All quiet on the Tamar front: the fleet gently drifts across the start line as the horn sounds for the start of the midday race
A moment when paddleboarders moved considerably faster than any of the the racing dinghies: Robin Spiller is in front in clear air, but Jane Anderson is poised just behind, on her way to victory
Bob Sampson in a decidedly nonchalant pose, back in his customary Laser
Still little more than a drift at the start of the afternoon race, as the dinghies seek to find the gentle easterly zephyrs
But as the race developed, the long-awaited sea breeze finally arrived from a WNW direction, giving a broad reach/run all the way down from Pinky to Dam Green, with just a suspicion of a bow wave developing on Nathan Pollard’s Laser in the foreground
Robin Spiller taking the bit between his teeth as he hardens up after Dam Green
A nail-biting race on the final beat to the finish between the Solos of Adam Hilton and Paul Whybrow, the boats by now moving at a very respectable speed
No tears in a Tasar: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in good-humoured mood as they near the end of their race
Nathan Pollard gets away clear at the start of the Teatime Tankard
Graham Joyce’s Laser just heading Bob Sampson, dipping his toe into unfamiliar territory in the Topper on his way to victory on handicap
Sufficient wind for Adam Hilton to get his Solo onto the plane
And when a squall came through, John Dabb’s Gull was being pushed hard over, even though he had prudently reefed down to a pocket handkerchief of a mainsail
A southerly wind means a less usual start direction as the fleet heads towards the Dam
The fleet heads off downwind into a distinctly un-summery gloom, with Nathan Pollard’s sail the only splash of colour on a very grey day (even down to the grey seabird faintly pursuing at far right)
‘Look out, he’s behind you….’; Bob Sampson looks about to pounce as he tussles with James Pollard on the way to his eventual victory
Sue Murray and Linda Spiller in close competition as the race unfolds
James Pollard starts off as he means to go on, getting away first in the afternoon race, en-route to first place
… and has already put clear water between himself and the rest of the fleet as he prepares to round the windward mark
Around the gybe mark at West White before a brief reach across to Middle
The Tasar picks up speed as Brian Pollard bears away round Dam Green
An undecided look to the fleet, with boats heading both ways as the horn sounds
That’s better: everybody now facing in the right direction a few seconds later
Surprise winner on handicap, given the very light wind conditions, Elliot Pomeroy’s Topper leads John Dabbs (who was himself a commendable third)
Graham Joyce and Linda Spiller in close competition as they head downwind
The wind seemed to get lighter and flukier as boats neared the Dam: here Alan Comber and John Weller in the Enterprise drift gently behind Brian’s Tasar, being helmed by Cilla Gilbert for the midday race
he afternoon Pursuit race in full swing: the Tasar (now helmed by Brian and crewed by Rachael) in the foreground has a daunting amount of distance to try to catch up
The two Solos on the water (Adam’s and Paul’s) were never separated by very much for the whole duration of the Pursuit
Robin Spiller takes a lead he was never to relinquish as he glides smoothly past John Buckett’s Otter
Paul Whybrow’s red-hulled Solo at the head of this quartet of boats, whilst just behind, it’s really good to see Annie Quartermaine out in her Laser Radial again. In the foreground Nathan Pollard seems to be managing to point higher than the boats around him and on the right of the picture, John Savage’s Solo is also going well
Paul Whybrow’s red-hulled Solo at the head of this quartet of boats, whilst just behind, it’s really good to see Annie Quartermaine out in her Laser Radial again. In the foreground Nathan Pollard seems to be managing to point higher than the boats around him and on the right of the picture, John Savage’s Solo is also going well
Jane Chadney planing downwind in her Laser 4.7, with the boats behind just about to bear away slightly at Middle
Jane Anderson’s Topper and Adam Hilton’s Solo, beating upwind on port tack, have to thread their way between a trio of boats heading downwind at speed on starboard; in the foreground, John Dabbs’ Gull benefits from the services of a crew, with Brian Pollard helping out on yet another day of unpredictable, gusty, winds
