AM: Cup 3

Many of the Club’s sailors had spent Saturday dressed as pirates taking landlubbers on taster voyages, but, enthusiasts that they are, some eighteen of them in fourteen boats took to the water on a bright cool day with northish winds, light and highly variable. After a tight start – two boats were over the line – the fleet soon spread out as they tacked up the Lake to Middle buoy. The Wayfarer of Mike Coulson and Vicky took an early lead and returning from the top of the Lake, flew its very colourful spinnaker. Running into Inlet the Laser Radial of Jane Anderson was rapidly catching up the Wayfarer, the two boats having a good lead over the rest of the field which was led by the two Solos of Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton plus a bunch of Radial and Full Lasers skippered by Paul Anderson, Penny Abbott and Linda Spiller. Robin Spiller on the other hand, had had his mainsail collapse on him and though he started the race decided to retire during lap 1, having lost his wind indicator, much needed on a day with such fluky pockets of wind. Positions changed little through the race, although the Anderson Laser and Coulson Wayfarer changed places a time or two and Penny Abbott ended the last lap at the head of the second bunch. The officiating Duncalfs had shortened the race from four laps to three but it was still nearly an hour and a half on the water for the slower boats.

Results:

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)

2. Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)

3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)

4. Paul Whybrow (Solo)

5. Penny Abbott (Laser Full)

6. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)

7. John Buckett (Otter)

8. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

9. John Dabbs (Gull)

10. Paul Anderson (Laser Full)

11. John Savage (Solo)

12. Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

13. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker)

PM: Ladies, Gents, Junior, Gosling 2

With a fresher north-westerly breeze all boats were well behind the start line for the afternoon race with Sue Murray, Jane Anderson (both in Laser Radials) and Paul Whybrow (Solo) making the best starts. Several little battles took place on the water; once again Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial and the Herbert-Coulson Wayfarer were nip and tuck with the bigger boat having a five second advantage at the end. Alas the Wayfarer had infringed the ‘all crew on or in the water at the four minute gun’ rule and had to be disqualified. Behind them came the flying Sue Murray in third and Penny Abbott, Adam Hilton and Linda Spiller repeated their tussles of the morning with Robin Spiller added to the mix. The officials recorded a two second gap between Adam Hilton and Linda Spiller as they crossed the finish line!

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)

2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)

3. Adam Hilton (Solo)

4. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)

5. Robin Spiller (Streaker),

6. Penny Abbott (Laser Full)

7. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

8. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

9. Paul Whybrow (Solo)

10. Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

Disqualified: Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)

Grateful thanks were given to Vicki and John Duncalf for running the races and writing these reports and to Mandy Pollard for her photographs.

AM: Commodore’s Cup 2

The promise of warmth, sun and light airs brought seventeen boats, of which four were double handers, to a start line facing the dam. The winds were coming over the hill from the east and were decidedly modest in strength. Sue Murray’s visiting sister Alison in a borrowed Laser was first away and round Dam Red buoy; indeed she led the race throughout. Jane Anderson in a Laser Radial followed in second and Adam Hilton in his Solo was third. Bob Sampson, with Sue Murray crewing the RS 200 for him, took some time to make the most of the boat’s speed, only over-taking the Solo at the end of lap 1 and never catching the Lasers. Lap 2 still had just enough wind to complete the circuit but lap 3 involved more aimless drifting than sensible sailors could put up with and seven boats retired.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Alison (Laser Full)
3. Bob Sampson and Sue Murray (RS200)
4. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
5. Penny Abbott (Laser Full)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
7. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
8. Adam Hilton (Solo)
9. Sally Wills and Roger Heasman (Bosun)
10. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)

Retired: Geof Floyd (Solo), John Dabbs (Gull), John Buckett (Otter), Vicki Duncalf (Topper), Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun), Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise), Norman (Laser Full)

