by Adam Hilton

@Roadford Lake

Three Soloists took to the water; Floyd, Hilton and Perrett and the Spillers took their boats out. They were joined by the RLSC Commodore Richard Willows in his Supernova. The winds were light and came from the southwest. The Supernova took off into the blue yonder. Linda Spiller’s Radial led Adam Hilton’s Solo by varying distances until he, confused about the number of laps to be sailed, went ashore. Robin Spiller and Geoff Floyd tussled. David Perrett, still finding his way around his Solo, followed along.

by Adam Hilton

Midweek Mug 2

It had been blowing hard and raining. It was still blowing; force three to five the OOD, John Buckett, reckoned. Nobody expected timid sailors to turn up and they didn’t. So two Bosuns took to the water, both with small rigs: Roger Heasman’s with David Perrett as crew and John Dabbs’ with Adam Hilton pulling sheets. Bob Sampson said he would put a 4.7 on his Laser and go over the startline to make the race numbers legal, but once on the water, speed lover that he is, he revelled in the conditions and could be seen planing up and down the Lake, making gibe turns for the heck of it, long after the race had finished!

Roger Heasman started first but he had been overtaken by Bob Sampson before Inlet and had fallen back a minute and a half by the end of lap 1. By the end of the four laps the gap was nearly ten minutes on the water and six on corrected time. John Dabbs followed the Heasman Bosun throughout but the gap between the two boats  was never more than a few lengths and at times, generally as they rounded buoys, they were bow to transom. A good time was had by all.

1. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7l)
2. Roger Heasman and David Perrett (Bosun)
3. John Dabbs and Adam Hilton (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to John Buckett for running the race.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Tamar 1

Ten boats took to the water for the first race of the Tamar series. The first to cross the start line and begin a successful day’s racing was the Bosun of John Dabbs crewed by Linda Spiller. However, confusion as to whether to leave Dam Green to port or starboard allowed a handful of Lasers and Robin Spiller’s Streaker to go past. James Pollard led initially but Nathan Pollard was first to finish the first lap and the following three, a predictably gusty bunch of north-easterlies powering the dinghies around the course in about fifteen minutes a lap. Jane Anderson, with a smaller Radial sail on her Laser, followed the brothers Pollard at a discreet distance, finishing a couple of minutes behind the winner but being given second place by the handicap. A contest developed between Robin Spiller’s Streaker and Adam Hilton’s Solo which, after recovering from a tardy start, dogged the wake of the Streaker, occasionally putting a nose in front. The Dabbs/Spiller Bosun consistently led its Heasman/Perrett and Pollard/Weller sisters.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
2. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
3. James Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
7. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)
8. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
9. Mike Coley (Laser Full)

Retired: Brian Pollard and John Weller (Bosun)

Tamar 2

The gloomy grey skies of the first race were replaced by sun and warmth but the winds remained much the same. Adam Hilton’s Solo was the first to get away and round the first buoy but was soon overtaken by the full-sailed Lasers of Nathan Pollard and Mike Coley; these two staying at the front for the rest of the race. Jane Anderson, who had been the seventh skipper to round the first buoy, Dam Green, disposed of the three Bosuns in front of her and watched the leaders from fourth place for a couple of laps before overtaking the Solo in front of her. Brian Pollard’s Bosun, John Weller crewing, started fast, being the first to round Dam Green but was overtaken by its sisters going up the Lake. The handicaps tossed the finishing order in the air, but one skipper keeping his on-the-water place was Nathan Pollard, even if he had to share the victory with John Dabbs and Linda Spiller!

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) and, equal first, John Dabbs and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Roger Heasman and Dave Perrett (Bosun)
4. Adam Hilton (Solo)
5. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
6. Mike Coley (Laser Full)
7. Brian Pollard and John Weller (Bosun)
8. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Vicki Duncalf was Officer of the Day. Many thanks were given to her as well as to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Barnwell 2

‘Force 4, gusting 6’ was the forecast and the forecasters were right! The gusts were powerful and deviated wildly from the underlying southerlies; two members of the fleet had their dinghies capsize and the rest had to work very hard. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) was first over the line and led throughout. Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7) was second to start and newcomer Mike Coley (Laser Full) was running in third until his boat disappeared from under him at Home 2. The Anderson 4.7 stayed in touch with the leading Laser around West and up to Pinkie. Brian (Bosun, Cilla Gilbert as crew) began to pull ahead of John Dabbs (Bosun, with Adam Hilton) in front of Geoff Floyd with a small sail on his Solo. Mike Coley got his Laser the right way up and was giving chase but retired at the end of lap 1.

On the second lap Nathan Pollard was stretching the gap to Jane Anderson but in the winds even he was having to loose his mainsheet a little. The Bosuns were duelling, Brian Pollard generally ahead as they rounded the buoys until, on the beat from Pinkie back to Middle, John Dabbs’ choice of tacks gave him a lead over the yellow Bosun which was not again challenged.

