Frostbite 1

The north-westerlies were super-light and so Nathan Pollard had lofted the Aero’s biggest sail – the 9 – which took him over the line first and away, never to be challenged. Jane Anderson was modest with a 4.7 on her Laser. She got away next followed by Adam Hilton’s Solo, also with a small sail. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley had chosen to race the Graduate and overtook the Solo on the way to Inlet. Here the bushes on the headland blanketed the wind, making getting away from the buoy a tedious business. Liam Routley with a full sail on his Laser was slow to assert himself but overtook the Solo on the way back up the Lake. Progress remained painfully slow and what had been planned as a four lap race was shortened to two.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 9)
2. Jane Anderson Laser 4.7
3. Adam Hilton (Solo S)
4. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Graduate)
5. Liam Routley (Laser F)

Pursuit 7

Vicki Duncalf’s Topper started first in this pursuit race and Nathan Pollard’s Aero 9 last, 23 minutes later. His task was to get to the front in what remained of 68 minutes of racing. He made it. Jane Anderson, who’d started second, a mere eight minutes after the start of the sixty eight, retained her position by overtaking the Topper.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 9)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
3. Liam Routley (Laser F)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Graduate)
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)

The Lakes Trust offered no safety boat so the Club was particularly grateful to Bob Sampson and Jenny Routley who provided cover as well as running the races. Mandy Pollard took the photos.

Roger’s Bowl 9

Some sailors were put off by the wind but in the event the northwesterlies were more exhilarating than frightening and, by the standards of Tamar Lake, gust-free. Even so all three boats that took to the water – two Solos and a Bosun – flew small sails.

Dave Perret was easily first away although even he wasn’t particularly close to the line when the horn blew. Geoff Floyd and the Heasman/Sampson Bosun were on opposite tacks but crossed the line at almost the same moment; Geoff a touch ahead. Where he remained, despite several moments when it looked like the Bosun would get in front.

It was a tacking race. Four tacks to Middle, another to Inlet, more from West to Pinkie. Inlet was well-sheltered from the wind and took an age to get away from. Coming back from Pinkie was a running-fest. Some helms gybed after West on their way to Dam Green; some stayed on starboard and gybed at the dam.

Dave completed three laps (of a planned four) in fifty minutes. Geoff took another twelve; Roger and Bob a further minute and a half.

Results:

1. Dave Perrett (Solo)
2. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
3. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)

Adam Hilton ran the race.

Tamar 9

Nathan Pollard (Aero 5) was away first with Bob Sampson, comfortable in his Laser 4.7, second, a welcome Steve Axford third and Brian Pollard with Tash Routley fourth. All then successfully negotiated a gybe at Far. Heading back down to white west, Steve Axford in the Laser Radial overtook Bob Sampson with the Bosun hanging on.

Nathan Pollard started to distance himself from the rest of the squall-hit fleet. Axford had also distanced himself from Sampson but the Bosun was almost alongside going around Home 1. Sailing back up to Far however, it started to drop back.

On Lap 2 all boats again successfully negotiating the tricky gybe at Far but spread apart. The gusts coming from the west were giving them all a difficult time. Steve Axford maintained the distance between himself and the leading Aero, admirable considering how infrequently he races his Laser. No further position changes took place, but the Bosun managed to close up on Bob Sampson between Far and White West buoys.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)
3. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)

Spare 3/Sailboat 1

It was a good start by the Lasers and the Aero although the Bosun with Tash Routley helming took longer to reach Home 2. It was drizzly and misty again with ever-stronger gusts.

As the race progressed Steve Axford forged ahead of Nathan Pollard but fierce competition between them continued for the rest of the race, the little Laser 4.7 and the Bosun merely following on.

1. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
4. Tash Routley and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

Many thanks to Vicki Duncalf and Roger Heasman who ran the races.

