by Adam Hilton
Geoff Floyd
Tamar 1
Sue Murray in her Laser Radial crossed the start line first, rounded Zebra first and reached Inlet first but it all happened in very slow motion. There was very little wind, it was raining and not at all warm. Adam Hilton’s Solo started second but was soon overtaken by Bob Sampson’s Laser Full and a little later by Nathan Pollard’s Laser. The wind abandoned Sue Murray at Inlet; she seemed glued to the buoy, allowing all the following single-handers to catch up and the two Lasers to overtake. Nathan Pollard took over the lead in the drift back down the Lake and arrived at the end of a single lap in just under an hour.
The conditions were even more difficult for the three double-handers which were less able to respond to each tiny zephyr. Roger Heasman, Dave Perrett crewing, retired gracefully (but slowly). Brian Pollard (with Cilla Gilbert), who had started as the lead Bosun, was overtaken by John Dabbs (with Linda Spiller).
The Solo’s superior handicap promoted Adam Hilton above Sue Murray.
| Rank | HelmName | CrewName | Class | Rating | Elapsed | Corrected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Pollard | LASER | 1076 | 0:51:25 | 0:47:47 | |
| 2 | Bob Sampson | LASER | 1076 | 0:51:28 | 0:47:50 | |
| 3 | Adam Hilton | SOLO | 1143 | 0:55:09 | 0:48:15 | |
| 4 | Sue Murray | LASER RADIAL | 1111 | 0:54:33 | 0:49:06 | |
| 5 | John Dabbs | Linda Spiller | BOSUN | 1228 | 1:04:00 | 0:52:07 |
| 6 | Brian Pollard | Cilla Gilbert | BOSUN | 1228 | 1:06:48 | 0:54:24 |
| 7 | Roger Heasman | Dave Perrett | BOSUN | 1228 | RET |
Tamar 2
Sue Murray again got away first but this time made it stick and still led even when the familiar three leading Lasers entered the doldrums at the top of the Lake. Somehow she got through them and made a stately progress to the finish line. Nathan Pollard and then Bob Sampson followed her home.
Adam Hilton, up with the Lasers, was abandoned by the wind at West and retired, eventually being towed home by a passing paddle-boarder! The Bosuns gave up too. The safety boat did a good deal of towing. But as boats were hauled up the slipway and sails taken down the wind returned and the Lake ceased to be glassy; laps would have taken their usual fifteen minutes!
| Rank | HelmName | CrewName | Class | Rating | Elapsed | Corrected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sue Murray | LASER RADIAL | 1111 | 0:43:36 | 0:39:15 | |
| 2 | Nathan Pollard | LASER | 1076 | 0:46:32 | 0:43:15 | |
| 3 | Bob Sampson | LASER | 1076 | 0:47:10 | 0:43:50 | |
| 4 | Adam Hilton | SOLO | 1143 | RET | ||
| 4 | John Dabbs | Linda Spiller | BOSUN | 1228 | RET | |
| 4 | Brian Pollard | Cilla Gilbert | BOSUN | 1228 | RET | |
| 4 | Roger Heasman | Dave Perrett | BOSUN | 1228 | RET |
Many thanks were given to Geoff Floyd who ran the race and took the photographs.