Roger’s Bowl 9

There had been a lot of wind in the morning and as a result some cautious decisions were
taken for the two o’clock race. The two Solos – Dave Perrett’s and Geoff Floyd’s – flew small
sails. Of the three Bosuns only Roger Heasman’s had full size sails; John Dabbs’ (Leila Farmer
crewing) had a reef in the main and Adam Hilton’s (with Linda Spiller) had hoisted small
Otter sails. Of the Lasers, Sue Murray had a 4.7 whereas Liam Routley had a full-sized sail
and didn’t care a fig that it capsized him twice.

The Dabbs/Farmer Bosun crossed the line first with Dave Perrett second and the
Hilton/Spiller Bosun third. But more important was how many tacks it took to get to Middle.
The high pointing Solo got round that buoy first but by the end of the lap Sue Murray’s Laser
had slipped past and led from then on. Roger Heasman kept his Bosun in a very respectable
third place. Behind him Geoff Floyd and Liam Routley swapped places a time or two. The
Hilton/Spiller Bosun toured in last except for a brief lead over its Dabbs/Farmer sister when
a tack went particularly well. The four laps took the leader a few seconds less than an hour
and the tail-enders twenty minutes more.

1. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
2. Dave Perrett (Solo)
3. Roger Heasman and Andy (Bosun)
4. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
5. Adam Hilton and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
6. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
   Retired: Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officers Linda and Robin Spiller.

Tamar 9

Vicki Duncalf reached the start moments too soon and had to return. Roger Heasman (Graham Joyce
crewing his Bosun) arrived next but had infringed Nathan Pollard’s rights and at the end retired. At
Dam Green Jane Anderson’s Radial led but by Inlet Nathan Pollard had got his big sailed Laser in
front where it stayed. The light winds were from the southeast and the Lake was agreeably angler-
free except for a clump near West which the course avoided, going instead all the way north to Far.
The first lap took the leader 22 minutes so the race was shortened to two laps. Brian Pollard’s rarely
seen Taser threatened to take third place for a while and Vicki Duncalf had a spell leading the
Heasman Bosun.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
5. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Taser)
   Retired: Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)

Cup 8

Robin Spiller got the bow of his Solo over the start line first but could only manage fourth round thefirst buoy where the trio of Lasers – Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller with full sails, Jane Andersonwith a Radial – took over the front of the fleet. The Radial managed to hold onto second place until awell-judged tack by Linda Spiller on the long beat from Far back down to the Dam gave her the place.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Roger Heasman and Graham Joyce (Bosun)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
7. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Taser)

Thanks were given to Adam Hilton who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

Pursuit 6

Seven helms considered racing, five signed on to do so, four started the race, two finished it. It was not so much the strength of the base winds – they rarely reached the forecast 15mph – but the chaotic nature of the gusts that made sailing so difficult. Dave Perrett launched his Solo (with a small sail), tasted the tumultuous winds in the middle of the Lake and returned to the shore. Vicki Duncalf(Topper) started this Pursuit race first. She lasted almost a whole lap before retiring. Brian Pollard with Natasha Routley as crew crossed the line next, made it to Pinkie, capsized, righted the boat without assistance and continued to the end, the crew heroically bailing out as they went. James Pollard (Laser Full) came next. He retired after a while because he was worried that he might damage his borrowed Laser. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) started last, overtook the Bosun and won.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
   DNS: Dave Perrett (Solo), Retired: James Pollard (Laser Full) Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Sailboat 7

Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7) crossed the line first in conditions that remained violent. He gradually
increased his lead over the only two other entrants willing to brave this unrestful Tamar Lake.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. James Pollard (Laser 4.7)
3. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)

Thanks were given to Geoff Floyd who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

Roger’s Bowl 7

The clouds galloped across the sky from the south-west but when the race started, at water
level at least, the winds came from the north-west, except for the gusts which came from
any direction they felt like. Five boats signed on for the race. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow were out in the Bosun. Liam Routley was in his pretty green Laser. Three Solos with small sails took to the water but
Adam Hilton had one taste of crossing the centre of the Lake and scuttled straight back to
the slipway. Dave Perrett (Solo) crossed the line first but before the horn. He went back and started last.
Liam Routley started well and led the field followed by the Heasman/Thurlow Bosun and
Geoff Floyd’s Solo. The Bosun had some sort of problem leaving Inlet and let the Solos past.
At Dam Green Dave Perrett was close behind the leading Laser which completed the lap in
sixteen minutes. Each lap Liam seemed to have trouble getting his Laser to make the
passage between Inlet and Middle and on lap 2 Dave was able to get past, a lead he
retained until the end, although only by fifteen seconds on the water.

