Sailboat 4

Robin Spiller’s Solo crept across the start line first on a day of the lightest possible winds. He was followed by Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 and Dave Perrett’s Solo, but it was Adam Hilton’s Solo which reached the first buoy, West, in the lead, the choice of port tack having proved advantageous. The Pollard Aero managed a faster snail pace than any of the Solos and led before they the northernmost buoy. Returning to Inlet took an age and it became clear that the race would be shortened to one lap, less than one in fact because the finish line was opposite the race hut not in the centre of the Lake as the start had been. On their way to the Dam the three Solos were in the order Hilton, Perrett, Spiller, until the wind abandoned Adam Hilton and he drifted onto Dave Perrett’s boat which probably then touched Rob Spiller’s. The first two Solos retired leaving victory to Nathan Pollard, second place to Robin Spiller and third to Liam Routley, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate) having also retired.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Robin Spiller (Solo)
3. Liam Routley (Laser)
   Retired: Adam Hilton, (Solo) Dave Perrett (Solo), Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Tamar 5

Officer of the Day Linda Spiller shortened the course considerably for the three helms with enough determination to undergo another snail pace race. Even so there was only time to complete two laps. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 led with the Pollard/Routley Graduate following until overtaken by Liam Routley’s Laser. The handicaps left the on-the-water finishing order unchanged.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Liam Routley (Laser)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Many thanks to Linda Spiller who ran the races and to photographer Mandy Pollard.

Midweek Mug 13

A fine day with light westerlies. The far side start line to Home 2 was hardly a beat although the next leg, to West, was. Sue Murray reckoned she needn’t cling to the windward mark and got the Radial-equipped Moderation to Home 2 in first place. She never relinquished it. Dave Perrett’s Solo was next around Home 2 but not around West, Roger Heasman, nifty all day in the Club Bosun, having called starboard on him. It took a while for the Solo to get ahead although it had by the end of the lap and Dave stayed in second until the end. Linda Spiller’s Radial was first over the start line but only managed fourth at the end of lap 1. Adam Hilton (Solo) would have done better if he hadn’t run into the Heasman Bosun’s transom while trying to get round Inlet.

1. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. John Dabbs (Bosun)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
7. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to Robin Spiller who kindly stood in as OOD.

Cup 5

Thirty mile an hour gusts were forecast and many sailors stayed at home. But on arrival at Tamar Lake the winds were not as intimidating; fifteen mph at most reckoned Tom Sparkes after an inspection in the safety boat. So the race went ahead.

Launching in the lee of the hill was easy, the westerlies hardly touched the Dam end of the Lake. It was a different matter in the centre where the full force of the winds was unleashed. Before the race even began Adam Hilton’s Solo, despite flying a cut-down sail, was tossed over when planing at speed. He ended up on the lee shore and was towed home by the safety boat.

Nathan Pollard launched the Aero with its smallest sail, a 5. Brian Pollard (with Natasha Routley) borrowed the mainsail from the Pollard Graduate, considerably smaller than the normal Bosun mainsail. Liam Routley bravely preferred the full-size sail on his Laser.

The Bosun and the Aero crossed the start line at much the same time and set off for Zebra and Inlet on a course which included every buoy on the Lake! Nathan Pollard began to pull out a lead while Liam Routley caught up. He however was slowed a little by a couple of capsizes. The places remained the same for the first lap but Nathan Pollard was suffering from a broken jam-cleat which was making boom control difficult and he retired at the end of the first lap to be followed shortly by the Routley Laser. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley were left to complete a second lap (of the three planned) and gained a thoroughly deserved victory.

1. Brain Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo), Nathan Pollard (Aero 5), Liam Routley (Laser)

Thanks were extended to Dave Perrett who oversaw the race and to Mandy Pollard who took the Photos.

Midweek Mug 12

The morning had been windless but by two o’clock there was some wind; not very much, but enough. From the northwest.

The Bosun of John Dabbs and Linda Spiller crossed the line first with Ian Chatterton’s Enterprise second. Geoff Floyd’s course took them on a demanding beat to West and they were still close-hauled continuing to Pinkie. The way back, via Inlet, was all running and reaching with a gibe at Middle. Sue Murray’ Radial was harassing the Enterprise, led at the end of the lap and was never displaced. Adam Hilton (Solo) now attempted to pass the Ent and was leading it by the end of lap 2 and tried unsuccessfully to reach the Radial. The race was shortened from four laps to three.

1. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
5. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Thank you, Geoff Floyd, for running the race.

