8th September 2024 Race Report

Commodore 6

Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) was the first of a close starting bunch followed by Vicki Duncalf’s Topper
and the Bosun of Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley. On the beat to Pinkie via Home 2 Nathan
continued to lead but the high pointing Solos of Adam Hilton and Dave Perrett overtook the rest.
The winds were light, northerly and unusually consistent. Liam Routley’s Laser came next ahead of
Vicki Duncalf’s Topper and the two Bosuns. After nearly an hour’s sailing and with the fleet well
spread out, Jane Anderson, Officer of the Day, shortened the race from four laps to three.

  1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
  2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
  5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
  6. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
    Retired: Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)

Pursuit 7

Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was first to start with Nathan Pollard’s Laser the last, twenty minutes later.
But the wind had dropped and, when the Topper reached the middle of the Lake, it almost
disappeared, the early starters looking as though they were waiting for the fast boats at the back! At
the beginning of lap 2 the wind strengthened substantially with powerful gusts. Adam Hilton and
Liam Routley retired at the end of the lap. On lap 3 Nathan Pollard took over the lead from Dave
Perrett’s Solo and sailed through the stormy conditions to win.

    1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
    2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
    3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
    4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
    5. Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)
      Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Liam Routley (Laser Full)

    Thanks were given to Jane Anderson who ran the races.

    4th September 2024 Race Report

    Roger’s Bowl 9

    There had been a lot of wind in the morning and as a result some cautious decisions were
    taken for the two o’clock race. The two Solos – Dave Perrett’s and Geoff Floyd’s – flew small
    sails. Of the three Bosuns only Roger Heasman’s had full size sails; John Dabbs’ (Leila Farmer
    crewing) had a reef in the main and Adam Hilton’s (with Linda Spiller) had hoisted small
    Otter sails. Of the Lasers, Sue Murray had a 4.7 whereas Liam Routley had a full-sized sail
    and didn’t care a fig that it capsized him twice.

    The Dabbs/Farmer Bosun crossed the line first with Dave Perrett second and the
    Hilton/Spiller Bosun third. But more important was how many tacks it took to get to Middle.
    The high pointing Solo got round that buoy first but by the end of the lap Sue Murray’s Laser
    had slipped past and led from then on. Roger Heasman kept his Bosun in a very respectable
    third place. Behind him Geoff Floyd and Liam Routley swapped places a time or two. The
    Hilton/Spiller Bosun toured in last except for a brief lead over its Dabbs/Farmer sister when
    a tack went particularly well. The four laps took the leader a few seconds less than an hour
    and the tail-enders twenty minutes more.

    1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
    2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
    3. Roger Heasman and Andy (Bosun)
    4. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
    5. Adam Hilton and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
    6. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
      Retired: Geoff Floyd (Solo)

    Thanks were given to race officers Linda and Robin Spiller.

    1st September 2024 Race Report

    Tamar 9

    Vicki Duncalf reached the start moments too soon and had to return. Roger Heasman (Graham Joyce
    crewing his Bosun) arrived next but had infringed Nathan Pollard’s rights and at the end retired. At
    Dam Green Jane Anderson’s Radial led but by Inlet Nathan Pollard had got his big sailed Laser in
    front where it stayed. The light winds were from the southeast and the Lake was agreeably angler-
    free except for a clump near West which the course avoided, going instead all the way north to Far.
    The first lap took the leader 22 minutes so the race was shortened to two laps. Brian Pollard’s rarely
    seen Taser threatened to take third place for a while and Vicki Duncalf had a spell leading the
    Heasman Bosun.

    1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
    2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
    3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
    4. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
    5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Taser)
      Retired: Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)

    Cup 8

    Robin Spiller got the bow of his Solo over the start line first but could only manage fourth round thefirst buoy where the trio of Lasers – Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller with full sails, Jane Andersonwith a Radial – took over the front of the fleet. The Radial managed to hold onto second place until awell-judged tack by Linda Spiller on the long beat from Far back down to the Dam gave her the place.

    1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
    2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
    3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
    4. Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)
    5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
    6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
    7. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Taser)

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

    25th August 2024 Race Report

    Pursuit 6

    Seven helms considered racing, five signed on to do so, four started the race, two finished it. It was not so much the strength of the base winds – they rarely reached the forecast 15mph – but the chaotic nature of the gusts that made sailing so difficult. Dave Perrett launched his Solo (with a small sail), tasted the tumultuous winds in the middle of the Lake and returned to the shore. Vicki Duncalf(Topper) started this Pursuit race first. She lasted almost a whole lap before retiring. Brian Pollard with Natasha Routley as crew crossed the line next, made it to Pinkie, capsized, righted the boat without assistance and continued to the end, the crew heroically bailing out as they went. James Pollard (Laser Full) came next. He retired after a while because he was worried that he might damage his borrowed Laser. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) started last, overtook the Bosun and won.

