Tamar 6

9 boats started including 3 possible future members. Brian’s Bosun is the first across the line but Nathan’s Aero takes lead at Dam Green followed by Dave’s Solo, Jane’s Topper, Brian and Tash, Liam’s Laser, Vicki’s Topper, Dan and Charlotte in separate Bosuns along with their crews Roger and Bob, and Harriet’s 4.7.

It was a round-the-lake course in an anticlockwise direction with varying wind directions.

Lap 2: Nathan had a good lead, Dave, Liam, Jane in tussle with Brian, Harriet making up ground over the Bosuns. The rain set in. Long beat from Pinkie to West White. Jane and Brian still locked in tussle at Dam Green

Lap 3: Nathan, Dave, Liam. The fleet was well spread out. Liam capsized near Pinkie due to strong gusts but the wind dropped off as the fleet were coming to the finish.

Nathan crossed the line first followed by Dave, Liam, Brian and Tash, Jane, Vicki, Harriet

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (RS Aero 7)
3. Dave Perrett (Solo)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
6. Liam Routley (Laser Full)

Barnwell 7

A long lunch allowed people to warm up after getting drenched in the first race. But continued rain was damping peoples enthusiasm. Race set for 2.15pm to allow the Bosun of John Dabbs and crew Linda Spiller to be rigged. 5 boats took to the water following the same course as the first race. Forecast? At present with promise of a brighter sky in the west.

All boats started a long way back from the line with Brian and Tash being first over the line again heading towards Dam Green to be overtaken by Nathan. Nathan, Brian and Tash, John and Linda, Jane, Vicki.

There was more wind past Home 2 but in variable directions with blue sky to the west but it still continued toraining, even cold in the hut. The wind is now south – south easterly. Positions were maintained: Nathan, Brian and Tash, John and Linda, Jane, Vicki.

The wind dropped of further in the second lap causing Brian and Tash to drift onto Dam Green and struggle to do a 360 penalty whilst Jane was still moving forward at speed. This meant she finally finished just in front of the Bosun though Nathan had already finished more than 15 minutes beforehand. John and Linda got stuck near West White and ended up drifting backward for a bit of time until the safety boat rescues them by towing them back to the pontoon.

The rain had arrived again making for a wet and cold day (and that’s just the OOD!)

Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Topper)
2. Nathan Pollard (RS Aero 7)
3. Brian Pollard and Tash Routley (Bosun)
   Retired: Vicki Duncalf (Topper) and John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Thanks go the OOD Sue Murray and photos from Jenny Routley

Midweek Mug 16

Another super-light-winded Wednesday, but at least the zephyrs didn’t disappear completely; they came from the Northwest in the middle of the Lake; a good deal more westerly near the Dam.

Sue Murray’s course (Zebra/West/Middle/Dam Green/Home 1) was designed to maximise these wind shifts and to avoid the fishermen who were ubiquitous. And where they weren’t, there were paddleboarders, kayakers etc.

Five boats took to the water. Ian Chatterton was out in his Ent. John Dabbs, with Leila Farmer, and the Witchells had Bosuns. Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton were in their Solos.

Ian Chatterton started just ahead of Adam Hilton and Geoff Floyd but the Hilton Solo led at Zebra and from then on, although very nearly overtaken by the Enterprise at West on lap 3. The Dabbs Bosun led the double-handers and got promoted by the handicap.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. John Dabbs and Leila Farmer (Bosun)
3. Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)
4. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
5. Colin and Louise Witchell

Egg Cup 3

John Dabbs lost his crew and sailed alone. The Enterprise and the other Bosun stayed on the shore. For the three remaining boats there was a more reliable wind and the laps of the short course took around ten minutes. The Hilton Solo again managed to get and keep the lead. The Dabbs Bosun overtook Geoff Floyd’s Solo at Dam Green and finished second.

1. Adam Hilton (Solo)
2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Geoff Floyd (Solo)

Many thanks to the Officer of the Day, Sue Murray.

