Chocoholics Regatta

AM: For one week, the Upper Tamar sailing club exchanged racing for 
the usual cups and shields for the more immediate, albeit transient, 
pleasures of racing for prizes of chocolate, with the format on this 
occasion of pursuit races.  On yet another day when gusty westerly winds 
gave helms food for thought, the first boat away was Stephanie Heasman 
in her Topper, with the other boats following at intervals and the last two 
away 16 minutes later.  Stephanie happily held onto the lead for all of the 
first lap, with John Duncalf’s Topper in second place.  The faster boats 
were soon starting to move through the field, however, with Vicki 
Duncalf executing a neat overtaking manoeuvre in her Laser 4.7 by 
gaining the inside line at the Dam buoy to go past David Harris in his 
Otter.  Roger Heasman had a closer encounter with the water than he 
probably intended by capsizing at West mark, an event followed by one 
of the lake’s larger carp attempting to make an even bigger splash as it 
leapt from the water, to show that anything Roger could do, it could do 
better.  Despite this, Roger was going great guns and by the end of the 
second lap his Streaker class dinghy had literally streaked into the lead.   

As the race progressed, the numerous gybe roundings continued to cause 
one or two palpitations amongst helms whose arrival at a mark happened 
to coincide with one of the frequent gusts.  Despite the tricky conditions, 
John Savage was doing well in mid-fleet, coping admirably with the 
Solo’s large battened mainsail on the turns, with Mary Carter also sailing 
smoothly, making the transition back from big boat sailing with aplomb.  
As the Race Officer’s horn sounded for the finish, however, it was Roger 
Heasman who had remained in front, with Vicki Duncalf moving through 
to second, ahead of John Duncalf in third.

Results: 

1st Roger Heasman (Streaker)
2nd Vicki Duncalf (Laser 4.7)
3rd John Duncalf (Topper)
4th Stephanie Heasman (Topper)
5th John Savage (Solo)
6th Mary Carter (Laser)
7th David Harris (Otter)
8th Jane Anderson (Laser)
9th John Weller (Laser)
Sue Murray (Topper Topaz), Stuart Mealing (Topper) rtd 

  
PM: The morning course was repeated with the wind gusting between 
force 3 and 4.  Stuart Mealing, who has only just started sailing, was due 
to get away as the hare in the Topper but seemed to get jammed on the 
start line despite Stephanie rallying him from the shore with ‘go Stuart 
go’.  David Harris in his Otter was next due off but got into irons waiting 
for the start horn. John Duncalf went next in his Topper sailing hard 
followed by John Savage two minutes later in his Solo.  The next thee to 
go were a clutch of ladies with Sue Murray in a Topper, Vicki Duncalf in 
a Laser 4.7 and Mary Carter in a fully rigged Laser. Paul Whybrow in his 
Solo, John Weller and Jane Anderson were the last  three to go with John 
and Jane in fully rigged Lasers. Jane managed to sailed very close to the 
wind and immediately started gaining ground on all the other boats.  At 
the front Stuart David and John bunched up at Far, with John Duncalf 
establishing a lead by the time Home 2 buoy was reached. This was a 
difficult gybe and as a novice Stuart recovered really well from a tricky 
situation, with John Savage also having an awkward moment. Sue 
Murray handled the gybe well, whilst Vicki Duncalf (who is still getting 
used to the foibles of a Laser) capsized and in the process let Mary Carter 
and Paul Whybrow through. Stuart then struggled at Zebra and Sue 
gained fast on him going to Dam Green buoy with Paul hard on their 
heels. Jane was as ever comfortable with the gusty conditions and planed 
well from Zebra to Dam Green, in the process passing Vicki.

At the start of the second lap, John Savage began to close down John 
Duncalf for the lead with Mary managing to overtake Sue Murray and 
with Jane catching them fast. Paul Whybrow was forced to retire when a 
rigging pin bent and parted company leaving one of his mast shrouds 
floating free.  The start of lap three saw Mary was just holding off Jane 
with the two Johns still out in front. David, Vicki and Sue formed the 
next ‘discrete bunch’ followed by John Weller, with Stuart now bringing 
up the rear.  As the race closed Jane swept imperiously into the lead and 
John Savage managed to pass John Duncalf, just able to hold on for 
second place to the finish. Mary finished well for fourth place.

Results: 

1st Jane Anderson (Laser)
2nd John Savage (Solo)
3rd John Duncalf (Topper)
4th Mary Carter (Laser)
5th Vicki Duncalf (Laser 4.7)
6th Sue Murray (Topper)
7th John Weller (Laser)
8th David Harris (Otter)
9th Stuart Mealing (Topper)
Paul Whybrow (Solo) rtd

Putting the two race results together, the first prize in the Chocoholics 
Regatta went to John Duncalf, with John Savage and Vicki Duncalf tieing 
for second and Jane Anderson taking third.