14th April 2024 Race Report

Cup 1

Jane Anderson, sailing her Topper for the first race of the season, got off to a flier but on the long beat up to the top of the Lake Adam Hilton’s Solo overtook and by the time she reached the buoy Dave Perrett’s Solo was close to her stern and overtook on the leg back to West. The sun was always present and providing some warmth even if clouds often obscured it. The winds were north-westerly and reliable except at times at the Dam in the lee of the hill where they became distinctly flukey. Laps were taking fifteen minutes and so Paul Anderson, the Officer of the Day, shortened the course from four laps to three.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)

Sailboat 1

The little fleet was joined by Nathan Pollard’s Laser, by Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7 and by new-comer Liam Routley helming a Club-owned Bosun with Bob Sampson as mentor and crew. Linda Spiller crossed the line a nose ahead of a close–packed fleet but the little sail on her Laser didn’t give her the speed to stay there. Nathan Pollard’s Laser, Adam Hilton’s and Dave Perrett’s Solos went by in that order and well before they reached the top of the Lake. The Bosun stayed ahead of Jane Anderson’s Topper until the end of lap 1 when she overtook only for the position to be reversed a time or two. The winds were stronger; there was time for four laps and the decision whether or not to gibe at West became distinctly tricky.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. Liam Routley and Bob Sampson (Bosun)

Many thanks were given to Paul Anderson who ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.