Frostbite 7

Liam Routley in the Laser Radial was the first to cross the start line with Vicki Duncalf’s Topper second. The winds were racing over the Dam from the south with vicious gusts blackening the Lake waters. Everyone had hoisted the smallest sails available to them but there were nonetheless several capsizes during the race. Dave Perrett’s Solo and Harriet Cox’s Laser 4.7 followed the leaders round Dam Green, the first buoy, and as the lap continued went past the little Topper which had slipped to last at the end of the first lap. However by the end of the second various capsizes and other mishaps had enabled Vicki to get up to fourth place behind the consistent third placed Bosun of Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley. At the front Dave Perrett’s small-sailed Solo continually threatened to catch Liam Routley’s Laser but did not do so until rigging problems on the Laser put Dave ahead on the last tack of the last lap. The handicap rewarded Vicki Duncalf’s efforts but demoted Dave Perrett.

1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
2. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
6. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)

Pursuit 7

Three hardy helms signed on and were rewarded with gentler winds. The sixty minutes of a Pursuit race were cut to thirty. Harriet Cox started first with the Pollard Bosun starting a minute later and Dave Perrett following after two and a half minutes. The Solo quickly over-hauled the Bosun.

1. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Adam Hilton, Officer of the Day, and to Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard in the safety boat.

Frostbite 6

Dave Perrett crossed the starting line in a clear first place and began the long beat to West White Buoy, the first mark of the course. His Solo was flying a cut down sail because the north westerly winds were viciously strong and gusty, enough for one competitor to have taken to the water only to scuttle back to the shore before the race had even started. The Perrett Solo was followed by Bob Sampson and, at a distance, Linda Spiller, both in Lasers equipped with their smallest 4.7 sails. Linda had also considered retiring but gamely took on the elements and raced.

Bob Sampson reached West in first place, his early tack towards the Cornwall bank more advantageous than Dave Perrett’s long beat towards the Devon Inlet. The three boats set off up the Lake in close formation. Leaving Pinkie, the northernmost buoy, to starboard meant a distinctly risky gibe. Granny tacks were sometimes preferred. The return towards the Dam with the wind behind them was conducted bows raised on the plane and at great speed; indeed laps were only taking ten minutes. Everyone managed not to capsize, although Bob Sampson had the end of his boom in the water a couple of times and only just saved the boat from overturning. Once safely on shore, the three competitors professed relief that Vicki Duncalf, Officer of the Day, had shortened the race from four laps to three.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
   DNS: Adam Hilton (Solo)

With the winds continuing to strengthen the second race was not run.

Grateful thanks were given to Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley in the safety boat and to Vicki Duncalf, Officer of the Day.

Roger’s Bowl 15

It had rained all morning and it was cold but the northwesterlies were forecast to be gentle and the rain to go away. With this prospect a dozen club members came to the Lake and eight boats were signed on for the race. Just when all the sail choices had been made, a squall came over with powerful gusts which turned the placid waters of the Lake into an angry sea. A couple of helms rapidly put up smaller sails and another contemplated staying ashore.

But the squall passed, the rain stopped and the agreeably gentle and ungusty northwesterlies returned.

Dave Perrett (OOD and safety boat assistant to Brian Pollard) set an interesting course. A Home 2 starting line was followed by a beat to West White, some running to Zebra and Dam Green and another beat to Pinkie, which, if your boat pointed very high, could be reached in two tacks. The lap ended with a trip back to Inlet, which, in the familiar Inlet way, featured very uncertain winds indeed.

Bob Sampson’s little blue Topper crossed the starting line first with Nathan Pollard’s Aero 6 second and Sue Murray’s Laser 4.7 next. The Aero and then Adam Hilton’s Solo had started from the windward end of the line and that proved advantageous, the two boats reaching West in front. The rest of the fleet followed in the order Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7), John Dabbs with Linda Spiller in the Bosun, Rob Spiller with a small sail on his Solo and Roger Heasman with Teresa Cox in a reduced canvas club Bosun.

