15th October 2023 Race Report

by Adam Hilton

by Mandy Pollard

 

Frostbite 3

Nathan Pollard’s full-sailed Laser had no rival for speed in this Sunday morning’s fleet but he cemented his advantage by crossing the (Home 2) startline first and reaching the southernmost buoy, Dam Green, before anyone else. He ended the race some three and a half minutes ahead of second placed Linda Spiller who was trying to compete with a Laser Radial sail was somewhat more than a square metre smaller. The sun was hazy, the winds were light and coming over the Dam from the southeast and it was cold for the first time this autumn. There were three Solo dinghies in the race and competing with them was the similar-sized but lighter Streaker of Robin Spiller. The beginning of his race was spoilt by having to tack to get the right side of Home 1. Geoff Floyd got his Solo into third place by overtaking the fast starting Bosun of Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert on his way to the Dam. The second Solo, Dave Perrett’s, needed to get clear of the Streaker before starting a battle for third place which carried on for a lap and a half. The third Solo, Adam Hilton’s, suffered a comedy of errors before the race started, its skipper being unable to stop himself being blown onto the lee shore, and shortly after it started, when the main sheet jammed. The boat began last and only began picking up places on the second lap. The Solos didn’t get enough lead over Brian Pollard’s Bosun and the handicap gave him third place behind the flying Lasers.

  1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
  2. Linda Spiller (Laser)
  3. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
  4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
  5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  6. Geoff Floyd (Solo))
  7. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

 

Icicle 3

Nathan Pollard again started first but Linda Spiller tried port tack and didn’t benefit from it, having to work her way past the Pollard Bosun and Perrett Solo before holding second position at the beginning of lap 2. The place wasn’t immune to Solo attack however. Dave Perrett had a spell ahead and Adam Hilton got past until, tacking along the finish line instead of crossing it, he allowed the Spiller Laser second place on the water. The situation was reversed by the handicaps.

  1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
  2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
  3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
  4. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
  5. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
  6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

 

Many thanks to John Dabbs who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.