Roger’s Bowl 8

Some decent little northeasterlies; not too gusty. Nathan Pollard, a seven on the Aero, zoomed off to Zebra in his habitual fashion. Bob Sampson and Cilla Gilbert in the Club Bosun were pretty evenly matched for speed with the three small-sailed Solos and Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7. Dave Perrett was the first Solo to round White West with Linda Spiller and Adam Hilton dicing behind him. Adam Hilton got to Pinkie only to capsize while gibing round the buoy.

Linda was now comfortably second on the run to Dam Green with Bob and Dave close at the buoy but separating from then on. Indeed the subsequent three laps saw no change in the order of boats!

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo S)
4. Bob Sampson and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo S)Retired: Adam Hilton (SoloS)

Many thanks Roger Heasman for running the race.

Cup 9

The Aero 6 of Nathan Pollard was first away but the remarkable start was by the Bosun of Brian Pollard and Tash Routley. They were second around the first buoy, Dam Green, ahead of a squabbling bunch of faster boats, mostly Solos impeding Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7. The three Solos all had small sails – the base southerlies were friendly but the gusts were vicious. Dave Perrett’s was the first Solo to start and he kept ahead of the others. Bob Sampson in the smaller-sailed Aero 5 had a terrible start but got himself up to second by the end of the first lap. There were only two official finishers; all the others managed at different points in the race to go the wrong side of course buoys.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
   Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo S).
   Disqualified: Adam Hilton (Solo S) Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun), Dave Perrett (Solo S), Bob Sampson (Aero 5)

Commodore 7

The Aeros again dominated, although it took Bob Sampson most of the first lap to get up to second. He finished seven minutes behind the flying Pollard Aero 6 even though Nathan had lost time capsizing on lap 3. The Brian Pollard, Tash Routley Bosun was again well-matched with the small-sailed Solos and Laser, reaching the top of the Lake ahead of them but being overtaken during the multi-tack return. Linda Spiller led the non-Aero bunch at the end of each lap.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo S)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Bob Sampson (Aero5)

Many thanks to Roger Heasman, who ran the first race, to Vicki Duncalf who ran the second and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Tamar 8

The winds were predictably fickle, swinging from nearly due south to northeast and gusty enough to cause two capsizes while leaving the fleet in the doldrums for five minutes just after Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 had crossed the finish line. Nathan had started first followed by Bob Sampson in another Aero 7. Bob never really got away from the rest of the fleet; Dave Perrett’s Solo was only convincingly headed on the way back from Pinkie on the last lap. Dave had benefitted from taking the opposite tack to the rest of the fleet at the start and getting himself from sixth across the start line to third around the first buoy, Dam Green.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Liam Routley (Laser)
6. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)

Commodore 6

A course change was required for the second race of the day. With the wind just as changeable after lunch, the decision was made to cut the length of the laps by only going as far as the Middle buoy and doing four laps instead of two. The two Aeros were over the line first, Bob followed closely by Nathan, then the two Lasers and the Graduate but with Tash helming during a race for the first time. The order of boats was much the same during the race, Nathan soon led after rounding the first mark and managed to lap Tash & Brian, as did Bob later on, during his last lap but not managing to catch Liam.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
3. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
4. Liam Routley (Laser)
5. Tash Routley and Brian Pollard (Graduate)

Many thanks to Robin Spiller, who again ran the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Roger’s Bowl 5

It was another very gusty day, the northwesterlies bucketing down the Lake, but it was agreeably cool without actually raining on us. The Aeros had 5s, the Lasers 4.7s, the Solos cut-down sails.

Nathan shot off and was never seen again. He was finishing his four laps as the back of the field finished their third. Adam Hilton’s Solo started second but was gone after a lap, out-gusted.

The real race was between Bob Sampson (Aero 5), who, impeded by the Hilton Solo, started sixth but got himself up to second place, challenged by Sue Murray (Laser 4.7) and for a long time by Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7) until she let go her tiller at Pinkie, capsized, went aground and unsurprisingly found it hard to recover lost water. Dave Perrett (Solo) observed from behind until Linda’s moment enabled him to gain a place. The Dabbs/Heasman Bosun towed Geoff Floyd’s Solo throughout, even leading him to go the wrong side of home1 on a couple of laps. Both boats were DISQ.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)
   Disq; John Dabbs and Roger Heasman (Bosun), Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to Robin Spiller, who again ran the race.