Nathan’s Aero was harassed by Adam’s Solo throughout the first lap but course confusion put Adam the wrong side of Home 2 at the beginning of lap 2. Sue Murray had in any case been catching him and did overtake at Inlet. On lap 3 a new squall made sailing very uncomfortable, capsizing Nathan’s Aero. It was also cold – Rob retiring his Solo to go and get warm. Harriet lost time putting right a course mistake. At the finish Nathan wasn’t far enough ahead for Sue’s 1216 handicap not to trump his 1099.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
3. Bob Sampson (Topper)
4. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
5. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)
6. Roger Heasman and Teresa Cox (Bosun)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Rob Spiller (Solo)

Many thanks to Brian Pollard and Dave Perrett who together ran both the safety boat and the race hut.

Cup 11

First over the start line was Nathan Pollard’s Aero 5, followed by Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun), Liam Routley (Laser Radial) and Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7) The winds were quite powerful and gusty north-westerlies. Nathan held his lead up to Middle and from then on. He was followed by the Pollard/Routley Bosun, Liam Routley’s Laser Radial and Harriet Cox’s 4.7. Liam managed to get past Brian/Tash before West.

On the second lap Liam Routley distanced himself from the Pollard/Routley Bosun while Harriet Cox caught them up but could not quite overtake before the start of the 3rd lap. The handicaps gave the Bosun and the Laser Radial exactly equal times!

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun) & Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
3. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)

Frostbite 5

The fleet was very close together at the start line. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 5 was only just ahead of Liam Routley’s Laser Radial with BrianPollard/Tash Routley very close behind him and Harriet Cox following on. Nathan was first around Pinkie followed by Brian/Tash, Liam and Harriet. Liam then overtook the Bosun before West and Harriet managed a quick recovery after a capsize. The course had been changed for the second race introducing two gybes at West and Inlet but some found granny tacks were the safer way to go.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
3. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
4. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)

Grateful thanks were offered to Bob Sampson for running the races.

Roger’s Bowl 14

There was very little wind; what there was came from the southwest. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 9, with its towering mast, behaved as though there was a perfectly normal wind and made the tack from the end of the pontoon to Dam Green with ease and in first place, a position never relinquished until the handicap decided that it was not far enough ahead of Bob Sampson’s Laser Full which had rounded Dam Green in second place, chased, not very effectively, by the Solos of Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton. Next came Ian Chatterton in the Enterprise followed by Sabrina, a visitor from Instow in Leila Farmer’s Laser Radial. Finally John Dabbs’ Bosun, in a start he later described as ‘disastrous’ (there really wasn’t enough wind for a Bosun) crewed by his Wednesday regular Leila Farmer.

There was enough time within the hour for two laps. Adam ended up the leading Solo sailor. Ian got his Enterprise up to fourth. John and Sabrina retired.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 9)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)

Many thanks to Brian Pollard who combined manning both the safety boat and the race hut.

Frostbite 4

3 boats took to the water, The Bosuns of Brian Pollard, with Natasha Routley as crew, and of Adam Hilton, with Vicki Duncalf and the Aero 6 of Nathan Pollard. Both Bosuns sported reduced sails. The winds were coming from south east with nasty squalls. Adam’s Bosun started first, with Brian’s almost alongside him. Nathan started third but quickly took the lead to Dam Green. Adam had the inside line so Brian was obliged to give him water on the buoy.

