Nathan Pollard right on the line as the horn sounds for the start of the Teatime Tankard, on the way to a comfortable victory
Annie Quartermain hiking out in the lead Bosun, with Pavol Rovensky doing the same job in the Roger Heasman-helmed Bosun just behind, whilst the fact that Robin Spiller has opted for the smaller Streaker Wave rig underlines the fact that it was yet another windy Wednesday
Gentler going downwind, with John Dabbs at the helm and Annie Quartermain and new club member Bob Bennett making up the crew
Adam Hilton and Sally Wills on a day when the usual two-person Bosun crew was fine going downwind, but sometimes made for harder work in the gusts when beating upwind
The start of the midday race, with just a small four-boat fleet braving the miserable conditions: it looks calm as a mill-pond down by the pontoon but clearly this was just a snare and a delusion
Tight rounding the windward mark, with James Pollard holding on to his initial lead
Enough wind on the open water for Nathan Pollard to have to hike out hard in his Laser Radial
James Pollard looking happy and relaxed in his Laser 4.7 as he passes Dam Green
And then clearly much more wind has appeared from somewhere as James and Adam head for Dam Red
Sue Murray gets away first in her Laser 4.7 in the afternoon race, whilst Adam Hilton is still recovering from a capsize at a critical moment – though this didn’t stop him from becoming the eventual winner on handicap
Bob Sampson, now with a full sail on his Laser, is about to start blanketing Sue Murray’s Laser 4.7 as they bear away around Dam Red
Bob Sampson out in front as the mist and rain descends
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
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