The fleet continued to reduce, with Jane Anderson retiring her Laser on lap 2 and Geoff Floyd being towed in. The third lap therefore finished with Nathan Pollard some ten minutes ahead of the leading Bosun with Brian Pollard following some two and a half minutes behind.

Sailboat 2

Not run; too few skippers were prepared to brave the gusts!

Roger Heasman was Officer of the Day: many thanks to him and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Teacake 5

Only four helms signed on for the race, others no doubt put off by yet another forecast of 4 mph winds. To add spice to this meagre contest Sue Murray, the OOD, was persuaded to race. Cameron Putt, the SWLT safety boat man, started the race and helms took their own times at the finish. In the end the wind got up and was pleasantly brisk at the start only returning to its tiresome lethargy on the third lap which Sue, the leader, after a little mid-lake discussion, determined should be the last.

John Dabbs, solitary in his Bosun, Adam Hilton, Soloed as usual and Sue Murray, full sail on her Laser, were all close at the start, but the Solo was over the line and had to turn back. Sue set off in the lead and stayed there but was kept honest by Linda Spiller (Laser Full) who was never far behind. The Solo’s ability to point high took it past the Dabbs Bosun and, the Streaker needing one more tack on the long beat from West to Pinky, Robin Spiller. The gaps lengthened as the race went on.

1. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
2. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
3. Adam Hilton (Solo).
4. John Dabbs (Bosun)
5. Robin Spiller (Streaker)

Sue Murray did everything needed to run a race except stand in the race hut. Cameron Putt pressed the button for the horn sequence to start. Thank you.

by Adam Hilton

Mandy Pollard

Commodore 6

The waters at Upper Tamar Lake were very low and the winds were barely present. A fishing competition put much of the Lake out-of-bounds. The sun shone.  Sue Murray (Laser Full), Robin Spiller (Streaker) and Jane Anderson (Laser Full) all managed to cross the line when the starting horn sounded while the rest of the fleet floundered. Sue Murray stayed first at the first buoy but was overtaken by Jane Anderson on the way to Middle. A random puff of wind brought Adam Hilton’s Solo up to the leading bunch but he touched Sue Murray’s gunwale at Middle, did penalty turns and from then on lost ground. Robin Spiller remained in third catching up the Lasers on the second lap. Three helms thought they’d finished when they hadn’t and were ‘retired’. Others struggled on and were rewarded, notably Vicki Duncalf whose Topper gained fourth place and Geoff Floyd whose Solo gained fifth when the handicaps were applied.

1. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
2. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
3. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6. Roger Heasman and John Buckett (Bosun)

Retired:  Adam Hilton (Solo). Linda Spiller (Laser Full) Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun) John Dabbs (Bosun)

Spalding Cup 6

Robin Spiller continued his enviable run of good starts and he was still first at Dam Green but Jane Anderson was in front by the time they reached West and retained the lead from then on. They were chased by Sue Murray and Nathan Pollard who’d joined the fleet in his Laser (Full). Linda Spiller followed in fifth and John Dabbs in sixth. John Buckett had switched from crew to helming his Otter and completed the first lap in seventh but lost ground subsequently. There were several retirements by helms who couldn’t persuade their dinghies to sail without wind.

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Full)
2. Robin Spiller (Streaker)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Full)
4. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
5. Adam Hilton (Solo)
6. Linda Spiller (Laser Full)
7. John Buckett (Otter)
8. John Dabbs (Bosun)

Retired: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun), Geoff Floyd (Solo), Vicki Duncalf (Topper)

Grateful thanks were given to Graham Joyce, assisted by Nicky Buckett, for running the races and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.

by Adam Hilton

by Mandy Pollard 

Commodore 3

It was a day of high winds. The Laser sailors, Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard, flew their smallest sails. Sue Murray, Jane Anderson and Vicki Duncalf chose little Topper dinghies. Adam Hilton’s Solo and the two Bosuns (Roger Heasman with Linda Spiller and Brian Pollard with Cilla Gilbert) had more canvas than they needed or perhaps wanted. The fleet started close-hauled towards Zebra with the Anderson and Duncalf Toppers first away. But Bob Sampson was soon overtaking and was second at Zebra. Adam Hilton followed and was leading by the end of the lap. The sun came out but the winds increased their gustiness; the boats spent much of the long reach and run back from Pinky up on the plane and moving very fast indeed. Roger Heasman led the Bosuns and Nathan Pollard was making up ground. After Pinky Bob Sampson took over the lead with Adam Hilton having to spill a lot of wind to keep the boat upright. Nathan Pollard made further progress, going past Roger Heasman’s Bosun on lap 2 and Adam Hilton’s Solo on Lap 3. He was challenging Bob Sampson by the end. At the rear the three Toppers kept changing places as their helms suffered near-capsizes or, in Jane Anderson’s case, went the wrong side of Home 1 and had to go back. At Dam Green, the last buoy before the finish line, Adam Hilton capsized and needed the safety boat’s assistance to stop him drifting onto the dam. He retired. The Commodore Series personal handicaps gave Vicki Duncalf the victory.

1. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
2. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
3. Sue Murray (Topper)
4. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
6. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
7. Jane Anderson (Topper)

Retired: Adam Hilton (Solo).

Spalding 3

Vicki Duncalf pulled off her habitual excellent start but was followed by Bob Sampson who had overtaken her by the time they reached Zebra. Nathan Pollard also overtook and was second to round that buoy. Well-judged tacks across from Zebra to West made Jane Anderson the lead Topper skipper and put her in front of the dicing Bosuns of Brian Pollard and Roger Heasman. Sue Murray wasn’t giving up, however and headed Jane Anderson at the end of lap 2. The Bosun battle continued until lap 2 when the Heasman craft broke its (borrowed) rudder and had to be beached. At the front the contest continued with Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard taking turns to sneak inside at Dam Green and grab the lead. The Pollard Laser crossed the finish line first.

1. Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7)
2. Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7)
3. Jane Anderson (Topper)
4. Sue Murray (Topper)
5. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
6. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Retired: Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to John Dabbs, Officer of the Day. And to Mandy Pollard for taking the photos.

Bosun Plus 5

Six Bosuns crossed the line with Roger Heasman (Linda Spiller as crew) in the lead in this one class race under lowering skies and at times heavy rain but not the powerful winds forecast. Brian Pollard (with Cilla Gilbert) followed, with John Dabbs (Ian Chatterton) next. Bob Sampson, sailing solo and with small sails, came after, with Sue Murray and Vicki Duncalf in their wake, also flying small sails. Adam Hilton and Paul Anderson (his first ever race as crew) were last over the line but overtook the two small-sailed Bosuns before the gybe at Dam Green. The heavens opened and the rain cut much of the wind strength as the fleet rounded Inlet and hardened up to beat across to West. Reaching to Far was easy but the multiple tacks required to return to the start line were demanding of boats and helms. Roger Heasman lost his comfortable lead, his Bosun still refusing to point as high as others. This made John Dabbs the leading Bosun at the end of the lap with the rest in the order Heasman, Hilton, Murray and Sampson. They were all bunched up going round Dam Green but Roger Heasman was gifted a puff of wind from heaven and shot away only to lose his advantage again as the lap progressed. The other Bosuns arrived at Inlet still bunched and squabbling. The Hilton/ Anderson boat drifted onto the buoy, losing time and having to execute a penalty turn as the cold rain came down and thunder could be heard.

1. John Dabbs and Ian Chatterton (Bosun)
2. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
3. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller (Bosun)
4. Sue Murray and Vicki Duncalf (Bosun)
5. Adam Hilton and Paul Anderson (Bosun)

Retired: Bob Sampson (Bosun)

Nathan Pollard (Laser Full) also raced.

Pursuit 6

The unseasonal damp and chill had left some sailors dispirited and the field was reduced to five with, in this pursuit race, Vicki Duncalf’s Topper starting first and Nathan Pollard’s Laser Full starting last some fifteen minutes later with the other competitors spread out in between. Before the end of the first lap John Dabbs had overtaken Vicky Duncalf and Sue Murray, now with Bob Sampson as crew, had overtaken Brian Pollard who shortly after found himself with a tiller extension in his hand unattached to the tiller, requiring an emergency visit to the pontoon for repairs. Right at the end of lap 2 Sue Murray overtook John Dabbs but Nathan Pollard never made up enough ground to overtake the leading  Bosuns.

1. Sue Murray and Bob Sampson (Bosun)
2. John Dabbs and Ian Chatterton (Bosun)
3. Nathan Pollard (Laser Full)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Grateful thanks were given to Jane Anderson, Officer of the Day, and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Teatime Tankard 1

John Dabbs was first to cross the starting line, sailing his Bosun single handed, closely followed by Robin Spiller (Streaker), Leila Farmer and Stephanie Clarke (Hartley 12.2) and Louise and Colin Witchell (Bosun).

The wind strength had picked up a little since preparing for the race and the fleet headed off towards Pinky with the wind coming from the North West.

By the end of the first lap the Bosun of Louise and Colin had passed the Hartley 12.2 of Leila and Stephanie and this order in the fleet remained throughout the rest of the race, with the final results reflecting the order on the water.

Teatime Plate 4

The time available to the competitors necessitated a shorter than normal race. John Dabbs (Bosun and Robin Spiller (Streaker) crossed the start line neck and neck followed by Leila Farmer (Hartley 12.2) this time sailing single handed. By the time the first mark was reached Robin had established a comfortable lead over the other two boats which he maintained throughout the race crossing the finishing line first followed by John and then Leila.

With the handicaps applied John Dabbs secured his second win of the day.

Grateful thanks were given to Geoff Floyd, Officer of the Day