Nathan quickly increased his lead, while the Bosuns competed going to White West. By Pinkie Brian had established a lead over Adam. Coming back down the lake, Adam had problems with his mainsheet jamming and retired. Brian’s Bosun went the wrong side of Home one and so was forced to retire, leaving Nathan as the sole finisher.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
   Retired: Adam Hilton and Vicki Duncalf (Bosun), Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Tamar 11

The winds moved to south west with fewer squalls. Bob Sampson, in a Bosun, gave the helm to Teresa Cox, a novice, and used the reduced Bosun rig. Nathan Pollard kept his 6 metre sail on the Aero and two Lasers, helmed by Linda Spiller and Harriet Cox, competed with small 4.7 Laser sails,. Vicki Duncalf raced her Topper and Brian Pollard sailed his Graduate. Brian started first, but Nathan quickly took the lead. The rest remained bunched going around Dam Green and on towards Home 2. Realising that she wouldn’t make Home Two Harriet tacked onto starboard, forcing Brian and Vicki to tack as well. This allowed Linda Spiller to move up into second. Meanwhile, Teresa was having a rather lonely race at the back! Unfortunately, Harriet passed the wrong side of Zebra buoy which eliminated her from the race. Brian and Vicki continued dicing, with Brian finishing slightly ahead.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
5. Teresa Cox and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
   Retired: Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)

Roger’s Bowl 13

The overcast skies, cool temperature and usable east wind reminded us that we are now well into Autumn.  However, it was a welcome sight to see seven boats on the water. 

The Cox family was well represented with Harriet in Bob’s Laser Full, Charlotte crewing for Roger in the Club’s Bosun, and Teresa with John in his Bosun.

The majority of the fleet crossed the start line practically together resulting in some inter-boat banter, but the sequence was more or less established as they rounded Dam Green, led as usual by Nathan in his Aero 7.   Adam, Linda and Harriet stayed in contact throughout the race with each other, some way ahead of the Bosuns.  The Bosuns were having their own tussle with John ahead throughout the first lap but lost the lead following a clumsy gybe around Inlet on the second lap.  However, during ensuing the tacking contest from Middle to the finish on the final lap, John managed catch Roger and beat him to the finish on a favourable tack.

Geoff clipped Inlet buoy on his first lap and, after completing his penalty turn, was unable to recover lost ground.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. John Dabbs and Teresa Cox (Bosun)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Roger Heasman and Charlotte Cox (Bosun)
6. Harriet Cox (Laser Full)
7. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Thanks to Dave Perrett for OOD and Bob Sampson & Dave Perrett for providing safety boat cover.

Frostbite 3

The six sailors who started the race at 12 o’clock were pleased that the grey skies and light winds very quickly turned to sunshine and light to moderate breezes. Its was a clean getaway on the first of 5 laps with David Perrett in his Solo initially taking the better position on the line to take the lead, keeping it heading towards the dam from Jane Anderson (Laser Radial) & Liam Routley (Laser) close behind. Behind them were Brian Pollard & Tash Routly (Graduate) closely followed by Harriet Cox (Laser Radial) having just passed  Vicki Duncalf supporting the cast in her Topper. The positions stayed the same until the end of lap 2 when action at the Dam Bouy spiced things up for a while. Closing on the buoy, Jane first past David then, Liam passes both Jane & David and then Jane re-taking the lead with David 2nd & Liam 3rd. By the middle of the lap Liam finally manages a smart move on David to take 2nd place. Behind them Brian + Tash & Harriet were still having a ding dong battle for 4th place with Vicki never far away and sailing a good steady race. End of lap 3 Liam nips in to take 1st place again from Jane but she has the better inside line to the Dam Bouy. Lap 4 no changes, Liam lost a little time to Jane at Dam Bouy again by altering a little too early and snuggled more to make the mark but managed to hold the lead into the final lap. Harriet is now a good 4th place with Brian & Tash 5th and Viicki always close in contention. At the finish, line honours went to Liam, Jane 2nd and David 3rd. Harriet crossed the line 4th, Brian & Tash 5th and Vicki a good 6th which with handicaps applied gave her a victory that was well earned.

Results:

1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Liam Routley (Laser)
4. David Perrett (Solo)
5. Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)
6. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley.