Commodore 3

The wind for the first race was a bit stronger than expected with some strong gusts coming from a north-westerly direction. The first to cross the line was Nathan in his Aero followed by Jane then Vicki, Liam, Dave and finally Brian’s Bosun crewed by Amanda. At the end of the first lap Nathan built a good lead ahead of Dave in his small-sailed Solo followed by Liam in his Laser, Brian/Amanda, then Jane and Vicki both in Toppers. In lap 2, Jane overtook Brian and Amanda whilst pulling ahead of Vicki by a good 300m. In the 3rd lap Liam managed to overtake Dave at Pinky and all positions were maintained for the 4th and final lap though the Aero had built up a greater lead.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (RS Aero 6)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Brian Pollard and Amanda Beer (Bosun)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo – small sail)

Barnwell 5

For the second race of the day the wind changed direction more towards a westerly and the decision was made to shorten the race to 3 laps due the challenging conditions. Nathan crossed the line first followed by Brian/Amanda and Liam, who got stuck in irons head to wind after going-about at the Inlet buoy losing his position in the fleet. As the Aero came to the end of the lap, the rest of the fleet were still at the other end of the course. Part of the way into the 2nd lap Liam made the decision to retire after battling some hefty gusts at Inlet. During this lap, after joining the fleet for the second race, the Bosun of John Dabbs crewed by Linda Spiller, overtook Brian’s Bosun at Pinky to get 3rd place in the fleet. Brian retook the lead over John after partially missing a mark in the 3rd lap but lost this back to John at the last buoy.

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (RS Aero 6)
3. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
4. Brian Pollard and Amanda Beer (Bosun)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo – small sail)
   Rtd: Liam Routley (Laser Full)

Thanks go to the OOD Robin Spiller who ran the race, to Mandy Pollard for taking the photos and to Nathan Pollard who wrote this report.

Midweek Mug 11

At last! A warm, dry, light breeze coming from the southeast. All but one of the helms opted for a starboard tack start in the optimistic hope that they could round Dam Green buoy in a single tack by starting as close to the end of the pontoon as possible. None was successful, all needing two tacks. Sue was first across the start line and, with more foresight, started on port tack crossing the start line close to Home 1 buoy and, with only a single tack, was first to round Dam Green.

Dave managed to get past Sue on the run to Inlet via Zebra, and that established the on-the-water order for the remainder of the four laps: Dave (Solo), Sue (Laser 4.7), John & Leila (Bosun), Geoff (Solo) and Colin & Louise (Bosun).

For most of the first three laps, Geoff was always in contention with John, but never managed to get past him. During the race, the wind had been steadily increasing to a really useful breeze. Then on the third lap as he gybed around West heading for Pinky, Geoff capsized. He quickly recovered without getting wet himself, but his boat was swamped. By the time he had got himself organised and his Solo substantially baled, he had put himself out of reach of John’s Bosun.

Applying the boats’ respective handicaps after an hour’s racing, Sue took the race honours with only just over a minute separating the first three boats.

Results:

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
3. David Perrett (Solo)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
5. Colin & Louise Witchell (Bosun)

OOD: Ian Chatterton

Tamar Cup 4

Another blustery Sunday, but not as bad as the last two Sundays in that we did actually set off on a Race!  At the1 minute gun Liam Routley capsized his Laser Full Rig when a nasty gust caught him off guard near the Pontoon whilst he was adjusting his kicking strap!  Jane Anderson was first  off at the start line in her Topper; Nathan Pollard in his Aero swiftly moved into 2nd position by the first mark (Home 2), then passed Jane on the beat to West mark, swiftly rounding it to go back across the lake to Middle mark.  He kept the lead throughout the rest of the race until the end. After rounding the top mark (Pinky), Dave Perrett in his small sail Solo picked up a good gust to take 2nd position, with Jane keeping close to his stern in 3rd place as they headed down the lake again to Inlet mark.  Vicki Duncalf (Topper) was doing well and ably managing the gusts, as was Brian Pollard with Tash who were also keeping well up with the leaders as they made their way around the course in their yellow Bosun!  As the race progressed, Liam had yet another capsize in a hefty gust just before rounding Inlet mark and decided the morning session was not for him, so he retired.  The placings remained the same for the rest of the race .

Results;  After the usual Ports Yardstick adjustments for Handicap Racing had been made, the results were as follows: 

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Brian Pollard & Tash Routely (Bosun)
   Liam Routley (Laser Full) retired in lap 2.

Cup Race 4

At the afternoon start gun it was difficult to see who was off the line first, but Jane managed to round the next mark (Home 2) in 1st place and yet again, Nathan in his Aero rounded West ahead of her for the downwind leg to Middle mark.  Liam took a different line from H2 to West mark to take 4th place from Brian’s Bosun before rounding the downwind buoy, Middle.  A nice broad reach down to Dam mark at the other end of the lake pushed Liam up to an excellently accomplished 2nd place where he stayed for the rest of the race and chasing Nathan.  At the end of lap 1 Brian & Tash and Vicki in her Topper were neck and neck, however the Bosun was a bit too downwind of the course to make the buoy and tacked into Vicki’s space (3 boat lengths required).  Vicki had to avoid a collision, so the Bosun had to retire because of this rule infringement!!.

