Commodore 1

What wind there was came from the south and the start was therefore towards Dam Green buoy. However there was so little propulsive power that the two Solos in the race – Dave Perrett’s and Adam Hilton’s – were both facing towards the top of the Lake when the starting horn blew. Nathan Pollard’s new (to him) Aero 7 got round Dam Green first with Bob Sampson’s Laser (a craft designed some half century before the Aero) second. Jane Anderson’s Topper got ahead of Liam Routley’s fast-starting Laser Radial which left Vicki Duncalf’s Topper to go round the buoy in front of the tardy Solo pair. The breezes frequently disappeared leaving helms drifting; three disheartened sailors retired.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Topper)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate),
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Liam Routley (Laser Radial), Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Pursuit 1

In this pursuit race the formula had Dave Perrett in his Solo starting first and Nathan Pollard in the Aero 7 starting last, some eight minutes later. The wind, still a gentle force 2 to 3 but now from the north east, was at least more consistent for this afternoon race. In the 58 minutes allotted, Dave Perrett got away well and looked as though he might retain his position at the front. Liam Routley spent the race passing and being passed by the Pollard/Routley Graduate but Nathan Pollard’s Aero made its relentless way through the fleet and took over the lead.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Bob Sampson (Laser Full)

Many thanks were given to Sue Murray who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Barnwell 2

Nathan Pollard’s Laser sailed away, the first of a fleet of five boats, on a day of light winds from the north west. He was followed on port tack by Bob Sampson’s similar craft, Vicki Duncalf’s Topper, Adam Hilton’s Solo and, on the opposite tack, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley’s Bosun. Once round Home 2 buoy, the course took the fleet to the four corners of the Lake: West, Far, Inlet and Dam Green. Nathan Pollard’s lead over Bob Sampson hardly changed. The only change to the order took place when Adam Hilton overtook Vicki Duncalf. With laps taking the leaders a quarter of an hour, the race officer, Jane Anderson shortened the race to three laps.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Sailboat 1

With the winds a little lighter, the clouds thicker and the odd drop of rain, Bob Sampson crossed the line first followed by two Bosuns, Brian Pollard’s probably a touch ahead of John Dabbs and Linda Spiller’s. However the Pollard/Routley boat was not pointing as high as the Dabbs/Spiller Bosun and was overtaken before the first buoy. Nathan Pollard was soon past the rest of the fleet and chasing Bob Sampson but made no progress until the Sampson main sheet snagged his buoyancy aid causing a brief capsize. Liam Routley’s Radial-sailed Laser overtook the Pollard Bosun.

1. Nathan Pollard(Laser Full)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Many thanks were given to Jane Anderson who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Tamar 1

Paul Anderson, Officer of the Day, had the best view of it and he recorded Bob Sampson’s Laser 4.7 as starting first but it was a close run thing, Liam Routley’s Laser Radial and the Toppers of Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf being the other boats doing the close running. The wind was from the southeast and strongish so the start was towards the Dam. So the first buoy was Dam Green and there the order was not in doubt; Bob Sampson rounded the buoy first with Jane Anderson second and Vicki Duncalf third, Liam Routley being delayed by the need to do a penalty turn. Various pre-start disasters disasters befell the Graduate of Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley leading to their retirement as well as Adam Hilton’s Bosun which had to be pushed off a lee shore by his long-suffering crew, Jenny Routley. Bob Sampson finished the race four minutes ahead of Jane Anderson but it was not enough to give him victory when the handicaps were applied.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Retired: Brian Pollard (Graduate), Adam Hilton and Jenny Routley (Bosun), Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Cup 1

Conditions remained much the same for the second race; laps of a simple course going out to West and up to Pinkie were taking twelve minutes or so and Bob Sampson was again the first to start; the two Toppers were second and third. John Dabbs joined the fleet in his Bosun with Linda Spiller crewing but he mistimed his assault on the start line and crossed at the back of the field. No matter, they had the satisfaction of hauling the Bosun up to fifth at the end of lap 1, third at lap two and second at the finish on lap 4. The handicap gave them third place and again deprived Bob Sampson of victory.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
6. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Many thanks were given to Paul Anderson who ran the race, to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs and to Dave Perrett with Nathan Pollard who manned the safety boat.

Barnwell 1

On the first day of the racing season Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club members turned up to scrub up their boats but some were put off taking to the water by viciously cold winds which the bright sunlight failed to tame.

Nathan Pollard, however, began the new sailing season at Upper Tamar Lake in the style which he, no doubt, intends to maintain; he crossed the line first and was never headed, gradually pulling away from the rest of the field and finishing, after three laps, more than three minutes ahead of the second boat. He was sailing his Laser with a little 4.7 sail on a day of welcome sunlight but strong and penetratingly cold breezes from points around the northwest. White streaks of foam stretched the length of the lake.

John Dabbs, Officer of the Day, had set a course that had the fleet tacking to Zebra buoy, making for West and continuing to tack up to Pinkie. Here a gybe was needed to set helms on a return journey that included a visit to Inlet, where competition fishermen were camped in the water. How did they survive the cold? Finally a reach to Home 2 took the fleet to the centre of the Lake before the run down to the Dam.

Second over the starting line were Brian Pollard and crew Natasha Routley racing, indeed sailing, for the first time the Graduate two-handed dinghy, a long-term Tamar Lake resident but unsailed since Adeney Pooler gave up. It was an impressive effort; the Graduate is a small boat, only four centimetres longer than a Solo but with one and a half square metres more sail. It could have been a handful in the winds; perhaps was; there were times when it looked close to going over. And in theory the boat should have won the race; it has a handicap similar to a Laser with a full-sized sail. Perhaps, when Brian Pollard knows it better, he’ll see off the competition.

In this race, Vicki Duncalf, sailing her familiar little Topper, and starting third, managed to judge the two tacks to the first buoy perfectly and rounded it in second place. It took most of the first lap for Brian Pollard to get the Graduate firmly ahead of the Topper. But once his lead was established the order didn’t change. However when the handicaps were applied to the boats’ times, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley’s three and a half minute lead over Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was reversed. On corrected times Vicki Duncalf had second place by six minutes.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Grateful thanks were extended to John Dabbs and Linda Spiller who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs. Thanks were also extended to Bob Sampson and Dave Perrett who, in the absence of a South West lakes Trust operative, gave up their racing to man the Safety Boat.

Frostbite 7

Sue Murray’s Laser was the first to cross the start line but the 4.7 square metre sail she was flying
was never going to be enough on a day of very light winds coming from the south and east. Bob
Sampson, with a full-sized sail on his Laser, was ahead at the first buoy, Dam Green, and then led
each of the three laps. Linda Spiller, with the middle-sized Radial sail on her Laser, was also ahead of
the 4.7 at Dam Green. First to break the Laser procession was Nathan in the Pollard Tasar, Adam
Hilton as crew. Then Dave Perrett took his Solo from fifth at the second buoy, Inlet, to second at the
end of lap 2, a position the handicaps allowed him to keep.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller(Laser Radial)
4. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Nathan Pollard and Adam Hilton (Tasar)

Frostbite 5

The winds were so feeble that the only lap took Bob Sampson, the leader, half an hour to complete.
John Dabbs’ Bosun, Natasha Routley as crew, took an age to even reach the first buoy. Nathan
Pollard, now doing better sailing the Tasar single-handed, was able to overtake Bob Sampson and
after disposing of Dave Perrett’s Solo, led. The Tasar’s miserable handicap permitted no victory
however.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
4. Nathan Pollard (Tasar)
5. John Dabbs and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Thanks were given to the Race Officer, Robin Spiller, and to the photographers, Mandy Pollard and
Natasha Routley. Thanks were also given to Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley for manning and womaning the safety boat.

Frostbite 6

Brian Pollard’s Tasar (Natasha Routley as crew) was the first to cross the start line but the north-
westerly winds were too gentle for a two-handed boat and by the time the fleet was rounding the
second buoy, Seagull, five boats had overtaken. Nathan Pollard’s Laser led, followed by Dave
Perrett’s Solo which was soon passed by Bob Sampson’s Laser. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial had a
similar turn of speed to the Solos, finishing this two lap race four seconds after Dave Perrett’s, but
the handicaps promoted her to second equal to Bob Sampson who finished a minute ahead but with
the larger sail on his Laser.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) and Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Tasar)
7. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Cup 11

The sun continued to shine, although without imparting much warmth, and the winds blew very
slightly harder – there was time for a three lap race. Linda and Robin Spiller joined the fleet and
Linda’s Laser chased Nathan Pollard’s leading boat all the way to the finish. Jane Anderson’s Laser
Radial was third from early on with Bob Sampson never managing to make his Laser’s larger sail take
him past. The Perrett and Hilton Solos had their familiar scrap and Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley
in the Tasar got a good view of it.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
7. Robin Spiller (Solo)
8. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
9. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Tasar)

Thanks were given to the Race Officer, John Dabbs, and to the photographers, Mandy Pollard and
Natasha Routley.

Frostbite 3

Nathan Pollard’s Laser was the first to cross the start line but the south-easterly winds were so
gentle that nearly a minute passed after the horn sounded before he did so. This lead was never
threatened. Next to start was Brian Pollard with Natasha Routley in the Bosun but it was Dave
Perrett (Solo) who got to the first buoy, Dam Green, second and managed to keep his gap to the lead
Laser small enough for the handicap to give him the victory by a couple of seconds. Geoff Floyd
(Solo) and Liam Routley (Laser Radial) had a ding-dong battle; the Solo ultimately ahead in a race
shortened to one lap so little wind was there.

