Frostbite 7

On the last day of the racing season the winds blew gently from points between east and north and the sun shone brightly, while omitting to warm the sailors on the cold waters of the Lake. Brian Pollard, with Cilla Gilbert in the Club’s ‘Rob Eason’ Bosun, had too good a start and had to return, only to find his main sheet had lost its attachment to the boom. Sue Murray, her Laser cautiously flying a little 4.7 sail, had a good start but the full sailed lasers of Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard were away after the second buoy and finished six seconds apart but ten minutes ahead of everyone else. John Dabbs’ Bosun with Adam Hilton crewing, started well, lost places at Zebra but was still fourth at the end of lap 1 after which Roger Heasman’s new-to-him, sparkling white, ex-navy Bosun swooped past. Linda Spiller, with the other Laser 4.7, had a slow start but was dicing with the Bosuns by the end, finishing fifth on the water.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
2. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
3. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
4. Sue Murray (Laser 4.7)
5. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7)

Retired: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun),

 

Icicle 7

The wind had turned round towards the south and was even gentler. The two Lasers that had had 4.7 sails now sported Radials and the Dabbs and Pollard Bosuns were now helmed by their crews. The start was now towards the Dam. Adam Hilton, the new helm of John Dabbs’ Bosun got away first on a port tack that took the boat well to leeward of the first buoy, Dam Green. His starboard tack failed to make the buoy and his manoeuvres to do so obstructed Linda Spiller’s Laser, putting him at the back of the fleet after penalty turns. Sue Murray had been the first to round Dam Green followed by Bob Sampson and then Nathan Pollard but the big-sailed lasers took over the front of the race again, with Nathan Pollard in the lead this time. Next came the Radials of Sue Murray and Linda Spiller and finally the Bosun battle which Cilla Gilbert managed to lead at the end of the first lap (of two), although neck and neck with Roger Heasman. Unfortunately for Cilla Gilbert, at Dam Green her Bosun lost what wind there was, allowing the Heasman/Wills boat to get well away. Then the Hilton/Dabbs Bosun arrived and also had to make multiple attempts to round that buoy. As a result the second lap featured a slow motion struggle between these two boats, the Hilton/Dabbs Bosun ending up in front.

 

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser Full)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
4. Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (Bosun)
5. Adam Hilton and John Dabbs (Bosun)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
7. Cilla Gilbert  and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Vicki and John Duncalf who were the Officers of the Day and to Robin Spiller and Penny Abbott who crewed the safety boat and took the photographs.

 

Ladies/Gents/Gosling/Junior 2

Thirteen boats in gentle and unreliable south easterlies converged on the pontoon start line on their way towards the Dam. There was some congestion and a good deal of pushing and shoving. Some penalty turns were undertaken as a result. All of which meant that Paul Whybrow (Solo)and Linda Spiller (Laser Radial) neither of whom had been anywhere near first over the start line, were able to sail first and second round the first buoy, Dam Green. As the fleet crept up the Lake some familiar leaders asserted themselves – Jane Anderson in her Laser Radial and Mike and Viki Herbert-Coulson in their Wayfarer. Mike Coulson overtook and led from then on. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial) was an unshakeable third. She was followed by Graham Joyce (Laser). Nicky Buckett, with Annie Quatermain, established herself as the lead Bosun of the four in the race, finishing sixth on the water and fourth on handicap.

1. Mike and Viki Herbert Coulson (Wayfarer)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
4. Nicky Buckett and Annie Quartermain (Bosun)
5. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
6. Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun),
7. Graham Joyce (Laser Full)
8. Roger Heasman (Streaker)
9. Sally Wills and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
10. Adam Hilton and Paul Petvin (Bosun)

Retired: Paul Whybrow (Solo),John Savage (Solo), Tom McKee (Topper),

Pursuit 2

There was still too little wind to get a Topper going at any speed and Vicki Duncalf, who started first, was soon engulfed by the fleet, but Brian Pollard, with Cilla Gilbert in the Bosun, who started second, managed to hold off the speeding boats behind him and finished first. The Herbert Coulson Wayfarer, last to start, got closest to him and was followed by Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial. Linda Spiller had been behind Adam Hilton’s Aero 7 for a while but finished in front of it. He was just pleased to have realised a little of his new boat’s potential.

1. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
2. Mike and Viki Herbert Coulson (Wayfarer)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
4. Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
5. Adam Hilton (Aero 7)
6. Vicky Duncalf (Topper)
7. Sally Wills and Bob Sampson (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Penny Abbott and Bob Bennett who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard for photography.

 

 

Midweek Mug 2

The sailing club’s day began with a morning working party replacing the fendering on the pontoon. After a substantial amount of talk, some drilling and a pause for lunch, a new sleek section of black fender could be seen attached to the pontoon. More soon.

By 3.45pm the day had become cooler, greyer and windier. Robin Spiller, sitting in as OOD for Linda, set an excellent course which revelled in the lack of fisherfolk; Inlet Red! Far Cornwall! The wind was coming from points around the North East and so a familiar and comfortable start from this side of line 1 was possible and the straight passage to Inlet was less then close hauled. Annie Quartermain, in her first race of the season, slipped her Laser Radial over the line first, followed by the Commodore’s Solo, the Vice-Commodore’s Radial, the Treasurer’s Solo, John Dabbs’ Gull and the Wills/Heasman Bosun. By Inlet Linda Spiller had got away and was never headed. Adam Hilton was past but close to Annie Quartermain. All found the wind at Inlet Red hard to cope with on each lap. It blew harder as the buoy was rounded and then swerved as the helms tried to fill their sails for the beat to West White. Annie’s boat was flipped over and Geof Floyd appeared to have a moment of sailing backwards before also capsizing. The wind continued to strengthen with its usual gusting, backing and vacuums. Boats capable of planing planed. Linda gradually increased her lead, achieving a couple of minutes at the end. The handicap reduced this to a handful of seconds but a victory nonetheless.

Results:

1.       Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)

2.       Adam Hilton (Solo)

3.       Sally Wills and Roger Heasman (Bosun)

4.       John Dabbs(Gull)

Retired: Geof Floyd (Solo), Annie Quartermain (Laser Radial)

 

Many thanks to Robin Spiller who ran the race single-handed.