‘I think this might come in useful…’; with almost no wind in evidence and a long slow drift in prospect, paddles were the ‘must-have’ accessory of the day – though in fact, most boats stuck it out to the end of the race
With the wind direction fluctuating wildly, it was never going to be a start into a true beat – and the whole fleet wanted to be starting at the Home 1 end of the line, so there was much jostling for position
Very slow going as a trio of boats drift towards West Red
Here there are at least tiny wakes coming from the sterns of the three dinghies, so they are at least showing signs of perceptible movement
A new course for the afternoon race, with a beat to Dam Green into a (mainly) south-easterly breeze that was appreciably stronger than in the morning
Winner of both the day’s races, Jane Anderson is away clear round the first mark
Fewer boats out in the afternoon race, but the fabulous weather produced an excellent turn-out for an end-of-season race in November, with a total of nine different dinghy classes visible on the water in this shot
Jane Anderson increasing her lead as she glides downwind, but Adam Hilton’s yellow Solo, which eventually ended up in second place, still has work to do here, some distance behind the Bosun of Rachael Pomeroy and Cilla Gilbert
The start of the midday race, with five boats and crews heading up the lake into a heavy driving drizzle
Elliot Pomeroy to windward of Vicki Duncalf on what looks to have turned into a beat – the wind, which initially looked to be mainly westerly, turned progressively more northerly during the course of the day
Steve Axford and Bob Sampson on the plane. The duo were never far apart for the whole race, but Steve, who was just behind as they rounded Dam Green on the final lap, managed to snatch victory by a tactical tack in the last few yards
Vicki Duncalf keeping ahead of the Bosun of Adam Hilton and John Dabbs. Note the fisherman in the background, who is so unworried by the chill of a bitter early Spring day, that he’s prepared to stand in the water
Start of the afternoon race: the Bosun has stolen a march on the remainder of the fleet by getting away quickly and well to windward. The streaks of foam on the water show that the wind remained pretty strong
Good telephoto close-up of Elliot Pomeroy, wrapped up against the cold
The Bosun’s excellent start means that it’s still in the lead as it beats up to the first mark at Middle
No early-season rustiness for Sue Murray, who looked very comfortable in her Laser 4.7 – and ended up in the 2nd place
Warm sunshine, a full lake and a steadyish breeze – what more could you want in mid-March: the front runners of the fleet start on a port tack towards Dam Red
Really nice to see Paul Anderson back from foreign climes; Vicki blankets Paul on the broad reach up towards Pinkie
A touch of haze adds soft focus to an inviting picture as the boats head towards the downwind mark at Pinkie
Sufficient wind to get James Pollard hiking out in his full-rig Laser, just ahead of Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial
James Pollard looks to have made a good start in the second race, perhaps pointing marginally higher than the following boats
Centreboards up, kickers off, as nearly the entire fleet groups nicely for the camera
Adam Hilton, with a sunny smile, ghosts downwind, whilst the Otter is pushed wide by a header on the beat towards Dam Red
James Pollard and James Williams pictured together as they head back down the lake on a close reach
The entire fleet in shot at the start of the midday race; Adam Hilton’s Solo shows clear in front, having made an absolutely perfect start, hitting the line at speed as the hooter sounded. sadly, he couldn’t believe that he wasn’t over – and turned back to make an unnecessary re-start. James Pollard’s Laser is already round the mark and heading downwind
The fleet heading for the windward mark at Dam Red;
Robin Skinner in the foreground, heading for Dam Red
Clearly the Buckett Bosun hasn’t had it’s early season clean – and it’s in the process of losing a batten to boot
Start of the afternoon race; Robin Spiller shows clear ahead, but downwind of several other boats
Jane Chadney squeezes her Laser 4.7 round Dam Red; Sue Murray in the RS200 looks for a gap between the line of dinghies heading for the mark on starboard tack
James Pollard (eventual winner on handicap) on a close reach back towards the start line, just ahead of the RS200
When the course allows the RS 200 to fly its gennaker, the boat really takes off; here it’s starting to show a turn of speed, even in the afternoon’s fairly gentle easterly breeze
With the wind momentarily looking deceptively benign, Steve Axford leads the four-boat fleet away from the start
.. and then seconds later, Steve Axford is left in the water as a gust upends his Laser Radial
Bob Sampson has achieved a substantial lead in his Laser 4.7, whilst in the background, the Toppers of Elliot and Nathan are confronted with what looks to be a daunting gybe as they approach Pinkie
A classic close-up of Bob at speed on a broad reach
Steve Axford’s Laser Radial kicks up a cloud of spray as his boat flies through the chop across the middle of the lake, whilst Nathan and Elliot are still approaching the windiest section
This time it’s Bob Sampson’s dinghy that’s inverted….
The two Lasers in a quieter patch round Dam Green
Heading downwind past Home One, the imperturbable Bob appears to have lost his hat, but not his cool
A tight bunch at the start of the midday race, with Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial showing in front, but to leeward of the following group
Not long afterwards, the fleet is already more strung out
James Pollard’s Laser out in the lead, with the Laser of Bob Sampson and Laser Radial of Jane Anderson not far behind
John Savage’s Solo leads a group of boats back downwind, staying on starboard at the mark, whilst the leading Topper has gybed onto port; John Dabb’s Gull going well to be still in contention with some of the Toppers at this stage of the race
The start of the afternoon’s Commodore Cup race; the bulk of the fleet have gone for a starboard tack start, whilst a couple of helms are on port tack, in order to work their way across to the upwind side
Nathan Pollard heading back in front of the Watersports Centre, heading the rest of the Topper fleet
Good to see Ken Lambert’s Wayfarer out racing, with Cilla Gilbert as crew
Bob Sampson having to work hard, as his Laser develops quite a heel on the beat
Seconds before the start of the midday race, it’s getting very tight indeed, as everyone tries to be in the same place at the upwind pin end of the line
Just a few yards up the first beat, the wind seemed to be stronger than forecast at this point; Roger Heasman in the foreground in his Streaker
James Pollard just ahead of Jane Anderson, as they approach the dogleg at Dam Green, before hardening up for the line
Good telephoto shot of John Savage, looking comfortable in his Solo
Not such a tightly packed fleet for the afternoon race, with Adam Hilton’s Bosun getting away into clear air
New club member Penny Abbott in the Topper, just a few yards ahead of the larger Solo
Even though initially the wind looked to have dropped appreciably for the afternoon race, there was still enough strength to get the RS 200 up on its ear on the beat, with Sue Murray having to hike hard to keep the show on the road
Toby Tobias and Cilla Gilbert bring the Bosun close inshore for their photocall
James Pollard is first away for the midday race, but Jane Anderson and Bob Sampson are to windward as they head for Dam Green into a southerly wind
As so often with a short beat from the start to Dam Green, several boats trying to squeeze round the mark at the same time
And at the front of the fleet, Bob Sampson possibly just in front; Adam Hilton’s Solo keeping company with the Lasers The whole fleet in view on a slate-grey lake – not welcoming for May
The whole fleet in view on a slate-grey lake – not welcoming for May
A trio of Toppers, having to work hard as they beat back towards the start line
In the afternoon Pursuit race, Paul Whybrow’s red-hulled Solo making a bright spot on an increasingly murky afternoon
Toby Tobias and Cilla Gilbert look to just have the edge over a well wrapped-up Nathan Pollard in the Topper
This telephoto shot shows just how the mist makes a gloomy picture; here Bob Sampson looks to have gained the lead….
