With the Race Officer using the far side of Start Line 2, Roger Heasman pulls out a substantial lead in the first few seconds of the midday Gosling Shield race
Even though the use of Start Line 2 meant that it was further to the windward mark at Dam Green (and therefore longer for the fleet to sort itself out), there are still plenty of tightly packed boats jostling for position as they round the mark
The far side of the lake still has sufficient wind to ruffle the water, but where the westerly wind is sheltered by the trees nearer the Cornwall bank, the lake is sufficiently mirror-like to produce attractive reflections of the sails. Here Jane Chadney and Nathan Pollard have got the asymmetric spinnaker pulling well, at the tail-end of a quintet of boats led by Steve Axford and Roger Heasman
More comfortable standing….. Nicky Buckett looks ahead whilst Brian Pollard trims the jib
A tactical conundrum: do you go for the windward end of the line, so that you’re not blanketed by boats, but where the wind is fluky and patchy (like Jane Anderson in the foreground) – or stay out in the middle of the lake (where Adam Hilton is away quickly), where there’s more wind but you run the risk of dirty air from other boats….
The two Streakers locked together as they glide downwind
Nathan Pollard concentrating at the helm, whilst Jane Chadney tends the spinnaker
Follow my leader round Dam Green: Vicki’s Topper leads Geoff Floyds Solo, just ahead of Toby and Ellie in the Bosun and John Savage’s Solo
With what should have been a 19 boat start and the windward mark at Dam Green, Start Line 2 was once more pressed into service to give a few more yards for the fleet to sort itself out before arriving at the first buoy; here Bob Sampson and James Pollard are opting to start tight inshore
Wonderfully crisp close-up of Robin Spiller breathing down the neck of James William’s Topper
Bob Sampson having to work hard in the full-rig Laser, in winds that seemed to be considerably more than advertised at times
The autumn sunshine highlighting the deep lustre on the varnish of Adam Hilton’s immaculate Solo
John Dabbs under reefed main in the Gull
A much more tightly-bunched fleet for the start of the afternoon race; this time Jane Anderson seems to have made the best start
Bob Sampson getting higher to windward than the chasing Jane Anderson on the beat back from Pinky
Shades on, guys….. Sunglasses are clearly de rigeur on Toby’s Bosun
