9th August 2020 Race Report

Covid 19 Sunday Race 8

First across the start line was John Dabbs (Bosun), followed by Robin Spiller (Streaker) and then Graham Joyce, racing his Laser for the first time this season. John Dabbs maintained his advantage and rounded West in the lead but was being harried by first Robin Spiller and afterwards Linda Spiller (Laser Full).

It was a day of very light winds, sometimes no wind at all. The fleet was soon spread out across the middle of the Lake, as though glued to a sheet of glass. The yellow-hulled Solo twins (Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton) found themselves in a central position and able to pick up any breaths the wind gods chose to emit. They reached Pinkie first after multiple slow motion tacks and Adam Hilton – Solo sail number 3300 – rounded it 33 minutes and 33 seconds after the start!

It was good to see a decent complement of Bosuns now that members from different households are permitted to sail double-handed. They were bunched together, Bob Sampson with a family crew, including small granddaughter Amelia, was close to Roger Heasman with regular crew Sally Wills, John Dabbs and the Witchells.

The run back to Dam Green was rather quicker, with sporadic puffs of wind bringing the rear of the fleet closer to the front where Adam Hilton still led Geoff Floyd and Linda Spiller. Nonetheless the race was shortened to one lap which took the leading boats over fifty minutes.

  1. Bob Sampson and crew (Bosun)
  2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
  5. RobinSpiller (Streaker)
  6. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
  7. Graham Joyce (Laser Full)

Retired: Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun), Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Covid 19 Sunday Race 9

John Duncalf, Officer of the Day, shortened the course by omitting the northernmost buoy in order to avoid having the fleet stuck again trying to get up there. But in the event the wind was a touch fresher and more consistent, even having the cheek to capsize Linda Spiller’s Laser at West. Laps of the short course – up to West, across to Home 2 and back to Dam Green – were taking about eight minutes.

Graham Joyce had a great start, but he was well to leeward and soon had to tack, then came across the Commodore on starboard, had to tack again and lost his advantage. John Dabbs was close behind followed by Robin Spiller. Linda Spiller soon took over the lead and held it throughout, with Adam Hilton behind her and with Robin Spiller threatening to overtake him. At the end of lap 1 the single handed Bosun pair of Bob Sampson (now without family) and John Dabbs powered past Home 1 but Graham Joyce, all unawares, went the wrong side of the buoy and could not benefit from his third position on the water at the finish.

  1. Bob Sampson (Bosun)
  2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
  3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  4. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
  5. Linda Spiller(Laser Full)
  6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
  7. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)

Retired: Graham Joyce (Laser Full)

Grateful thanks were given to John Duncalf, Officer of the Day, and to his timekeeper, Vicki Duncalf.