1. Dave Perrett (Solo)
2. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
3. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
4. Roger Heasman and Rick Thurlow (Bosun)
   DNS Adam Hilton (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officer John Dabbs.

Cup 7

Dave Perrett (Solo, with a small sail) was first over the line. He was at the far end of the start line on
starboard tack when most of the fleet started on port from the other end. He benefitted from the
clean air and was still first rounding the first buoy, followed by Jane Anderson. By the time the fleet
reached the top of the Lake James and Nathan Pollard had exploited their Lasers’ speed and were
first and second. It was a sunny/cloudy day with a moderate wind and quite powerful gusts, reducing
as time went on. The Bosuns, Roger Heasman’s with Adam Hilton and Brian Pollard’s with Natasha
Routley, tussled. The Heasman boat eventually came out on top.

1. James Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
4. Roger Heasman and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo),
7. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo)

Commodore 5

The fleet increased to eleven and, with the wind reducing, two of the Solos had full-sized sails. The
long beat to Far was reduced to Pinkie which Nathan Pollard was the first to reach. He led at the end
of each lap. Jane Anderson’s Laser 4.7 was never far from Dave Perrett’s Solo; she finishing some
thirty seconds behind, fourth on the water. Brian Pollard spent most of the race as the lead Bosun
but lost the position to Roger Heasman on the last lap.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. James Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
7. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
8. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Bosun)
9. Robin Spiller (Solo)
10. Adam Hilton (Solo)
11. Liam Routley (Laser Full)

Thanks were given to Linda Spiller who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

Roger’s Bowl 6

The winds had abandoned their brief sojourn in the East and were blowing from a more
familiar Northwest at a speed of 13mph, plus gusts of course, but coming over a reasonably
smooth contour, they were comparatively friendly gusts. It was sunny. There were no
anglers!

The four Solos in the race were all equipped with small sails, by agreement among their
helms. Rob Spiller got his over the start line first followed by John Dabbs with Graham Joyce
in a reefed Bosun and then Linda Spiller in the sole Laser Radial. Rick Thurlow’s course went
from a far side start around Zebra to West, then across to Middle and up to Far. Apart from
a brief reach across the centre of the Lake this was all beating and it put a premium on the
boat/helm’s ability to point high. The Spiller Laser was first around Zebra but couldn’t make
west in one tack which Adam Hilton’s Solo could. He took a lead which was not
subsequently relinquished. The Dabbs/Joyce Bosun, one of three in the race, was third at
the end of lap 1 but Roger Heasman’s sister ship with Bob Sampson as crew had a full
mainsail and took over as lead Bosun. Dave Perrett, whose Solo was only fifth at the start
pulled himself up to be the second of the Solos, third boat to finish. The handicap gave Linda
Spiller victory by a few seconds.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
2. Adam Hilton (Solo)
3. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson(Bosun)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo)
5. John Dabbs and Graham Joyce (Bosun)
6. Robin Spiller (Solo)
   Retired: Colin and Louise Witchell (Bosun), Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Thanks were given to race officer Rick Thurlow

Cup 6

South-easterly winds dictated a start towards the Dam and that meant congestion at Dam Green
buoy. Bob Sampson (Laser Full) got round first with Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) following and Jane
Anderson (Laser 4.7) emerging doing penalty turns. The three Solos in the race all had cut down
sails, amply justified by the strength of the wind gusts. Dave Perrett’s was the last of the three over
the line but managed his tacks well and was the first of the three at Dam Green. He stayed ahead of
the other Solos throughout. Vicki Duncalf kept her Topper in touch with the fleet, finishing ten
minutes behind the leader, and the handicap rewarded her with third place.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo),
6. Adam Hilton (Solo)
   Retired: Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Tamar 8

Nathan Pollard was first round Dam Green in strengthened winds and warm sun. Jane Anderson,
Bob Sampson, now with a sail two sizes down, and Dave Perrett all converged on the buoy, the Solo
helm performing penalties afterwards. The two small-sailed Lasers were never far apart but Jane
Anderson remained in front, not near enough to Nathan Pollard for the handicap to give her victory
however. The handicap did push the Perrett Solo down below the Pollard/Hilton Bosun which
finished a minute and a half behind. Vicki Duncalf, another couple of minutes back, was again
promoted.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
5. Brian Pollard and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo)

Thanks were given to Sue Murray who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos.

