8th August 2021 Race Report

by Adam Hilton

by Mandy Pollard 

Commodore 3

It was a day of high winds. The Laser sailors, Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard, flew their smallest sails. Sue Murray, Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf chose little Topper dinghies. Adam Hilton’s Solo and the two Bosuns (Roger Heasman with Linda Spiller and Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert) had more canvas than they needed or perhaps wanted. The fleet started close-hauled towards Zebra with the Anderson and Duncalf Toppers first away. But Bob Sampson was soon overtaking and was second at Zebra. Adam Hilton followed and was leading by the end of the lap. The sun came out but the winds increased their gustiness; the boats spent much of the long reach and run back from Pinky up on the plane and moving very fast indeed. Roger Heasman led the Bosuns and Nathan Pollard was making up ground. After Pinky Bob Sampson took over the lead with Adam Hilton having to spill a lot of wind to keep the boat upright. Nathan Pollard made further progress, going past Roger Heasman’s Bosun on lap 2 and Adam Hilton’s Solo on Lap 3. He was challenging Bob Sampson by the end. At the rear the three Toppers kept changing places as their helms suffered near-capsizes or, in Jane Anderson’s case, went the wrong side of Home 1 and had to go back. At Dam Green, the last buoy before the finish line, Adam Hilton capsized and needed the safety boat’s assistance to stop him drifting onto the dam. He retired. The Commodore Series personal handicaps gave Vicki Duncalf the victory.

  1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  2. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
  3. Sue Murray (Topper)
  4. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
  5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
  6. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
  7. Jane Anderson (Topper)

Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo).

 

Spalding 3

Vicki Duncalf pulled off her habitual excellent start but was followed by Bob Sampson who had overtaken her by the time they reached Zebra. Nathan Pollard also overtook and was second to round that buoy. Well-judged tacks across from Zebra to West made Jane Anderson the lead Topper skipper and put her in front of the dicing Bosuns of Brian Pollard and Roger Heasman. Sue Murray wasn’t giving up, however and headed Jane Anderson at the end of lap 2. The Bosun battle continued until lap 2 when the Heasman craft broke its (borrowed) rudder and had to be beached. At the front the contest continued with Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard taking turns to sneak inside at Dam Green and grab the lead. The Pollard Laser crossed the finish line first.

  1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
  2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
  3. Jane Anderson (Topper)
  4. Sue Murray (Topper)
  5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
  6. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Retired: Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to John Dabbs, Officer of the Day. And to Mandy Pollard for taking the photos.