15th April 2018 race report

AM: Commodore’s Cup1

Three Bosuns with small sails, two Laser 4.7s and two Toppers started the first race in the Commodore series on a day when there was enough wind forecast to make one want to shorten sail even on a Topper, wind which in the event blew very gustily from slightly west of the Dam. All the boats except Brian Pollard and Geoff Floyd’s Bosun were clustered at the end of the pontoon at the start, trying to reach Dam Green without tacking. Bob Sampson got round the buoy first with Nathan Pollard second and that was the way they stayed until the end. The Hilton/Buckett Bosun was the lead double-hander at Dam Green but the Roger Heasman/ Sally Wills Bosun passed it before Middle buoy and Brian Pollard also overtook before the end of the lap. Jane Anderson’s Topper was well up in third and the question was whether Bob Sampson could get far enough ahead of her to overcome the Topper’s handicap. The answer was no; six minutes lead at the finish was not enough to give Bob the victory and the Topper handicap brought Vicki Duncalf’s Topper, which had kept well up with the Bosuns, up from last on the water to fourth.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
7. Adam Hilton and John Buckett (Bosun)

PM: Tamar Memorial Trophy 2

The weather had looked to be calming down over lunch and the two remaining Bosuns (Heasman/Wills and Pollard/Floyd) opted for full size sails, mindful perhaps of the requirement of the Tamar series that the same boat/sail combination is used throughout. The sun came out for the start and Vicki Duncalf got away first. There was another bunched turn at Dam Green with Nathan Pollard emerging having to do a penalty turn and Jane Anderson going in perhaps fifth and coming out first. The Lasers soon asserted themselves, Bob Sampson leading, but Roger Heasman was keeping up well in third. Jane Anderson’s Topper was mostly fourth, although she overtook Roger Heasman for a spell during lap 2, and finished five minutes behind Bob Sampson. The Pollard/Floyd Bosun lost time with a flyaway jib sheet but stayed ahead of Vicki Duncalf. The rain came back.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
4. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Brian Pollard and Sally Wills (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Nicky Buckett and John Savage who officiated and to Mandy Pollard for photography.