Tamar 8

James Pollard, a rare visitor these days, took over his brother’s Aero and, in the very light south easterly winds, put up a 9 sail. He was only fourth over the start line but was already leading at the first buoy, Dam Green, and the rest of the fleet never saw him again. The real tussle in the race was between Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial and the Solos of Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton. The Hilton Solo led the threesome early on but was replaced by Jane Anderson and then for a while by Dave Perrett who spoilt his race by rounding Home 2 rather than Zebra and having to retire. The course went as far north as Far buoy and one lap took James Pollard more than half an hour; the last boat closer to fifty minutes.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. James Pollard (Aero 9)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
   Retired: Dave Perrett (Solo)

Commodore 6

In such light and unpredictable winds timing the run to the start was problematic; Jane Anderson and Adam Hilton got over too early and had to return. However the Anderson Laser was leading at the first buoy. Linda Spiller was never far away and led for a spell on the second lap of this radically shortened course. But all the boats were close together even if their helms could not agree on which direction the ‘wind’ was coming from or which tack was the more advantageous.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
4. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate))

Thanks were given to Nathan Pollard and Liam Routley for officiating, and to the photographer, Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 5

The winds were south-easterly by the Dam and north-easterly further up the Lake. They were strong enough for the Laser sailors (Murray, Spiller) to go out with 4.7s and the Solo sailors (Perrett, Floyd) to hoist small sails. The Dabbs/Hilton Bosun had a reef in the mainsail. Nathan Pollard, on the other hand, wooshed along with a Seven on his Aero, leading every lap and finishing nearly ten minutes before the second boat, Sue Murray’s. Dave Perrett had held that second slot for three of the four laps but Sue Murray, after a slow start, overtake him near the end. The handicap lifted the Spiller Laser above him as well.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

It being a distinctly cool and not terribly attractive afternoon the second race was not run.

Many thanks to Robin Spiller who manned the race hut.

Sailboat 6

It was not so much the strength of the wind but the brutality of the gusts which made sailing difficult. Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton abandoned their Solos and put small sails on a Bosun as did Brian Pollard and Tash Routley. Nathan Pollard’s Aero flew a 6; rare visitor Steve Axford had a Radial on his Laser, Liam Routley also. The Aero got off well as did the Bosuns, the Hilton/Perrett boat leading its Pollard/Routley sister until Inlet where they changed places after a difficult gibe. Liam Routley was dealing admirably with the conditions but mistook the course a couple of times and retired. Nathan Pollard finished with a four minute lead over Steve Axford.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
4. Adam Hilton and Dave Perrett (Solo)
   Retired: Liam Routley (Laser Radial)

Cup 8

The front of this race looked the same with Steve Axford chasing Nathan Pollard. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley held an admirable third place throughout. Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7) in fourth had trouble rounding Dam Green, her boom hitting the boy. A penalty turn in these conditions was hazardous and what caused her disqualification was that her boom, coming across at the end of the turn, hit the buoy again! Linda Spiller retired on the second lap. Liam Routley kept his Radial under control and finished in fourth. An exhausting day was had by all!

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 6)
2. Steve Axford (Laser Radial)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
4. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
   Retired: Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
   Disqualified: Harriet Cox (Laser 4.7)

Many thanks were extended to the Officer of the Day, Vicki Duncalf, and to the photographer, Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 4

The recent super-light winds persisted, coming and going from different directions with familiar unpredictability. However grey skies meant the fleet was not roasted as it edged around the short course.

The Commodore was over the line for the first start and was not the only one. The restart was legal however and the Hilton Solo managed to get to Dam Green first. Fronting the fleet meant clear air and the Solo built up a substantial lead, only to squander it stuck in irons at Dam Green at the beginning of the second lap. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 and Dave Perrett’s Solo went past. The two Solos were very close at Home 2 but Adam Hilton’s was ahead at West White and stayed there but didn’t dent the Aero’s good-sized lead on lap 2. Ian Chatterton’s Enterprise was fourth at the end of each lap, the Dabbs/Spiller Bosun fifth. The luck of the draw gave Nathan Pollard the weaker puffs of wind on the third lap reach back to the start line and his lead was reduced. The handicap gave the Commodore victory over the Vice.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
5. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)

Egg Cup 7

Not everyone was keen to drift around the course again but fortunately Bob Sampson added himself to make it a race of two Bosuns and a Solo. In these winds the Bosuns were no match for the Solo which started first and crept away into the distance. Bob Sampson got the Club Bosun ahead around Dam Green but then lost what wind he had had so that John Dabbs was able to pull away and was second at the end of lap 1. But not at the end of lap 2.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. Bob Sampson (Bosun)
3. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Many thanks to Geoff Floyd, Officer of the Day.