PM: Tamar Memorial Trophy 3

The wind was now blowing with tolerable consistency from the north but a number of helms had been discouraged by the morning’s drifting and so it was a reduced fleet of eleven boats that set out towards the middle of the Lake. Six of these were Lasers, with Nathan Pollard’s and Jane Anderson’s flying Radial sails. The lead swapped around between Penny Abbott’s Full, Jane Anderson’s Radial and Bob Sampson’s Full; it was Bob who led at the end of a race shortened to three laps.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Penny Abbott (Laser Full)
4. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
5. Paul Whybrow (Solo)
6. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
7. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
8. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
9. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker), Adam Hilton (Solo)

Grateful thanks were given to Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson, the Officers of the Day and to Mandy Pollard for her photographs.

a.m. Sailboat 2

With a cold strong breeze blowing onto the shore from the East, many sailors chose to sit this race out.  However, 7 boats made the start line with a sprint towards Dam mark.  The first 2 round were Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) and Jane Anderson (Topper) which happened to be the order in which they finished!  But once the handicaps had been applied this would change.  Indeed, whilst brothers Elliot and Jack Pomeroy (Wayfarer) gained 4 places on the water, they finished last on paper!  The Bosuns of Roger Heasman and Sally Wills, and Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert battled it out sandwiched between the 2 Toppers of Vicki and John Duncalf, with Vicki winning the battle, Brian coming in next followed Roger and the John D bringing up the rear.

Results:-  1. Jane Anderson (Topper), 2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper), 3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7), 4. John Duncalf (Topper), 5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun), 6. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun), 7. Elliot and Jack Pomeroy (Wayfarer).

p.m. Pursuit 2

The Pursuit Race starts off with the slower handicapped boats and sailors going off first, and the rest of the fleet goes off in timed stages according to their previous performances.  So with was the Duncalf family in their slower Toppers who set the race going as they sprinted down to the first mark, followed by Jane Anderson in her Topper 5 minutes later, then Roger and Sally in their Bosun, then Brian and Cilla in their Bosun, with Nathan in his Laser 4.7 being left the most work to do to make his way up the fleet from the back!.  John and Vicki swapped positions within the first few metres of the start and then John went and touched the first mark, so it was all change again as Vicki nipped in to head the fleet whilst John completed his penalty turn – a position she stoically and determinedly maintained until the end of the 67 minute race in exceedingly challenging conditions. After the first lap, positions hadn’t changed with Nathan gaining ground at the back, and Jane gaining on Vicki by a minute.  As the wind strength dropped in the 2^nd and 3^rdlaps, John Duncalf retired rather fed up as he’d hit yet another mark.  The rest of the fleet remained spread out with only Nathan significantly changing the race order.  Indeed, despite Roger and Sally’s valiant efforts to hold off his advances, Nathan managed to take 3^rd place by the end of the race.

Results:  1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper), 2. Jane Anderson (Topper), 3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7), 4. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun), 5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun).  John Duncalf had already retired for a hot cup of tea.

Thanks to Rachael Pomeroy for OOD duties and writing these reports.

AM: Cup Race 2

With the promise of sunshine unfulfilled, 11 boats set off for the first race in drizzle with 2 keen starters sadly over the line as the gun went.  Sailors found it difficult to fetch the first mark (West White) in one tack in the gusty conditions, but the 2 Lasers of Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard had clear wind and were able to make it in one.  Bob took the early lead followed by Nathan and then the Herbert-Coulsons in their new Wayfarer purchase.  The positions didn’t change much in the 2nd lap, however there were three capsizes in the gusts – the two Janes and also John Dabbs (all recovered safely).  Nicky Buckett and Sally Wills were having a great race in their Bosun and were not far from Bob in the final calculations, but it was Bob’s day and he took line honours as the lake became shrouded in fog, and also took first place on handicap.

Results:

1. Bob Sampson (Laser)

2  Nicky Buckett and Sally Wills (Bosun)

3. Nathan Pollard (Laser)

4.Mike and Vicky Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer)

5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

6. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

7. Jane Chadney (Laser Radial)

8. Geoff Floyd  (Solo)

9. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial).

