Teacake 6

Before the race it looked as though there would be no wind; one of those windless, sunny days. But a little north-westerly breeze turned up for the start and powered the fleet around a course that went as far north as Pinky at around 12 minutes a lap. Adam Hilton’s Solo was first away but Linda Spiller, her big-sailed Laser pointing high, was soon ahead, helped by the Commodore having to be reminded to go round West. West was a problem; stray too near the shore and you would go aground, as John Dabbs Bosun did. Ian Chatterton’s Enterprise started third and threatened the Solo for a couple of laps until ill-chosen tacks on the way to West allowed the Dabbs’ Bosun to get ahead; an impressive effort by Ian in the first race he’d signed on for!

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

Brian Clifton and Robin Spiller were Officers of the Day. Many thanks to them.

by Adam Hilton

Brian Pollard

Frostbite 1

First away were Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf in Toppers, theoretically the slowest boats in this fleet of ten. Following but soon at the front were the Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard Lasers, the fastest dinghies in both theory and practice. The northwesterlies had an autumnal strength although the sun was still out and Tamar Lake was still attracting a slew of paddle-boarders and kayakers while also hosting a fishing competition that dominated much of the water. At Middle Sampson was a little ahead of Pollard. Then came the next pair, the Laser 4.7s of Sue Murray and Linda Spiller, followed by Jane Anderson, Adam Hilton, a cut-down sail making his Solo manageable, Vicki Duncalf, Robin Spiller with a small ‘Wave’ sail on his Streaker, John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd in the first Bosun with Colin and Louise Witchell in the small-sailed second. In this four lap race of epic battles between pairs Nathan Pollard eventually got the better of Bob Sampson (al of 12 seconds better!), Sue Murray led Linda Spiller (38 seconds) and Adam Hilton’s Solo ended ahead of Jane Anderson’s Topper (20 seconds). The Dabbs/Floyd Bosun finished ahead of Vicki Duncalf’s Topper. The handicaps scrambled the order on the water; the big-sailed Lasers hadn’t got themselves far enough ahead so that the Anderson Topper took the victory with Sue Murray’s 4.7 Laser second.

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
6. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
7. John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd (Bosun)
8. Adam Hilton (Solo).

Retired: Robin Spiller (Streaker Wave), Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)

Icicle 1

Brian Pollard (generously volunteering to run the races) had the tricky job of designed a course to make the most of what water the rain-deprived Lake had deep enough for sailing, while keeping clear of the competing fishermen. The first half of a lap was all beating, the return half, a long run. Jane Anderson again got off on a flyer with Vicki Duncalf in the other Topper following.  Bob Sampson was next and Linda Spiller was already ahead of her pair, Sue Murray, a position she retained throughout. Nathan Pollard crossed the start line sixth but was up to second at the first mark, Middle. The two big-sailed Lasers were never far apart; Pollard slipping past coming towards the dam on lap 2 only to have Sampson retake the place. On lap 3 Pollard took the lead again on the way north to Pinky and this time made the move stick. The Dabbs/Floyd Bosun was again swapping places with the Anderson Topper, notably between Dam Green and the line on lap 1, but on lap 2 the Bosun was again in front of the Topper at the dam and finished in that position. The handicaps gave Linda Spiller the victory with Jane Anderson second and the leaders on the water in fifth and sixth.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
2. Jane Anderson (Topper)
3. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
6. Bob Sampson (laser Full)
7. John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd (Bosun)

Retired: Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Brian Pollard for not only running the races but also taking the photographs. His assistant was Paul Anderson.

by Adam Hilton

Brian Pollard

Commodore 7

The final race in the personal handicap Commodore series was run under grey skies and in very light winds. The Lasers of Jane Anderson, Sue Murray and Nathan Pollard all made good starts, with Jane Anderson rounding the first mark in the lead. They were soon joined at a very congested Dam Green by a rare and welcome visitor to Tamar Lake, Steve Axford in his familiar dark-hulled Laser. As the fleet moved up the Lake towards Middle the Solo of Adam Hilton, always a good performer in light winds, caught up the Lasers. Jane Anderson had a clear lead as the fleet crossed to West, increased as she went up to a very distant-seeming Pinky and started an even longer return towards the Dam. Vicki Duncalf, running the races for the day, seeing that the circuit was taking forty minutes, shortened the race to a single lap.  Behind the leader places changed a good deal, each skipper of the single-sailed dinghies having a go at being best of the rest. John Buckett’s Otter led the Bosuns going up the Lake but in this bunch too positions changed several times, John Dabb’s Bosun finishing the race as the leader, with Roger Heasman behind him. In these very light winds no crew was needed to sail a two-sailed boat.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo).
2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
4. John Buckett (Otter)
5. Steve Axford (Laser Full)
6. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
7. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
8. Sue Murray (Laser Full)