Commodore 5

Sometimes there was no wind and the boats waited for the next puff which would come from different directions in different parts of the Lake. Despite this, two epic battles carried on throughout the race. At the front Jane Anderson, risking a full-sized sail on her Laser in these super-light winds, and Nathan Pollard, sailing his Aero 7 but regretting not yet having his Aero 9, each led at different times, with the Laser finishing triumphant. In mid-field Linda Spiller (Laser Radial) and Dave Perrett (Solo) also exchanged places often with the Solo in front at the end. Paul Anderson had the misfortune to drift windless onto the first buoy and after performing his penalty turn was never able to catch up. For Brian Pollard, with Rachel Cope in the Bosun, there was too little wind to race.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
   Retired: Brian Pollard and Rachel Cope (Bosun)

Pursuit 5

In this Pursuit race Brian Pollard and Rachel Cope’s Bosun started first in very little wind and had the misfortune to be overtaken by the chasing pack which had caught a little gust. As a result the Dabbs Bosun was first around the first buoy with Dave Perrett’s Solo second. The single-handers took over; Dave Perrett’s Solo leading laps one and two but being caught by Jane Anderson’s Laser and Nathan Pollard’s Aero in the dying moments of the race.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
2. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo
4. Brian Pollard and Rachel Cope (Bosun)
   Retired: John Dabbs (Bosun), Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

Many thanks were extended to the Officer of the Day, Adam Hilton, and to the photographer, Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 3

Eight boats raced on a pleasant day of light winds. John Dabbs’ course had a Home 2 start line and Linda Spiller’s Laser, sporting a big sail, was the first to cross it, followed by Nathan Pollard (Aero 5) and Sue Murray (Laser Radial). But on the long run down from Pinkie to Dam Green two of the Solos, Dave Perrett’s and Adam Hilton’s, overtook the Aero 5; the result of Solos having 8.4 square meters of sail while this Aero sail has 5. Dave Perrett remained securely in third place, his distance behind Sue Murray not varying a great deal. On the other hand the winner of the Hilton/Pollard contest was never certain, sometimes the Aero’s lightness (33kilos as against a Solo’s 70kg) proving advantageous.

Linda Spiller might have finished more than thirty seconds ahead of Sue Murray if she hadn’t had to disentangle herself from various canoeists, a problem others also had to tackle. Geoff Floyd kept his Solo clear of the Heasman/Sampson Bosun, finishing each of the three laps in sixth place but Rob Spiller’s was more in danger from the Bosun until he retired it.

1. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
6. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
7. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
   Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo)

Egg Cup 6

The winds were slightly stronger and the start was moved to the regular line, near side. However most of the reduced fleet crossed it on the far side so the race had to be restarted. On the second attempt Dave Perrett and Nathan Pollard crossed first; Geoff Floyd and Linda Spiller equally inseparable in second. This time Nathan was able to get away and led each lap, with Dave Perrett firmly in second until the third lap when Linda Spiller climbed past. The handicap shoved her down again.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to John Dabbs, Officer of the Day.

Cup 7

Heavy mist blanketed the Lake. From the Cornwall bank Devon was barely visible. And yet the northwesterlies were strong and producing powerful gusts; all but Vicki Duncalf had capsized at least once before the end of the race. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley, officials for the day, designed a short course that took the fleet not too far out of sight. Seven boats signed on to race but one was put off by the strength of the wind and the other by the slipperiness of an unfamiliar gunwale! Nathan Pollard’s Aero 7 led away followed by Vicki Duncalf’s Topper and the Lasers of Harriet Cox and Liam Routley. However Ollie Williamson quickly got his Aero up to second and the leading pair were soon lapping slower boats. The handicap demoted Liam Routley and Harriet Cox while promoting Vicki Duncalf.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Ollie Williamson (Aero 7)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
5. Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)

Tamar 7

Rain cleared the mist; the course was lengthened to include the centre of the Lake but there was no risking going further north. The fleet was reduced to four. The Aeros were again the fastest boats but Ollie Williamson spoilt his chances by capsizing in the middle of the Lake on lap 2. At the end the handicap demoted him from second on the water to fourth. The lapped Vicki Duncalf’s Topper was, on the other hand, brought up by the handicap to second.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Liam Routley (Laser Radial)
4. Ollie Williamson (Aero 7)

Many thanks were extended to the Officers of the Day, Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley and to the photographer, Natasha Routley.