Cup 10

The second race course was adjusted to bring in a longer course with more buoys to round and a couple of light air patches. At the gun it was Nathan Pollard who was quickest away in his Aero 7, then Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7), Linda Spiller (Laser Radial), Liam  Routley (Laser), Harriet Cox (Laser Radial), Brian Pollard + Tash Routley (Graduate), Roger Heasman + Charlotte Cox (Bosun) & Vicki Duncalf (Topper). Places remained similar for the first part of lap 1 but three of the boats unfortunately went around the wrong mark and were out of contention leaving 5 boats out of the initial 8 to continue the quest for places. More befell the fleet before the end with 2 more competitors leaving the chase to just 3 boats and Nathan having only to play it steady and cross the line first with Roger and Charlotte next and Vicki following on at the rear.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Roger & Charlotte (Bosun)

Bad luck to those who were not placed, at least the sun shone to make it a pleasurable day for all.

Thanks to Mandy Pollard for photos and to Paul Anderson for running the races and writing this report.

Roger’s Bowl 12

It was an overcast day but the morning’s drizzle had passed and there was the odd peek of sunshine to brighten the afternoon. The north-west wind, whilst not strong, was unpredictable.

Four boats took part in the race, including Charlotte, new to racing, who joined in for part of the course in a club Topper to gain some valuable experience.

Progress to first buoy was challenging, with the wind playing tricks at Inlet. Nathan (Aero 7) arrived there with a clear lead and remained ahead for the rest of the race. Leila was in charge of John’s Bosun (with John as crew) and was in second place for much of the race. Harriet (Laser Radial) caught up a few times and eventually passed the Bosun, despite making a couple of detours to check on Charlotte’s progress.

Nathan was first to finish. Harriet and Leila arrived in second and third places respectively, but the Bosun’s handicap advantage swapped these positions in the final result.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Leila Farmer and John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)
   Retired: Charlotte Cox (Topper)

Thanks to Brian, Dave and Teresa who shared safety boat cover and OOD duties.

Rogers Bowl Eleven Race

Seven boats took to the water to start the race. The wind supposedly from the south east was playing dirty tricks. As a result the club Bosun being helmed by Jack Knigh and his mother Tess, both novice racers retired, before race start.

As the race started, the fully rigged Laser of Harriet Cox and the Bosun helmed by John Dabbs and crewed by Leila Farmer, crossed the line almost simultaneously. However, the Bosun had more speed and sped off towards Dam Green. Tacking for the buoy the Bosun came to a standstill, allowing Harriet to take the lead. Meanwhile, Tom Knight, another novice racer in a Pico dinghy, had also made a good start over the line, but was almost immediately was passed by Robin Spiller and Geoff Floyd in their Solo dinghies, with Bob Sampson in his re-rigged Topper Bringing up the rear.

John Dabbs and Harriet Cox, then spent the first two laps duking it out around the various buoys and having a clash of boats, at Inlet buoy. This gave John the race lead back, as Harriet did her penalty turns. (Harriet also managed to have a capsize doing an athletic roll tack!) Having quickly righted the Laser, Harriet then set of again in pursuit of the Dabbs Bosun.

Meantime, after his good start Robin Spiller was overtaken by a determined Geoff Floyd, who managed to retain his third position on the water until race end. Tom Knight was beginning to find the switch about wind really tricky and having fallen to last position on the water, decided to call it a day. (Well done Tom for your first ever race!)

Harriet’s steely determination paid off, as by the end of the race she had put distance between herself and John/Leila, who crossed the line second. Geoff who had been working hard to catch up finished in good time, was third over the line, with Robin fourth and Bob, a hard worked last.

Many thanks to Brian and Nathan Pollard for neglecting their racing, to crew the race support safety boat.

OOD: Roger Heasman.

Results:

1. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer, Bosun
2. Bob Sampson, Topper
3. Harriet Cox, Laser
4. Geoff Floyd, Solo
5. Robin Spiller, Solo
   Retired: Tom Knight Pico and Jack and Tess Knight, Bosun.