    1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
    2. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
      DNS: Dave Perrett (Solo), Retired: James Pollard (Laser Full) Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

    Sailboat 7

    Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) crossed the line first in conditions that remained violent. He gradually
    increased his lead over the only two other entrants willing to brave this unrestful Tamar Lake.

    1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
    2. James Pollard (Laser 4.7)
    3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

    Thanks were given to Geoff Floyd who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

    21st August 2024 Race Report

    Roger’s Bowl 7

    The clouds galloped across the sky from the south-west but when the race started, at water
    level at least, the winds came from the north-west, except for the gusts which came from
    any direction they felt like. Five boats signed on for the race. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow were out in the Bosun. Liam Routley was in his pretty green Laser. Three Solos with small sails took to the water but
    Adam Hilton had one taste of crossing the centre of the Lake and scuttled straight back to
    the slipway. Dave Perrett (Solo) crossed the line first but before the horn. He went back and started last.
    Liam Routley started well and led the field followed by the Heasman/Thurlow Bosun and
    Geoff Floyd’s Solo. The Bosun had some sort of problem leaving Inlet and let the Solos past.
    At Dam Green Dave Perrett was close behind the leading Laser which completed the lap in
    sixteen minutes. Each lap Liam seemed to have trouble getting his Laser to make the
    passage between Inlet and Middle and on lap 2 Dave was able to get past, a lead he
    retained until the end, although only by fifteen seconds on the water.

    1. Dave Perrett (Solo)
    2. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
    3. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
    4. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow (Bosun)
      DNS Adam Hilton (Solo)

    Thanks were given to race officer John Dabbs.

      18th August 2024 Race Report

      Cup 7

      Dave Perrett (Solo, with a small sail) was first over the line. He was at the far end of the start line on
      starboard tack when most of the fleet started on port from the other end. He benefitted from the
      clean air and was still first rounding the first buoy, followed by Jane Anderson. By the time the fleet
      reached the top of the Lake James and Nathan Pollard had exploited their Lasers’ speed and were
      first and second. It was a sunny/cloudy day with a moderate wind and quite powerful gusts, reducing
      as time went on. The Bosuns, Roger Heasman’s with Adam Hilton and Brian Pollard’s with Natasha
      Routley, tussled. The Heasman boat eventually came out on top.

      1. James Pollard (Laser Full)
      2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
      3. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
      4. Roger Heasman and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
      5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      6. Dave Perrett (Solo),
      7. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
        Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo)

      Commodore 5

      The fleet increased to eleven and, with the wind reducing, two of the Solos had full-sized sails. The
      long beat to Far was reduced to Pinkie which Nathan Pollard was the first to reach. He led at the end
      of each lap. Jane Anderson’s Laser 4.7 was never far from Dave Perrett’s Solo; she finishing some
      thirty seconds behind, fourth on the water. Brian Pollard spent most of the race as the lead Bosun
      but lost the position to Roger Heasman on the last lap.

      1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
      2. James Pollard (Laser Full)
      3. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
      4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
      5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      6. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
      7. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
      8. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
      9. Robin Spiller (Solo)
      10. Adam Hilton (Solo)
      11. Liam Routley (Laser Full)

      Thanks were given to Linda Spiller who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

      14th August 2024 Race Report

      Roger’s Bowl 6

      The winds had abandoned their brief sojourn in the East and were blowing from a more
      familiar Northwest at a speed of 13mph, plus gusts of course, but coming over a reasonably
      smooth contour, they were comparatively friendly gusts. It was sunny. There were no
      anglers!

      The four Solos in the race were all equipped with small sails, by agreement among their
      helms. Rob Spiller got his over the start line first followed by John Dabbs with Graham Joyce
      in a reefed Bosun and then Linda Spiller in the sole Laser Radial. Rick Thurlow’s course went
      from a far side start around Zebra to West, then across to Middle and up to Far. Apart from
      a brief reach across the centre of the Lake this was all beating and it put a premium on the
      boat/helm’s ability to point high. The Spiller Laser was first around Zebra but couldn’t make
      west in one tack which Adam Hilton’s Solo could. He took a lead which was not
      subsequently relinquished. The Dabbs/Joyce Bosun, one of three in the race, was third at
      the end of lap 1 but Roger Heasman’s sister ship with Bob Sampson as crew had a full
      mainsail and took over as lead Bosun. Dave Perrett, whose Solo was only fifth at the start
      pulled himself up to be the second of the Solos, third boat to finish. The handicap gave Linda
      Spiller victory by a few seconds.