Pursuit 2

In pursuit races handicaps based on boat class and helm performance are applied before the race so that the slowest boat starts first and the rest at intervals after. They try to catch up and overtake. Vicki Duncalf’s Topper had only three minutes start on John Dabbs’ Bosun; not nearly enough on a day of moderate southeasterly winds which suited the Bosun’s performance. Peter O’Toole’s Full-sailed Laser was the only boat to catch and overtake the Bosun, if you discount Emma O’Toole’s Laser Radial which spoiled things by going the wrong side of a course marker. Nathan Pollard’s quick Aero 7 started at the rear, 15 minutes after the Topper, but he managed to get up to third before the allotted 68 minutes were over.

1. Peter O’Toole (Laser Full)
2. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
3. Nathan Pollard (Aero 7)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Dave Perrett (Solo)
6. Paul Anderson (Laser Radial)
7. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
8. Liam Routley (Laser Full)
9. Brian Pollard and Natasha Routley (Graduate)
10. Ollie Williamson (Aero 7)
    Not classified: Emma O’Toole (Laser Radial), Harriet Cox (Laser Radial)

Pursuit 4

The handicaps were adjusted to reflect success or failure in the morning race and this time no one crossed the line until eight minutes after Vicki Duncalf’s Topper. It was not until the third lap that she was overtaken. Peter O’Toole got himself from sixth to first; Nathan Pollard from ninth to second.

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

Grateful thanks went to the Officer of the Day, Jane Anderson, and to Natasha Routley who took the photographs.

Midweek Mug 15

There was nothing that you could call wind, but the air did just about move. One lap of a simple course (Middle/West/Pinkie/Dam Green – thank you Dave P.) took an hour. Linda Spiller (Full) and Sue Murray (Radial) were in Lasers. Rob Spiller and Adam Hilton had their Solos and John Dabbs was sitting alone in his Bosun.

Adam Hilton was so worried about not being able to cross the start line that he managed to be over it when the horn blew. He had to go back, but benefitted from cleaner air and was first (after 15 minutes) to the first mark, followed by Rob Spiller, Sue Murray, Linda Spiller and John Dabbs (who had had trouble persuading the boat to cross the start line.)

The Hilton Solo continued to lead until shortly before Dam Green where the Lasers edged past leaving Linda Spiller’s big sail to cross the finish line first but not far enough ahead of Sue Murray’s Radial or indeed the Dabbs’ Bosun to be given the victory.

1. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
2. John Dabbs (Bosun)
3. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Rob Spiller (Solo)

Egg Cup 2

There was enough puff in the gentle northwesterlies for the fleet to complete three laps within the hour.

The Club Bosun joined the race with new-comer Harriet ?? at the helm and Bob Sampson mentoring. Linda Spiller got away well and stayed at the front throughout. Sue Murray was second at the start but the high-pointing Hilton Solo went round Middle before her and stayed in second place. Sue closed up on the Solo somewhat in the last moments and was hoisted by the handicap into second place.

1. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo)
4. John Dabbs (Bosun)
5. Harriet and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
6. Rob Spiller (Solo)

Many thanks to the Officer of the Day, Dave Perrett.

Midweek Mug 14

White streaks ran the length of the Lake. The forecast north-westerly force 4 was certainly present along with its force 6 gusts. Single-handed sailors had to be brave. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7) and Ian Chatterton (Enterprise, without jib) were brave. Adam Hilton and Geoff Floyd were not; they abandoned their Solos for the comparative safety of Adam’s ex-Buckett Bosun with small sails. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller were sensible too, with small sails on the Dabbs Bosun. Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson, in the Club’s fast Bosun, risked full size sails and paid the price, shipping a tubful of water when a gust hit them while gibing at Pinkie on lap 3. Before that they had overtaken the fast starters (Chatterton, Dabbs/Spiller and Hilton/Floyd) before they got to Pinkie on the first lap. Behind them the Hilton/Floyd Bosun toured in second until they went the wrong side of Zebra on lap 3 and had to double back. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller took over first place and held it to the end of the fourth and even when the handicaps were applied. Sue Murray’s courageous effort rewarded her with second place on the water and on corrected times.

1.      John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
2.      Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
3.      Adam Hilton and Geoff Floyd (Bosun)
4.      Roger Heasman and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
5.      Ian Chatterton (Enterprise)

The second race was not run.
Many thanks to the Officers of the Day, Louise and Colin Witchell.

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.