Sailboat 6

Bob Sampson went ahead in the multi-tack beat to Pinkie Buoy with Liam Routley starting close behind on the opposite tack wt others going with him to avoid a gaggle of paddleboarders. Jane Anderson beat Bob to Pinkie with Liam Routley and Linda Spiller close behind and three Solos in a pack with Brian and Tash in the Graduate following on. On the run down to the Big Yellow buoy, Bob Sampson overtook Jane Anderson and Liam Routley, Linda Spiller. The winds proved more westerly than expected meant more criss-crossing to the West buoy. Liam caught Jane Anderson at Dam Green but lost his position after avoiding more paddleboarders. Positions stayed much the same on the second lap when winds were more gentle; they picked up for the third.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
3. Bob Sampson (Aero 6)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Liam Routley (Laser)
6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
7. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)

Cup 8

The Graduate was first over the line but Bob Sampson was first up to Pinkie. Then came the Graduate, Jane Anderson’s Laser 4.7, two Solos and Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7. On the run back the Pollard/Routley Graduate was fighting side by side with the Anderson Laser. They led at Dam Green but were overtaken shortly after. Their tussling continued throughout the race. Linda Spiller gained a small lead over the two Solos and caught up to the Graduate on the third lap.

Results:

1. Bob Sampson (Aero 6)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Graduate)

Thanks go to Nathan Pollard, Officer on Duty, and to photographer, Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 4

It was hot and it was gusty; very hot and very gusty. Bob Sampson had a five on his Aero; Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton had small sails on their Solos – neither of them finished the race. The heroes were Linda Spiller who risked a Radial on her Laser and Dave Perrett with 8.7 square metres of canvas up the mast of his Solo. These two sparred throughout, Dave starting first and leading at the end of lap 1 but Linda taking over on lap 2 and starting a mutiny which ended the whole exhausting and precarious business at the end of lap 2.

Results:

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Bob Sampson (Aero 5)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo) Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Thanks to Robin Spiller, who ran the race..

Commodore 5

Liam was first over the line in a light variable breeze. The Graduate and Laser were soon following the 2 Aeros with the 2 Solos close behind the pack with Roger in his Miracle at the rear but moving well after a slow start. With a slow beat to Pinkie buoy, the Graduate gradually gained on Robin and Dave in the Solos. At Pinkie Robin struggled to make the buoy and was overtaken by Dave who then passed the Graduate on the run back to Dam Green buoy with Robin tailing. The second lap saw Nathan extending his lead on Bob and Liam retiring with a broken mast along with Robin who missed H1 buoy at end of the lap. Nathan lapped Roger on the way back up to Pinkie though Roger retired anyway after missing Zebra buoy and nudging West buoy.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 9)
2. Bob Sampson (Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Liam Routley (Laser), Robin Spiller (Solo) and Roger Heasman (Miracle)

Pursuit 5

Only 4 sailors entered the second race. With the wind freshening slightly over lunchtime Nathan swapped his 9m sailor for a smaller 7m sail. As with the rest of the pursuit race series, the length of the race is predetermined at 68 minutes with the slowest boat, Vicki’s Topper, starting at 0 minutes. Following were Dave at 13 minutes, Brian/Tash at 14 minutes and Nathan at 20 minutes. Vicki was at the far end of the course by the time Dave started and nearly lapped Nathan starting last. Lap 2 saw Nathan passing Brian/Tash just before Pinkie and the following lap he also overtook Dave on the run back down the lake. He repeated this manoeuvre on the subsequent lap, shooting past Vicki to gain 1st place.

Results:

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Graduate)

Thanks go to Officer on Duty Linda Spiller and Mandy Pollard for the photos.