      1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
      2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
      3. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson(Bosun)
      4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
      5. John Dabbs and Graham Joyce (Bosun)
      6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
        Retired: Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun), Geoff Floyd (Solo)

      Thanks were given to race officer Rick Thurlow

      11th August 2024 Race Report

      Cup 6

      South-easterly winds dictated a start towards the Dam and that meant congestion at Dam Green
      buoy. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) got round first with Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) following and Jane
      Anderson (Laser 4.7) emerging doing penalty turns. The three Solos in the race all had cut down
      sails, amply justified by the strength of the wind gusts. Dave Perrett’s was the last of the three over
      the line but managed his tacks well and was the first of the three at Dam Green. He stayed ahead of
      the other Solos throughout. Vicki Duncalf kept her Topper in touch with the fleet, finishing ten
      minutes behind the leader, and the handicap rewarded her with third place.

      1. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
      2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
      3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      4. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
      5. Dave Perrett (Solo),
      6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
        Retired: Geoff Floyd (Solo)

      Tamar 8

      Nathan Pollard was first round Dam Green in strengthened winds and warm sun. Jane Anderson,
      Bob Sampson, now with a sail two sizes down, and Dave Perrett all converged on the buoy, the Solo
      helm performing penalties afterwards. The two small-sailed Lasers were never far apart but Jane
      Anderson remained in front, not near enough to Nathan Pollard for the handicap to give her victory
      however. The handicap did push the Perrett Solo down below the Pollard/Hilton Bosun which
      finished a minute and a half behind. Vicki Duncalf, another couple of minutes back, was again
      promoted.

      1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
      2. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
      3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      4. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
      5. Brian Pollard and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
      6. Dave Perrett (Solo)

      Thanks were given to Sue Murray who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

      31st July 2024 Race Report

      Roger’s Bowl 5

      It was a very hot afternoon with no wind on arrival at the lake, however just before the start a decent breeze raised the prospect of a good race. 

      Seven boats took to the water, with the added challenge of a group of kayaks close to the start line.  Robin was first over the  line in his solo, followed by John and Leila in the bosun.  Adam deftly slalomed through the kayaks to the first buoy!  Skillfully managed to move from 6th to 1st before the second buoy on the first lap and remained in front throughout.  Four laps, with everyone well spaced out, so no pressure at each buoy and little opportunity to improve position.

      1. Bob Sampson, Laser full
      2. Sue Murray, Laser radial
      3. Adam Hilton, Solo
      4. Linda Spiller, Laser radial
      5. John Dabbs & Leila Farmer, Bosun
      6. Robin Spiller, Solo
        Retired John Bucket, Otter

      Thanks were given to Colin and Louise Witchell who ran the races

      Photo taken just before the start. 

      4th August 2024 Race Report

      Commodore 4

      Dave Perrett (Solo) was first over the line. Brian Pollard (Louise Witchell crewing the Bosun) followed
      but, by the time they reached West, Nathan Pollard had taken a lead he never relinquished. It was a
      day of exceptionally gusty winds coming from many westerly points. This made the centre of the
      Lake an unpredictable place to be. And Bob Sampson’s course had had to concentrate on the central
      buoys because a major fishing competition had made the Devon bank and the upper reaches of the
      Cornwall bank unapproachable by dinghies. There were two Solos in the race and they competed
      fiercely until a capsize put Adam Hilton’s out of contention. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial overtook
      the Solos and pulled away. The Pollard Bosun and Vicki Duncalf’s Topper brought up the rear.

      1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
      2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
      3. Dave Perrett (Solo),
      4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      5. Brian Pollard and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
        Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)

      Pursuit 5

      In this pursuit race six boats started but only three finished; the sudden powerful gusts continuing to
      catch out many helms. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)and Robin Spiller (Solo) joined the fleet and John
      Dabbs took over crewing duties in Brian Pollard’s Bosun. Vicki Duncalf, who started first, led for
      three laps before being overtaken by the Pollard/Dabbs Bosun. Nathan Pollard’s Laser, the last to
      start by a substantial margin, never managed to catch up.

      1. Brian Pollard and John Dabbs (Bosun)
      2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
      3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
        Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo) Linda Spiller (Laser Full) Dave Perrett (Solo)

      Thanks were given to Bob Sampson who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos