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….
Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard at the start of a full-on few minutes; note the effect of the telephoto, bringing into view the meadow flowers in the field behind
Picture of the day: James Pollard more in the water than in the boat, ploughing through the water at high speed as a gust momentarily dies
Bosun (with John Buckett, Brian Pollard and Geoff Floyd), on a broad reach, with small flat-cut Otter sails, three up, two sitting out – and still going like a train…..
Bob Sampson not far from the Dam, at a point where there’s practically no fetch in the south-easterly wind – and already there are whitecaps showing
Bob, James and Nathan, in the windiest part of the lake
James heading back from West
James beating back towards the Dam
Nathan still holding it together as he ends the race as the only finisher
John Dabbs and Adam Hilton show ahead of the pack at the start of the midday race; Nicky Buckett goes for the minority option, with a port tack start
Well into the first lap, Nicky Buckett and Brian Pollard are going well to still be ahead of some of the Lasers, resulting in their eventual second place on handicap
Jane Anderson in the lead as she finds some breeze on the beat back up the lake on the way to her eventual victory
James Pollard and Adam Hilton still in close contention as they beat across from Dam Green as they near the start of the second lap
Annie Quartermain and Linda Spiller jostling for position in their full-rig Lasers
John Dabbs and Cilla Gilbert out in John’s Gull
Lots of pressure on the pin end of the line in the afternoon race
Moments after the start, Bob Sampson makes an early tack into clean air on port in the background, a move that gave him a substantial early lead that he retained right into the third lap
Jostling for position as the fleet starts on the beat towards West Red
The whole fleet in shot as Bob Sampson and Sue Murray lead the fleet away, whilst in the background, Adam Hilton’s Solo is the sole boat to tack away onto port
Rachael Pomeroy looks to make her next move in the Bosun, en-route to an impressive third place; Nathan Pollard and John Buckett to windward
Fabulous action shot of the RS 200 and Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial hardening up around Dam Green
Linda Spiller has her Laser Radial moving well
Good to see Roger Heasman completing both races, as he works his way back to fitness
Paul Whybrow’s distinctive red-hulled Solo in the foreground; James Pollard breaks cover onto port in the background
Alan Comber and John Weller make their first outing of the season, here seen ahead of the Streaker and Topper
A big fleet heading on the short beat to Dam Red; looks as though one of the Streakers has decided it’s gone too soon and is looping round to re-start
Vicki’s Topper leads a group of boats heading downwind; nice to see John White back on the water in his Bosun, on this occasion with Cilla Gilbert as crew
Nathan Pollard heads a trio of Toppers back through the start line on the second lap
Eventual winner of the midday Cup Race, Bob Sampson finds enough wind to require hiking out
Adeney Pooler’s Graduate, with the black inserts on his crisp new sails generating a dramatic effect (and lots of power, apparently) on the water
Elliot Pomeroy on his way to victory in the afternoon’s Pursuit race
Jane Chadney in her element, gliding downwind on a day when Lasers seemed to find the conditions just to their liking
Close boat-on-boat competition in the Laser fleet as Jane Anderson and James Pollard vie for position
