AM: Sailboat trophy 2

With the wind blowing a force 5 and with gusts well in excess of force 6 only four 
boats were prepared to take to the water.  The start was very lively, with the boats 
trying to avoid novice windsurfers recumbent in the water. David Higgs, sailing the 
Laser 4.7, got away first with everybody working hard to keep the boats upright on 
the beat to West.

Bob Sampson, who was giving Simon Veal a crewing taster in the RS200, steamed 
past everybody to lead heading for Pinkie.  David Higgs fell foul of a wind gust at 
West and capsized.  Nicky Buckett sailing her Topper was doing remarkably well and 
the subject of good advice from spectator sailors who outnumbered those on the lake!  
Roger Heasman in the Laser 4.7 managed to surge into the lead on the reach from 
Pinkie to Dam Green, whilst Nicky following in Bob’s wake used it to slip stream 
him.

As the boats headed again for West David Higgs was doing well to catch up to the 
three boats in front and hugged Roger’s stern determined to pass him going round 
Pinkie. Disaster struck both boats though with a huge gust dumping their helms in the 
water. Bob and Nicky were also doing battle with Bob’s crew Simon struggling with 
the spinnaker. Bob however managed to pass Nicky at Pinkie by stealing her wind.
Roger then hit Middle buoy immediately capsizing again, with the rescue boat having 
to come to his aid as the boat drifted upside down towards Inlet. Bob and Simon 
although seemingly well in the lead started to struggle with the sudden nought to sixty 
gusts, making a wonderful rock and roll sight, with the spinnaker bursting with air. 
Nicky had the Topper bow riding high, sitting right at the back and screaming along at 
high speed. (Scream being the literal word!).  David had again done well to catch up 
and although it seemed as if Bob was pulling away, fickle fate took a hand, as the RS 
capsized on the reach back to dam. Simon seemed reluctant to get on the centre plate 
alongside Bob but eventually did, which enabled them to right the boat and still be in 
the lead. Not for long though, as they capsized again and David Higgs steamed 
through to take the lead, with Nicky creaming along on his tail. David crossed the line 
first but well deserved handicap honours went to Nicky.  

Results: 

1st Nicky Buckett (Topper)
2nd David Higgs (Laser 4.7)
3rd Bob Sampson and Simon Veal (RS200) 
Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7) rtd  

PM: Tamar Cup 7

Despite the weather continuing to look more suitable for a mad-March morning than a 
mid-summer afternoon, five boats took to the water, apparently all crewed and helmed 
by adrenaline-junkie sailors.  Bob Sampson had swapped running mates, taking up 
Mary Carter’s ‘glutton for punishment’ offer to crew the RS200 again ‘when the wind 
was stronger’, thus freeing Simon Veal to take out his Laser with a borrowed 4.7 rig.  
Waiting for the start, the helms were clearly faced with a lake of two halves: the 
obvious terrors of whitecaps and gusts estimated at Beaufort Scale 6/7 across the 
middle of the reservoir, contrasting with the calm of the apparently more sheltered 
water in front of the clubhouse that was nevertheless frequently ripped apart by 
vicious swirls of wind coming out of nowhere from many points of the compass.  
Nicky Buckett’s Topper was too early across the line and had to double back, leaving 
Simon Veal to make the best start.  Roger Heasman was also going well, accelerating 
towards Nicky when she was on port tack and forcing her to turn away.  To 
compound all the sailors’ discomfort, a sudden squall of monsoon-like intensity swept 
across the lake, drenching everybody on the way down and with raindrops almost 
seeming to bounce off the water so hard as to soak them again on the way up.   Not 
that many sailors stayed dry for long in any event, with most boats suffering from 
multiple capsizes during the race: David Higgs was first to go for an early bath during 
the pre-race countdown, but the RS200 achieved maximum points for style on the 
reach up the lake, Bob and Mary flying the big blue gennaker as they left the West 
mark in a spectacular burst of acceleration, before crashing over in a jaw-dropping 
wipeout that produced more foam than a Fairy Liquid advert.

Simon meanwhile had consolidated his lead with some high-speed planes and by the 
end of the first lap had pulled away a good 50yards in front of rival Laser sailors 
David Higgs and Roger Heasman, who were closely contesting second place.  Both 
Roger and David went over at various points of the next lap, however, so that the 
Topper was left to take up the chase behind Simon.  The RS200 continued to provide 
an appreciative group of spectators with more thrills than Alton Towers, alternating 
impressive bursts of speed with sudden catastrophes and lengthy pauses for righting 
the boat; as a result, they were lapped, firstly by Simon, before suffering the indignity 
of being passed by the Topper.  After their early close-quarters tussling, David Higgs 
began to move away from Roger Heasman, but Simon was by now uncatchable 
(barring accidents) and he pulled further away to take line honours for the first time at 
the club, almost two minutes ahead of the Topper in second place and David a further 
three minutes back.  After completion of the Portsmouth Yardstick calculations, 
Simon just failed to clinch the win by a tiny margin and Nicky Buckett took the race 
on handicap, robbing Simon of victory by a mere five seconds.  All the helms came 
off the water with broad grins on their faces from the exhilaration of  their high-speed 
duel with the elements.  Congratulations are due to all who sailed for their courage 
and perseverance, with thanks to William Pepworth for keeping a vigilant eye in the 
rescue boat.

Results: 

1st Nicky Buckett (Topper)
2nd Simon Veal (Laser 4.7)
3rd David Higgs (Laser 4.7)
4th Roger Heasman (Laser 4.7)
5th Bob Sampson and Mary Carter (RS 200)