1. Dave Perret (Solo)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Frostbite 4

To avoid the windless water near the Dam the afternoon course used the Home 2 start line and the
Pollard/Routley Bosun crossed it first. Following and managing to slip past at the first buoy, was
Adam Hilton’s Solo which then took a lead that was never challenged. Running to Inlet saw most of
the fleet bunched, impeding and slowing each other. Dave Perrett managed to take his Solo through
the fleet to second place. Geoff Floyd got his past the Bosuns into third on the water but the
handicaps demoted him behind Bob Sampson’s leading Bosun. Slightly more consistent winds made
three laps possible.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Bob Sampson (Bosun)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
6. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Thanks were given to Adam Hilton and Nathan Pollard who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who
took the photos.

Cup 10

Weather: grey, drizzle (which turned heavy during race) & light SW wind.

4 boats set off across the start line, Dave Perret’s Solo 1st round Dam Green closely pursued by Nathan’s Laser, followed by Vicki’s Topper and Brain & Tash in the Bosun.

Dave & Nathan took different routes back down from Pinky but met again near the end of the lap and were neck-and-neck to Dam Green with Nathan just rounding the buoy first.

Wind still poor & drizzle non-stop, the race was shortened as Nathan crossed over the line at end of Lap 2 after gaining some distance from Solo, with the Topper retiring at the same time.

Nathan crossed the finish line first with a time of just over an hour, Dave finishing a few minutes after, followed by the Bosun after another 30mins had passed.

Results

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser)
2. Dave Perret (Solo)
3. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Frostbite 2

Weather: Light rain & light breeze from the south.

With just 4 hardy souls wanting to return to the water, the 5 minute horn was sounded as soon as the 3rd boat had left the jetty as to reduce the time spent in the damp weather.

The wind had improved a little and Nathan completed his first lap in under 10 minutes, finishing the race with a time of 33:50 and Brian & Tash finishing at 42 mins whilst Liam had retired after finishing his second lap.

Results

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser)
2. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Thanks to Ian Chatterton as Race Officer

Roger’s Bowl 12

The scheduled race start was the usual 2pm. By 1pm, Pinky was obliterated by a heavy
drizzle which then developed into a substantial downpour and accompanying random and
enthusiastic gusts. Relying on the forecast of an “improving picture”, five seasoned sailors,
undeterred by the weather forecast, prepared to launch their boats. The Lasers sported
their 4.7 sails, small sails on the Solos, and a reefed Bosun.
The lake was festooned with fishermen, apparently practising for the coming weekend’s
major competition, positioned both sides of the jetty and extending into the lake around
Inlet. Accordingly, Sue set an interesting and challenging course that dodged around the
buoys in the southern end of the lake.
Bob was first over the start line but was overtaken by Linda before reaching Dam Green.
The wind was considerably stronger across the stretch from Inlet to West, and Linda
capsized whilst rounding Home 2 to head for Middle but had a prompt recovery. Having
now been overtaken by the other boats, Linda spent the rest of the race successfully
overhauling Geoff and John.
On each of the four laps, the stretch from West to Dam Green proved to be quite a
challenge, with the wind changing speed and direction alternating abruptly from very useful
to downright frustrating.
A tussle between Geoff’s Solo and John/Leila’s Bosun continued throughout the race with
the Bosun drawing ahead in the final stages.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. John Dabbs & Leila Farmer (Bosun)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Thanks were given to Race Officer Sue Murray

Roger’s Bowl 8

There had been very little wind in the morning but promptly at five to two a smart little
northwesterly breeze arrived to power the race. From the start line to Zebra required a boat
to be very close-hauled indeed. Linda Spiller whose big sail was not what she would have
chosen to fly on her Laser, started first but ended up having to tack twice and was fourth
round the buoy. Adam Hilton’s Solo very nearly made it in one tack and overtook to lead on
the way to Inlet. The Bosun of John Dabbs and Rick Thurlow was second. Dave Perrett’s
starboard tack didn’t work as well as he had hoped; he was third to round Zebra but did
better after Inlet gaining second place around Middle and again at Pinkie despite a fruitless
wind-chasing excursion to windward. Linda got past the Dabbs/Thurlow Bosun on the way
to West and at the end of the lap she and Dave made up time on the leader when he made
a mess of rounding Home 1. Linda passed Dave coming into Inlet.
Robin Spiller had had trouble with a miss-behaving rudder but by lap 3 was tussling with the
Dabbs/Thurlow Bosun and eventually overtook before Pinkie. Linda on lap 3 overtook Adam
and finished the race in the lead only to be demoted by the handicaps.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. John Dabbs and Rick Thurlow (Bosun)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
5. Robin Spiller (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officer Roger Heasman.