John Buckett (Otter) and John Dabbs (Gull) both retired.

PM: Ladies Cup, Gents Trophy and Gosling Shield

Numbers were reduced to 7 participants for this combined series of races in misty drizzly conditions and still very gusty.  This time it was the Wayfarer who took the lead followed by the Lasers of Bob, Nathan and Jane Anderson, and the change of course made sailors take note of wind directions and dull patches.  With the spinnaker up, Vicki and Mike extended their lead but unfortunately missed out a buoy at the end of the first lap.  Nathan took up the leader’s position with Jane and Bob fighting it out behind.  Further back, Vicki Duncalf in her Topper was having a flyer of a race as was Geoff Floyd.  Bob made an error on the 2nd lap, missing a mark and then returning to round it which allowed Jane Anderson to slip into his position.  Brian and Cilla in their Bosun were also having a good race on Brian’s Birthday and enjoying the afternoon’s racing.

Results:

Gosling Shield:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)

2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

3. Nathan Pollard (Laser)

4. Bob Sampson (Laser)

5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

6. Geoff Floyd (Solo).

Mike and Vicki Herbert-Coulson (Wayfarer) retired.

Ladies Cup:

1.  Jane Anderson

2. Vicki Duncalf

Gents Trophy:

1. Nathan Pollard

2 Bob Sampson

3. Brian Pollard

4. Geoff Floyd

Many thanks to Sue Murray for OOD duties and writing this report.

AM: Cup 1

It was a day of moderate south easterly winds, not too many gusts (although Toby Tobias looked pretty courageous sailing the Bosun by himself, with lots of hull on display from time to time) and it attracted eleven boats onto the water. Jane Chadney (Laser 4.7) crossed the start line first but couldn’t capitalise and it was Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial) who got round Dam Green at the front of the fleet with Paul Anderson (Laser Full) following and Vicki Duncalf (Topper) next. Nathan stayed at the front, but didn’t get far enough ahead to beat the Laser 4.7s on handicap, particularly when Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7) made up a lot of ground on lap 3. Similarly, Paul Anderson who was third at the end of the race, got demoted to sixth. The Toppers  did well, Vicki Duncalf’s finishing tenth on the water but brought up to fifth on corrected time. The club Kestrel, a fast if awkward bird, had a rare outing, finishing lap one as high as fifth.

Results:

1.       Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
2.       Jane Chadney (Laser 4.7)
3.       Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
4.       Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)
5.       Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6.       John Duncalf (Topper)
7.       Paul Anderson (Laser Full)
8.       Toby Tobias (Bosun)
9.       Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Kestrel)
10.   Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (RS 200)
11.   Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Tasar)

PM: Tamar Memorial Trophy 1

The outstanding performance was from the Bosun of Roger Heasman and Sally Wills which came within 13 seconds of winning on handicap. They had started well, taking starboard tack to get to Dam Green which, with the wind having shifted a little, was advantageous and got them round the buoy in third place behind James Pollard (Laser Full) and Jane Anderson (who had taken a port tack start). Again the bigger sailed Lasers (the Pollard brothers) couldn’t really compete with the small sailed ones despite James leading from start to finish. Vicki Duncalf had her Topper turn turtle and spent an unpleasantly long time in the water as she and Steph Colwill (back in the safety boat for the holiday weekend) tried to right it.

Results

1.       Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
2.       Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
3.       Jane Chadney (Laser 4.7)
4.       Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)
5.        James Pollard (Laser Full)
6.       Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
7.       Robin Spiller (Streaker)
8.       Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Tasar)

Vicki Duncalf (Topper), Toby Tobias and John Duncalf (Bosun) rtd

Grateful thanks were given to John and Nicky Buckett who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard for photographs.