The fleet in line astern, all opting for the windward end of the start line, with the exception of John Dabbs’s Gull, which can be glimpsed in the background going for clear air at the downwind end end of the line
Tight competition on the first beat to West White
What, taking your wind… Us….? A quartet of bigger-sailed dinghies cluster astern of Jane Anderson”s Topper – but still aren’t able to prevent her from taking her second win of the day on handicap
Undefeated despite the minor matter of a snapped mast at the last mark, a determined Nathan Pollard manages to get his crippled Laser Radial across the finish line
The fleet get away on the first beat with Linda Spiller’s Laser 4.7 clear ahead
Linda looking comfortable going downwind as she negotiates the ‘windy middle’ of the lake
Spot the missing hull…. Jane Anderson’s boat almost completely enveloped in spray at her Topper tears across (and through) the choppy water
And the award for bravery goes to…..: James Pollard opts for a full rig Laser in the midday race whilst most around him were downsizing to sails with considerably smaller square footage
Adam Hilton looking inward and introspective in the Solo, whilst behind, Marlo Graham keeps a keen watch forward in Toby Tobias’s red-hulled Bosun
Sue Murray also kicking up clouds of spray in her planing Laser 4.7
Going upwind in the RS200 looks to be pretty hard work…..
But obviously lots of fun going downwind…..; huge smiles from helm Bob Sampson and crew Alison Linnell
The fleet unusually scattered as the horn sounds for the start of the midday race
Great shot of a tightly-packed group of boats hardening onto a reach at Middle
Nathan Pollard leading the way as the whole fleet heads back down the lake on the first lap
Sue Murray gets her Laser 4.7 onto the plane on her way to victory on handicap in the midday race
Jane Anderson just ahead of Nathan on the beat to West White
The hare that didn’t get caught by the hounds: Vicki beats up the lake on her way to first place in the Pursuit
Toby and John working at extracting maximum speed, goosewinging the Bosun in the foreground, whilst Paul Whybrow adopts a more nonchalant posture in the Solo just behind
Roger Heasman looking back, certainly not in anger but rather with some pleasure, as he heads towards an eventual second place in the Pursuit
Brian Pollard goes for a port tack flyer with his Tasar in the foreground and, despite appearances, apparently just managed to get clear away in front of the advancing starboard tack boats in the background
The fleet heads down from Middle towards a gybe at Pinky
Not quite enough wind to lift the Streakers and Laser Radial onto the plane
On a later lap, Paul Whybrow’s red-hulled Solo leads a group of boats heading towards the next mark at Zebra
In the second race of the day, Nathan Pollard makes a great start in his Laser Radial
After a slow start, Robin Spiller is moving up the fleet as he glides downwind between Roger Heasman and Penny Abbott, on his way to an eventual win on handicap
Never mind the boats, look at all the bird life (with cormorant, heron and geese all in evidence in the background); the fleet leaders head for the windward mark at West White
Lovely photo of close quarters competition amongst the leaders, with Nathan still holding onto a narrow advantage on the water
Jane Anderson gets away clear at the start of the first of two ‘Spare’ races
New boat on the lake, Brian Pollard’s Tasar, charts a different course in the foreground as the remainder of the fleet favour the Devon bank after the start
Lovely shot of a cluster of boats in close contention rounding Dame Red and Green, with Adam Hilton’s Solo going well to be up in contention with Lasers
Lots of pressure on the windward end of the line at the start of the second race
Sixteen boats spread out across the lake in the second race – definitely the sign of a buoyant club (sorry)
Linda Spiller’s Laser hardening up round Dam Green
Still some powerful very localised gusts, even on an apparently benign day: Toby’ s Bosun almost dips its gunwale, whilst just behind, the Tasar and John Savage’s Solo stay rock steady
Great action photo of Bob Sampson looking for the layline
