed time. He made good use of it getting up from fourteenth to fifth. James Pollard was the last to start in his Blaze, an exotic beast the width of a king-sized bed with tubular extensions that make it even wider. He’d been lapped before he even started and could only make up a place or two. Four boats started on the same time; the Solos of Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton, the Streaker of Robin Spiller which has a similar handicap, and the Radial of Jane Chadney. Paul led away but  Jane did best, getting up to third.

OOD Nathan Pollard

Posn	Name	Boat	Boat Start Time
1st	Roger Heasman & Sally Wills	Bosun	14:39
2nd	Vicki Duncalf	Topper	14:34
3rd	Jane Chadney	Laser Radial	14:45
4th	Bob Sampson	Laser	14:48
5th	Steve Axford	Laser	14:49
6th	John Buckett	Otter	14:36
7th	John Savage	Otter	14:30
8th	Nicola Buckett & Linda Spiller	Bosun	14:43
9th	Adam Hilton	Solo	14:45
10th	Penny Abbott	Laser	14:48
11th	Paul Whybrow	Solo	14:45
12th	James Pollard	Blaze	14:52
13th	John Weller & Alan Comber	Enterprise	14:44
ret	Brian Pollard & Cilla Gilbert	Bosun	14:37
ret	Robin Spiller	Streaker	14:45

 

Many thanks to Mandy Pollard who took the photos. Click on the photos above to see more of Mandy’s wonderful photos.

Midweek Mug 6

It was a UTLSC Wednesday and so Roger Heasman, with Robin Spiller, was replacing the fendering on the pontoon and both Sue Murray  and Bob Sampson were teaching novices and Adeney Pooler was sailing his Graduate for the first time since his major disaster and John Savage was sailing his Otter to make sure that it was perfectly saleable , with the result that it felt positively selfish to be entering the midweek race merely for the pleasure (and pain) of competing with one’s peers. In the event Linda Spiller (Laser Full) was the first of the egotists to cross the start line, unfortunately a moment before the horn. Adam Hilton and Paul Whybrow (both Solos) followed and Adam led the beat up to Pinky and the runs and reaches back via West, Zebra and the two Dam buoys. The wind had been very light but fairly consistent, but on the second lap Adam was becalmed in the middle of the Lake while Paul and Linda got a handy little blast and reached Pinky before him. The vagaries of the subsequent puffs dumped Linda but brought Adam up to Paul but not past him. The OOD (Penny Abbott) mercifully shortened the race to two laps which nonetheless took the leader 53 minutes to complete.

Rank	Class	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Corrected times
1st	SOLO	Paul Whybrow		1148	0:46:26
2nd	SOLO	Adam Hilton		1148	0:46:55
3rd	LASER RADIAL	Linda Spiller		1109	0:49:37
4th	GULL	John Dabbs		1363	0:50:54
5th	BOSUN	Sally Wills	Cilla Gilbert	1219	0:54:14
6th	LASER RADIAL	Penny Abbott		1109	OOD

Many thanks to Penny Abbott who ran the race.

 

Cup 5

It was that rare thing, a glorious sunny day with a gloriously sailable northerly breeze. The course could therefore feature a glorious, long, sort-the-men-from-the-boys, beat up to Far. The Lasers were out in force; Bob Sampson, Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller had Full sails; Jane Chadney, Sue Murray and Jane Anderson had Radials. But there were a pair of Bosuns, a pair of Otters, a pair of Solos and a trio of one-offs, fifteen boats in all. First over the start line were Vicci Duncalf’s Topper and a selection of the Lasers after which the fleet spread out with the big-sailed Lasers rapidly taking on the lead. After a twenty minute lap Bob Sampson was in front and he continued to head the fleet at each lap’s end. Nathan Pollard held second place throughout and Linda Spiller was third until Jane Anderson overtook her. Robin Spiller (Streaker) won his battle with Adam Hilton (Solo) but Geoff Floyd (Solo) lost his with Nicky Buckett (Bosun, with Sally Wills as crew). At the end of lap 1 the officials couldn’t separate them but Nicky pulled away a bit later and anyway Geoff went the wrong side of Home 1 (as did Brian Pollard in the Bosun, with Cilla Gilbert).

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
5. Nicky Buckett and Sally Wills (Bosun)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
7. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
8. Jane Chadney (Laser Radial)
9. John Buckett (Otter)
10. John Dabbs (Gull)
11. Adam Hilton (Solo)
12. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
13. John Savage (Otter)

Disqualified: Geoff Floyd (Solo), Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

 

Sailboat 5

Robin Spiller was first over the start line but was well to leeward of the rest; he was going to find it hard making a port tack across the fleet. Nathan Pollard came next with Sue Murray close to him. Bob Sampson had a less than impressive start but that didn’t stop him getting (just) ahead of Nathan before the end of the lap. They remained neck and neck throughout the race, Nathan crossing the finish line all of eight seconds in front. Next came a pair of Radials, with Jane Anderson leading Sue Murray throughout. Linda Spiller followed them after spectacularly capsizing (a wayward gust?) on the way to Dam Green on lap 1. When the handicaps were applied the leading pair kept their places but Jane Anderson was bumped down to fifth by Nicky Buckett and Sally Wills in the Bosun and by Vicky Duncalf in the Topper. It was a glorious day’s sailing.

 

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Nicky Buckett and Sally Wills (Bosun)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
7. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
8. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
9. Jane Chadney (Laser Radial)
10. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
11. John Buckett (Otter)
12. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
13. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to Paul Whybrow and Annie Quartermain who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

 

Midweek Mug 5

A grey day. The winds, gentle and (as ever) variable, came from over the dam or from the hill to the east of it. So the start was from this side of Line 1 towards Dam Red. Linda Spiller’s Laser Full set out from close to Home 1, the shortest route, and rounded Dame Red first without tacking. Robin followed her on his regular mount, then Sue Murray cursing her choice of a Radial sail (she should have remembered what the handicap would do for her.) Nathan Pollard came next with a Full sail, Sally Wills followed with Bob Sampson crewing the Bosun, then Adam Hilton with the yellow-hulled Solo and finally Cilla Gilbert with John Dabbs in charge of the Bosun’s jib.

Linda kept her lead via Zebra, Inlet and Middle as far as Far, after which Nathan made a neat turn, took over the lead and never looked back. But after two laps and nearly an hour’s racing he was not quite a minute ahead of Linda’s Laser, the Streaker and the Solo; not enough to give him victory. Behind him Robin, Adam and Linda took turns to hold second place as the vagaries of the wind and the quality of their tacking favoured or disfavoured them. Sue Murray lost a place or two getting out of people’s way at Far on lap 1. She was headed by Sally’s Bosun for a stretch but was away and rapidly reducing the gap to the dicing trio as the race ended. Sally and Bob were never far behind on lap 1 but dropped back too far on lap 2 for the handicap to help them much.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
4. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
5. Sally Wills and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
7. Cilla Gilbert and John Dabbs (Bosun)

 

Many thanks to Brian Pollard who ran the race and took the photos.