Meanwhile, Dave Perrett had passed Liam to take 2nd place at the start of Lap 4.  Running downwind from Zebra Mark to Dam mark, Liam ably managed to pass Dave to return himself to 2nd place on the finish line.  Vicki sadly capsized in a bad gust whilst rounding Dam mark and capsized, but quickly righted her Topper to cross the finish line in good time!

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Dave Perret (Solo)
5. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
   Brian Pollard & Tash Routley (Bosun) retired.

Grateful thanks to Jenny Routley for offering to be Race Officer for the day, to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs and to Jane Anderson who wrote this report

Midweek Mug 10

Louise set a simple clockwise course of four laps taking in Home 1, West, Pinky, Middle, Inlet and Dam Green in response to an initial blustery westerly wind which, during the race, backed significantly to the southwest.

John was first across the start line in his full-sail Bosun crewed by guest Liesje, followed by Dave in his reduced sailed Solo and Sue in her Laser 4.7. John managed to maintain his lead until he had to give way to Dave as they both rounded Dam Green at the end of the first lap. Leila managed to capsize in her Laser Radial as she rounded this mark, with a textbook recovery. This was to be the first of four capsizes by her during the race, all from which she successfully recovered.

John was overtaken by Sue en route to West on the second lap followed by an exhilarating broad reach to Pinky.

The course involved three consecutive gybes (Pinky, Middle and Inlet), and it was the gybe at Inlet that was Geoff’s downfall. He capsized and, before he could fully recover, drifted on to a lee shore requiring assistance from the safety boat to extricate himself.

In the final placings, Sue took the honours with John & Liesje in second place. Dave followed John just two seconds later on corrected time.

Results:

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. John Dabbs and Liesje Birchenough (Bosun)
3. David Perrett (reduced sail Solo)
4. Leila Farmer (Laser Radial)
   Retired Geoff Floyd

OOD: Louise Witchell

Powerful winds were forecast and several sailors stayed at home as a result. Others came to the Lake but stayed on the shore. The northwesterlies were indeed powerful, coming barrelling over the hills with the turbulence of water cascading over a weir. The waters of the Lake had long angry white streaks.

Nonetheless the Vicecommodore devised a course for a potential race and Dave Perret, his Solo flying a cut-down sail, was the first to take to the water to try it out. He made it to the top of the Lake but came to grief trying to round West White buoy. It was difficult to right a capsize when the gale wouldn’t allow the boat to stay head to wind and Perrett needed assistance from Tom Sparks in the safety boat.

Brian Pollard, sailing the Bosun with his usual crew, Natasha Routley, could have used a lot more weight than she provided to counter the wind pressure. As it was the boat was over-powered by the northwesterlies. He sailed across the Lake to Inlet where the winds were unwilling to let him turn the boat around. When that was finally achieved the Bosun scuttled across the Lake back to the pontoon.

Nathan Pollard lofted the smallest of the Aero’s four sails, the 5, but was still over-powered. After two capsizes he returned to the shore. Bob Sampson was similarly cautious. He put the little 4.7 sail on the mast of the Laser but it was no use. The man known for loving the sheer exhilaration of planing at speed across the centre of the Lake may have avoided a capsize but was very soon back on shore.

Both scheduled races were cancelled.

Thanks were extended to Jenny and Liam Routley who readied themselves to oversee the races and to Mandy Pollard who photographed the struggling sailors.

Midweek Mug 8

It had rained in the morning for the first time in weeks but was now sunny if not exactly warm. The brisk winds were coming from the North. Three Solo sailors showed up and agreed to fly small sails. Leila Farmer had a 4.7 on her Laser and Ian Chatterton left the jib off his Enterprise in an effort to tame it. John Dabbs would have raced with standard sails if the shackle holding up his jib hadn’t mal-functioned thus preventing him and his new crew from starting the race.

Leila Farmer crossed the line first followed closely by Geoff Floyd’s Solo. The fleet had started on starboard tack meaning at least one more tack to get to Inlet, the first buoy. Adam Hilton (Solo) was the exception, starting from the pontoon on port and managing to make Inlet in one tack thus gaining himself a useful lead which he promptly threw away by capsizing. The remaining single handers then spent the next phase of the race swapping places. Geoff Floyd led Leila Farmer at Inlet but didn’t at Pinkie. Dave Perrett (Solo) took some time to assert himself but first overtook Geoff Floyd after rounding Dam Green at the end of the lap. On lap 2 Leila Farmer lost her lead beating up to Pinkie; Geoff Floyd had regained his before Pinkie but lost it definitively to Dave Perrett before the end of that lap. The little fleet spread out somewhat on lap 3 but Dave Perrett’s forty second lead over Leila Farmer’s Laser 4.7 was nowhere near enough to overcome her handicap advantage.

1. Leila Farmer (Laser 4.7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
4. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo) John Dabbs and Lou (Bosun)

Thank you, Linda Spiller, for running the race.