by Adam Hilton
Brian Pollard
Teacake 1
Rather a miserable day, grey, gusty, wet, which is probably why the fleet was rather small. Although it might have been a little bigger if Brian Clifton hadn’t had to withdraw his Kestrel when his jib halyard got stuck. The wind was coming from many points around the south west so the start was towards the Dam. Adam Hilton’s Solo was to windward but John Dabbs (with Nicky Buckett crewing) was over the line faster and just led around Dam Green. The Solo had got in front before they went past Middle on the way to Pinkie but the contest was not over, John Dabbs gaining on the multi-tack beat to West, but Adam Hilton taking back the lead on the reach to Inlet and finishing the lap perhaps three boat lengths ahead . Roger Heasman (with Bob Sampson) were a hundred yards behind at the end of lap 1. John Dabbs began lap 2 by overtaking the Solo on the way to Pinkie but Adam Hilton was able to regain the lead during the beat back and Roger Heasman made up a lot of water, bringing him within striking distance of the Dabbs Bosun. But the order stayed the same during lap 3, the Solo finishing a minute in front of the Bosuns, not nearly enough to overcome their handicap advantage.
- John Dabbs and Nicky Buckett (Bosun)
- Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
- Adam Hilton (Solo).
Roger’s Bosuns 4
Brian Pollard’s yellow-hulled Bosun joined the fleet and there was a general redistribution of crew, Bob Sampson going to Brian’s boat, John Dabbs swapping one Buckett for another and Adam Hilton going to crew for Roger Heasman. In the rain and the force 3 to 4 winds. Brian Pollard got to Dam Green first and his lead was never challenged, the boat pointing higher in the beats than either of the other competitors, to the extent that, with the wind shifting, Pinkie to West became a single tack for Brian on the last lap, a feat the other skippers could not match. Roger Heasman and John Dabbs were close at Dam Green on lap 1 but Roger managed to pull away and although the gap between the two Bosuns varied through the race the order did not change.
- Brian Pollard and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
- Roger Heasman and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
- John Dabbs and John Buckett (Bosun)
Grateful thanks were given to Nicky and John Buckett, Officers of the Day.