Early PM: Barnwell 6

The Lakes Trust was hosting one of its massive fishing competitions- every car park and the camping field full – and racing was therefore only scheduled to start at 1.30 pm. Everybody (five single handers and three double) was on the water in bright sunshine and a diminishing breeze but there was trouble with the safety boat. Paul Anderson and Jane Chadney could be seen struggling to get the engine going. In the end it was nearly three o’clock before an effective fuel line was transferred from the Lake’s wheely boat and the race could start. The club Wayfarer was first over the start line. It was being tried out by Adam Hilton and John Dabbs who found it fast and comfortable, quite capable of keeping up with Bob Sampson’s Laser Full. They were followed over the line by Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in a Club Bosun, by James Pollard (Laser), Bob Sampson (Laser) and Jane Anderson who, in the stronger winds of the morning, had chosen her Topper. James Pollard, in the beat past Zebra and up to Inlet, established a lead which never looked in doubt. Bob Sampson also rounded Inlet ahead of the Wayfarer but that lead was threatened for a while. The two boats were very close as they rounded Dam Green at the end of lap 1 and it was only on lap 3 that Bob got a couple of minutes ahead. Behind came Nathan Pollard in a Laser Radial in front of his father Brian, the Topper of Jane Anderson, whom the handicap promoted to winner, Toby Tobias and Sally Wills (Bosun) and Geoff Floyd (Solo). It was one of those races with a lap chart showing the boats in the same order every lap. That doesn’t mean they weren’t competing!

Results:

1.       Jane Anderson (Topper)

2.       James Pollard (Laser)

3.       Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

4.       Bob Sampson (Laser)

5.       Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Wayfarer)

6.       Toby Tobias and Sally Wills (Bosun)

7.       Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial)

8.       Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Grateful thanks were given to Robin Spiller who ran the race and especially to Paul Anderson and Jane Chadney for their struggles with the safety boat.

There was no time left to run the programmed Barnwell 7.

AM: Barnwell 2

Steve Axford, in the only single-handed dinghy in the race – a Laser Radial – crossed the line first, kept the lead throughout and finished nine minutes ahead of the next boat, a lead only reduced by four minutes when the handicaps were applied. Behind him a more complicated and less courageous story unfolded. It had been very windy and gusty all morning; there were white horses up and down the Lake. Those sailors prepared to get into a boat -there were several who were not – opted for the relative safety of Bosuns with small sails. So the two Club-owned Bosuns ventured out with Roger Heasman at the helm and Sally Wills as crew (they were second over the start line) and the other had Brian Pollard helming with Cilla Gilbert. The privateer Bosun was skippered by Adam Hilton and had John Dabbs as crew. By the time these three had tacked to Dam Red and then run down the south easterly to Pinkie, Brian Pollard had got himself past the other two. But that was not the end of the tussle by any means; the three boats were never more than a length or two apart and couldn’t stop changing places. Starboard was called on port tackers and windward boats were pushed further upwind. The Hilton/Dabbs dinghy lost ground when it touched the buoy at Dam Red and it remained at the back of the train until stealing the wind from the others and edging past shortly before Pinkie on lap 3. It managed to keep the place until the horn blew for the finish.

Results:

1. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
4. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to the Spillers who ran the race and especially to Toby Tobias and Nathan Pollard for braving the cold in the safety boat.

There were no takers for the scheduled Barnwell 3 which was therefore not run.

Barnwell 1

After days of snow and blizzard Sunday was sunny and warm which enticed four boats onto the water for the first race of the year. Two failed to hear the starting klaxon; John Dabbs in his Gull returned to the right side of the line and therefore began the race a long way behind. Adam Hilton in his Solo realised that the race must have started, took advantage of the lead which his position on the lake happened to have to have given him and continued, expecting disqualification. The RS 200 of Bob Sampson and Sue Murray soon overtook the rogue Solo and, on the beat back from Pinkie, so did Nathan Pollard’s Laser 4.7. Bob kept his lead with a lengthening gap back to the Laser but the other two boats retired, victims of the strong and unpredictable gusts of wind that had developed. John Dabbs had capsized and sailed home on the first lap; Adam Hilton was up-ended by the gybe at Pinkie on lap 2.

Results:

1. Bob Sampson and Sue Murray (RS 200)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
John Dabbs (Gull), Adam Hilton (Solo) rtd