Spalding Cup 7

The course was changed to shorten the laps and the fleet managed three tours in around forty minutes with the wind slightly increased until the end. Sue Murray started first but was threatened by Jane Anderson and Nathan Pollard at the first mark where everyone arrived at once and those closest to the mark had priority. Sue Murray still led on the way up the Lake but Jane Anderson took over and increased her lead to some four and a half minutes at the end. Nathan Pollard also overtook Sue Murray but she had fought regained her place by the finish. The Bosuns of John Dabbs and Roger Heasman scrapped throughout with the latter in front at the end, but John Buckett’s Otter was a couple of minutes in front of them.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Steve Axford (Laser Full)
6. John Buckett (Otter)
7. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
8. John Dabbs (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Vicki Duncalf, for running the races and to Brian Pollard for the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Teacake 3

John Dabbs, uncrewed in his Bosun, led over the line towards the Dam. Robin Spiller (Streaker)  followed, Linda Spiller (Laser Radial) was next. These were helms who had been waiting pretty close to the line. A bunch of helms who had thought to cross the line at speed and were therefore a little further back, were caught out by a gap in the wind which left them with flapping sails. However, on the way to Inlet, the wind, more or less behind them until it bent round near the buoy, made up for it by pushing the stragglers towards the leaders. At Inlet Robin Spiller got himself inside the Dabbs Bosun and took the lead. As the little fleet crossed the middle of the Lake, making for West, the wind unexpectedly gybed Adam Hilton’s Solo. More gybes followed as he struggled to regain control. Linda Spiller capsized in sympathy. Robin Spiller, anxious about his wife, got stuck in irons. John Dabbs’s rudder, as pointed out by a gleeful competitor, was up. He lost a lot of time trying to get it down again. All of which enabled the now recovered Solo to sail away to Far in the lead. Linda Spiller was second from then on with John Dabbs a couple of minutes behind her at the finish with Robin Spiller not far off his transom. A fine race by Anna Walker and her mother in the Hartley 12 had them chasing the (reduced canvas) Heasman Bosun, overtaking it after Dam Green and gave them fifth place on handicap.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
4. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
5. Anna Walker and Leila Farmer (Hartley 12)
6. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
7. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Roger’s Bosuns 7

John Dabbs was first over the line but he had arrived at it a little early and had had to sail parallel to it for a few meters. This enabled Louise Witchell, second away and the furthest up wind, to round Dam Green in the lead. Indeed all the other Bosuns were to windward of John Dabbs and rounded the buoy before him. The wind at noon had been strong enough to warrant small sails on the Witchell Bosun and a small mainsail on the Club Bosun that Roger Heasman was sailing. But by now such fierceness was long gone the wind blew at around force 2 from the east at the Dam end and, channelled between the hills, from the northeast at the top of the Lake.

Louise Withchell kept her lead at Home 2, the second mark, with Roger Heasman (with Linda Spiller) second and Brian and Nathan Pollard third. The Witchell Bosun still had its nose in front as they approached Inlet but had not managed to stay as far to windward as the others. A short tack was necessary but in the fluky winds so often found at Inlet the Bosun got stuck in irons and the rest of the fleet went past. Roger Heasman led across to Middle but after they had rounded Pinky the Pollard Bosun kept to the Cornwall bank, caught the wind and sailed away to an increasing lead. Roger Heasman and John Dabbs battled for second place from then on but the Heasman Bosun was never headed.