Roger’s Bowl 5

It was a very hot afternoon with no wind on arrival at the lake, however just before the start a decent breeze raised the prospect of a good race. 

Seven boats took to the water, with the added challenge of a group of kayaks close to the start line.  Robin was first over the  line in his solo, followed by John and Leila in the bosun.  Adam deftly slalomed through the kayaks to the first buoy!  Skillfully managed to move from 6th to 1st before the second buoy on the first lap and remained in front throughout.  Four laps, with everyone well spaced out, so no pressure at each buoy and little opportunity to improve position.

1. Bob Sampson, Laser full
2. Sue Murray, Laser radial
3. Adam Hilton, Solo
4. Linda Spiller, Laser radial
5. John Dabbs & Leila Farmer, Bosun
6. Robin Spiller, Solo
   Retired John Bucket, Otter

Thanks were given to Colin and Louise Witchell who ran the races

Photo taken just before the start. 

Commodore 4

Dave Perrett (Solo) was first over the line. Brian Pollard (Louise Witchell crewing the Bosun) followed
but, by the time they reached West, Nathan Pollard had taken a lead he never relinquished. It was a
day of exceptionally gusty winds coming from many westerly points. This made the centre of the
Lake an unpredictable place to be. And Bob Sampson’s course had had to concentrate on the central
buoys because a major fishing competition had made the Devon bank and the upper reaches of the
Cornwall bank unapproachable by dinghies. There were two Solos in the race and they competed
fiercely until a capsize put Adam Hilton’s out of contention. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial overtook
the Solos and pulled away. The Pollard Bosun and Vicki Duncalf’s Topper brought up the rear.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo),
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Louise Witchell (Bosun)
   Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo)

Pursuit 5

In this pursuit race six boats started but only three finished; the sudden powerful gusts continuing to
catch out many helms. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)and Robin Spiller (Solo) joined the fleet and John
Dabbs took over crewing duties in Brian Pollard’s Bosun. Vicki Duncalf, who started first, led for
three laps before being overtaken by the Pollard/Dabbs Bosun. Nathan Pollard’s Laser, the last to
start by a substantial margin, never managed to catch up.

1. Brian Pollard and John Dabbs (Bosun)
2. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
   Retired: Robin Spiller (Solo) Linda Spiller (Laser Full) Dave Perrett (Solo)

Thanks were given to Bob Sampson who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photos

Cup 5

What winds there were came from the southwest and so the race set off towards the Dam. It was
hard to know whether to start from the pontoon end of the line on starboard tack or from the other
end on port. The three Lasers knew and made Dam Green in one tack from close up to the pontoon,
Jane Anderson leading. The two Solos didn’t know and took two tacks to get round the buoy. Nathan
Pollard’s Laser was neck and neck with Bob Sampson’s at Zebra and took over the lead from Jane
Anderson on the way back from Pinkie. Dave Perrett’s Solo led Adam Hilton’s for most of the race
but Adam had a spell in front on the way up to Pinkie. Because the winds were so light (and
disappeared from time to time), the race was shortened to two laps.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
4. Dave Perrett (Solo),
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Roger Heasman and Jenny Routley (Bosun)

Sailboat 6

Linda Spiller (Laser Full), Robin Spiller (Solo) and John Dabbs (Bosun, Adam Hilton crewing) joined
the fleet and Linda had a good race, getting over the start line first and winning a race-long tussle
with Bob Sampson. The Dabbs/Hilton Bosun, on the other hand, retired after one very slow lap. The
Solos swapped places a good deal with Robin Spiller eventually prevailing. Nathan Pollard again led
the race from early on.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
5. Robin Spiller (Solo)
6. Dave Perrett (Solo)
   Retired: John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

Thanks were given to Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley who ran the races and took the photos.