Roger’s Bowl 2

There were irregular Wednesday sailors at the Lake. Nathan Pollard went out in his Aero, having hoisted a no. 5 sail, not so much because of the brisk northwesterly winds (the Solos and Enterprise flew small sails) as in order not to get too far in front of the rest of the fleet, an aim he failed to achieve. He finished eight minutes in front of second on the water, the Bosun of John Dabbs and Adam Hilton. The other rare Wednesday visitation was the Routley family. Liam kindly carried out a duty as Officer of the Day. Tash went out in Liam’s Laser with a borrowed 4.7 sail. She sailed both races, mentored by Linda Spiller in another 4.7 Laser. Geoff Floyd (Solo) started well, was up to second at the end of lap 1, but had slipped a place at the end. Ian Chatterton, impressive as ever taming a bucking Enterprise, even if it flew a small mainsail, started sixth but was up to fourth at the end, keeping the place when handicaps were applied.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
3. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
4. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
5. Natasha Routley (Laser 4.7) and equal Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)
6. Robin Spiller (Solo)

Egg Cup 5

The fleet was reduced to four boats and Adam Hilton took over helming the Dabbs Bosun. Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7 got away first but at the second buoy, Inlet, all the boats bunched up, the wind all but disappearing in the lee of the hill. Nathan Pollard’s Aero 5 emerged first around West White and led from then on, despite being even more seriously becalmed at Inlet on lap2 and allowing the Hilton/Dabbs Bosun, aided by a friendly gust, to do a lot of catching up. The Bosun finished only four minutes behind the Aero.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 5)
2. Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Natasha Routley (Laser 4.7)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)

Many thanks to Liam Routley, Officer of the Day.

Commodore 4

Peter O’Toole (Laser) chose to start on starboard tack from under a mercifully fisherman-free Devon bank and got away first. Another fast starter, Dave Perrett (Solo), followed. However Nathan Pollard in his Aero 7 soon took on a lead which he never relinquished. Clouds dominated the sky and the winds were light but consistent. A big fleet filled the Lake with sails.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)J
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Peter O’Toole (Laser Full)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
7. Emma O’Toole (Laser Radial)
8. Ollie Williamson (Aero 7)
9. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
10. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Not classified: Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)

Sailboat 5

Dave Perrett reproduced his good start but by the top of the Lake Nathan Pollard was leading again, followed this time by Ollie Williamson in another Aero 7. Peter O’Toole’s Laser led an ongoing tussle between Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial and the Solos of Dave Perrett and Adam Hilton. Jane came out ahead and Dave at the back of the trio after he clipped Pinkie buoy.  Next came a group of Laser Radials led by Emma O’Toole with Harriet Cox and Linda Spiller following. The handicaps demoted Ollie Williamson and promoted Jane Anderson to second.

1. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Peter O’Toole (Laser Full)
4. Ollie Williamson (Aero 7)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo)
7. Emma O’Toole (Laser Radial)
8. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
9. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
10. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
11. Robin Spiller (Solo)
12. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)

Not classified: Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)

Many thanks to the Officer of the Day, Paul Anderson and to the photographer, Mandy Pollard.

Roger’s Bowl 1

A brisk wind was coming straight down the Lake from slightly west of north. Robin Spiller’s Solo and Roger Heasman’s Bosun (Linda Spiller as crew) had small sails. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer had a reef in their Bosun’s mainsail. Linda Spiller had designed the course when she thought she was going to be OOD; it took in all the extremities of the Lake – Inlet, Far, West and Dam Green – and it took a good half hour to complete a lap even with plenty of propulsion. Getting to the top of the Lake required a lot of tacks; even getting to Inlet from the start line could involve eight or nine tacks and when you got to Inlet you found yourself near-becalmed because the buoy was so completely tucked into the lee of the hill.

John Dabbs timed his run to the start line perfectly and crossed at full speed. Rob Spiller was next but took a while to get going. Nonetheless he managed to round Inlet in front of the Dabbs/Farmer Bosun and was leading when he nearly forgot to go round Home 2 and did forget that the course went all the way to Far. The necessary extra water sailed meant the Bosun took the lead and kept it on the goose-winged run to West White. It was only at the beginning of the second lap, tacking to Inlet again, that Rob Spiller could retake the lead but he had a further setback – the tiller extension parting ways with the tiller – and was overtaken before Far only to recontest the lead until the shortened race was over. However it was the Dabbs/Farmer Bosun which crossed the finish line first after a little over an hour.

1. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
2. Robin Spiller(Solo)
3. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

The second race, Egg Cup 4, was not run.

Adam Hilton was Officer of the Day.