1. Brian and Nathan Pollard (Bosun)
2. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
4. Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Bob Sampson, the Officer of the Day and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos on a day when she could have been sitting warmly at home.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Tamar 9

A gorgeous sunny day, not too hot, had northerly winds, notably variable in direction as well as strength. Nicky Buckett and Brian Clifton, the Officers of the Day, responded to these conditions by setting a course which featured a long beat up to Pinky and a great deal of water was won or lost depending on how well boats and helms handled the beating. On the whole the single handed boats could point higher than the two-handers and required fewer tacks to get to the top of the Lake. This, as much as speed, was the deciding factor. Roger Heasman, in his Bosun with Linda Spiller, got over the line first, but a touch before the horn. Second over, and legitimately, was Paul Anderson (Laser Full) who thought the subsequent signal from the shore was meant for him. He turned back and had to fight his way back up the order, gaining a place every lap. Third away were Colin and Louise Witchell in their Bosun and then came Jane Anderson whose Laser had, for once, a big sail. As they sailed up the Lake the single-handers began to assert themselves, with Jane Anderson not needing to tack until just before Pinky. Behind her were Adam Hilton (Solo), soon overhauled by Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) who he’d impeded on the start line, and Robin Spiller (Streaker). Nathan Pollard set off in pursuit of Jane Anderson but the others continued to change places until settling for the Solo in third and the Streaker in fourth. The Bosun race had John Dabbs with newcomer Chris Smith in fifth at the end of lap 1, Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in fifth at the end of laps 2 and 3 and beating the Dabbs Bosun by a dozen seconds at the end. The course featured the Sea Cadets RIB as it most southerly mark and this proved strangely hard for helms to avoid, catching Robin Spiller on the second lap and John Dabbs at the end.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo).
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
6. John Dabbs and Chris Smith (Bosun)
7. John Buckett (Otter)
8. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
9. Paul Anderson (Laser Full)
10. Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun)

Disqualified: Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Tamar 10

Robin Spiller hit the line as the horn blew and led away the now longer beat up to Far but familiar problems with the higher pointing Lasers had put him down to fourth at the end of the lap and fifth at the end. Jane Anderson was again the first to reach the top of the course with Adam Hilton second. But Nathan Pollard, fourth at the start, had overtaken the Solo before the end of the lap and went on a long chase of Jane Anderson, successful on the last lap. Paul Anderson had an extended battle with the Solo, finishing the first lap in front of it but then losing the place. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller finished each lap in sixth, as the leading Bosun, with Brian Pollard behind them (by twenty seconds at the finish) and, towards the end, John Dabbs, now sailing alone, making up the third of the Bosun queue. The handicaps recognized that the Buckett Otter and Duncalf Topper had been well sailed.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. John Buckett (Otter)
6. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
7. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
8. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
9. John Dabbs (Bosun)
10. Paul Anderson (Laser Full)

Grateful thanks were given to Brian Clifton and Nicky Buckett for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.

Teacake 2

The winds at the Dam had a great deal of east in them but past the middle of the Lake they became increasingly northerly until, in the second race, sailing north stopped being a reach and became a beat. The start was from the near end of the Home 2 line and if helms crossed the line reasonably close to the Home 2 buoy and had a boat willing to point high they could get to the first mark – the Sea Cadet RIB standing in for a buoy -  in one tack. Linda Spiller, her Laser carrying a full rig, did that and went from second over the line to first at that mark. Reaching all the way up to Far increased her lead which grew from then on and would have been more than three minutes over Adam Hilton’s Solo if she had not mistaken which side of Home 1 to finish and had to go back. Sue Murray, in the dark blue Club Bosun with Bob Sampson as crew, was third at the start but was displaced by John Dabbs’ Bosun and Robin Spiller’s Streaker. The Lake was sadly short of water and any excursion west of West White incurred the risk of grounding. The Heasman Bosun looked to have had that trouble. John Dabbs, finishing five and a half minutes behind Linda Spiller was promoted by the handicaps as was Sue Murray, who finished two heart beats behind John.

1. .John Dabbs and (Bosun)
2. Sue Murray and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
5. Roger Heasman (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
7. Leila Farmer (Hartley 12)

Roger’s Bosuns 6

Brian and Nathan Pollard joined the fleet for the Bosun race and the others had got themselves crew, Leila Farmer for John Dabbs and Linda Spiller for Roger Heasman. Robin Spiller added his Streaker to the fleet. The course was modified, only going as far north as Pinky and including a leg from West to Middle.  And the winds were significantly stronger. Roger Heasman got away first, was first at Pinky but lost first place momentarily to John Dabbs between West and Middle before regaining it and holding onto a lead which continued to be contested . Brian Pollard had trouble at Middle and took a penalty. On the second lap Brian was close to Robin Spiller rounding the RIB but by the end of the lap he had got past the Dabbs/Farmer Bosun. On the third lap all three Bosuns were competing for the same water at Middle and the three of them finished only 13 seconds apart.

1. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
2. Brian and Nathan Pollard (Bosun)
3. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
4. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Grateful thanks were given to Colin and Louise Witchell, assisted by Nicky Buckett, the Officers of the Day.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Commodore 5

The northerlies were considerably stronger than the twelve miles per hour forecast and many helms chose their sails with caution. Linda Spiller, Sue Murray and Jane Anderson put little 4.7s on their Lasers, Robin Spiller had a small ‘Wave’ sail on his Streaker and no one was sailing a Bosun without a crew. And indeed the winds for the first lap or two were strong and gusty although they moderated towards the end. Sue Murray, Jane Anderson and Adam Hilton got away well but the big-sailed Lasers soon asserted themselves, Bob Sampson leading every lap with Nathan Pollard and Paul Anderson equally consistently second and third. Indeed it was a race in which the potential of the boat seemed more important than the skill of the helm given that the boat-based handicaps could have been used to predict the order on the water. The Solo followed in fourth and the 4.7 Lasers in fifth, sixth and seventh with the Streaker Wave following and the Bosuns in ninth and tenth; all in the order the handicaps would suggest they should finish in. It was only Vicky Duncalf’s Topper coming in front of the Hartley 12.2, admirably helmed by Leila Farmer’s son Ethan, that broke the rule. This, however, was a race where the Club’s handicaps based on the helm’s past performance were applied and that made the results different from the order on the water.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. John Dabbs and John Buckett (Bosun)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo).
6. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
7. Brian Pollard and Debbie Fairhead (Bosun)
8. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
9. Robin Spiller (Streaker Wave)
10. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
11. Ethan and Leila Farmer (Hartley 12)

Paul Anderson (Laser Full) retired

Spalding 5

Sue Murray, Vicki Duncalf and Jane Anderson were the leaders away from the start line with John Dabbs’ Bosun (now with Adam Hilton crewing) to windward of Roger Heasman’s (with Linda Spiller) closely following. But Nathan Pollard and Bob Sampson were not to be held back. It was Nathan’s turn to lead at the end of every lap and Bob’s to follow in second but perhaps the greater achievement was Sue Murray’s following in third with her little 4.7; a six and a half minute deficit to the leader being small enough after an hour’s racing to give her victory on handicap. Robin Spiller, now with a regular sail on his Streaker, pulled himself up to fourth and Roger Heasman easily led the Bosuns. Paul Anderson, on port tack, had to give way unexpectedly to a call of ‘starboard’ from a fast approaching Bosun and ended up in the drink. His wife lost time making sure that he was alright.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
6. Brian Pollard and Debbie Fairhead (Bosun)
7. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
8. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
9. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Paul Anderson (Laser Full) retired

Grateful thanks were given to Graham Joyce and Nicky Buckett for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Roger’s Bosuns 2

Another not great day, unsunny, not reliably dry, the northwesterlies highly variable in strength and direction. Roger Heasman himself was occupied with builders so the fleet of Bosuns was reduced to the Pollards, John Dabbs with Adam Hilton and John Buckett with Stephanie Clark. She had been due to OOD but was converted to crew when Nicky Buckett kindly offered to run the races. The race itself turned out somewhat processional. Brian Pollard started well and seemed to lengthen his lead over John Dabbs on every leg. The Buckett/Clark Bosun never had a chance because it started from the Home 1 line when the rest started from Home 2!

1.       Brian and Nathan Pollard (Bosun)
2.       John Buckett and Stephanie Clark (Bosun)

John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun) retired

Roger’s Bosuns 5

The course was simplified from the nine mark job of the first race, starting from the far side of Home 1 but still going all the way up the Lake to Far. Brian Pollard again got away in the lead with again John Buckett following. The boats were closing up towards the end of the lap which employed the Sea Cadets RIB as the most southerly mark around which the competitors tightened up and tacked across towards the slipway before going about and crossing the line. Unfortunately for him but not for the interest of the racing, Brian Pollard tacked in front of John Buckett who called starboard on him. They touched and Brian was obliged to do penalty turns, allowing the Dabbs Bosun into second place. At West ‘Quebec’ was to windward and able to call starboard on ‘Bubbles’ coming into the buoy on port. This left John Dabbs sailing serenely away in first place, a lead he was able to increase before the end of this two lap race.

1. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun – Quebec)
2. John Buckett and Stephanie Clark (Bosun – “Bubbles”!)
3. Brian and Nathan Pollard (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Nicky Buckett who very kindly volunteered as Officer of the Day.