Teatime Tankard 6
At noon there was no wind. At one there was no wind. The Spillers thought they would just eat their lunch in the shade and go home. Bob Sampson had brought a book. But by 2pm Stephanie Clark, the OOD, had whistled up a few breaths of wind from over the northwest hills and had set a course which went no higher up the Lake than Middle, anywhere beyond being completely glassy.
And so, a little late because no one had wanted to rig if they might not race, the seven boat fleet crossed the line with John Dabbs Bosun first, Adam Hilton’s Solo second and Sue Murray’s Laser Full third. The Lasers, Sue’s and Linda Spiller’s, soon disposed of the Bosun and Solo and Sue got lucky with the wind and pulled out a two minute lead over Linda which she kept to the end. Geoff Floyd’s Solo and Robin Spiller’s Streaker diced, Geoff ending the race nineteen seconds ahead. Bob Sampson, sailing the Club Topper which he would later use for teaching, got himself from last to as high as fourth at one point but was last again by the finish. Adam Hilton’s Solo, having stayed close to Linda Spiller’s Laser, was given the victory by the handicap.
- Adam Hilton (Solo)
- Sue Murray (Laser Full)
- Bob Sampson (Topper)
- John Dabbs (Bosun)
- Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
- Geoff Floyd (Solo)
- Robin Spiller (Streaker)
Teatime Tankard 7
The scheduled race was the first of the Roger’s Bosuns series but there was only one Bosun rigged and in the heat no one wanted to rig any more boats. Even Roger himself wasn’t up for it because he had readied his lovingly refurbished, red white and blue Cherub for its first outing. So another Teatime Tankard was run on a course unchanged except that, with a more reliable looking wind, the fleet ventured as far north as Pinkie.
Robin Spiller crossed the start line first with Adam Hilton second, close to the windward buoy and with Sue Murray in his wake. Sue got position at West and took the lead, again finishing a couple of minutes ahead of the other Laser – Linda’s – but she, all unaware, had twice missed out Home 1 and had to be disqualified. Robin Spiller had kept his Streaker in contention, finishing the first lap in third and the second in fourth but then he retired (‘lost his hat’ the OOD’s note says). The handicap again benefitted the Hilton Solo (two and a half minutes behind Sue Murray’s Laser) and the Dabbs Bosun (seven minutes behind).
- Adam Hilton (Solo)
- John Dabbs (Bosun)
- Sue Murray (Laser Full)
- Geoff Floyd (Solo)
- Roger Heasman (Cherub)
Retired: Linda Spiller (Laser Full) Robin Spiller (Streaker)
Grateful thanks were given to Stephanie Clark , Officer of the Day.