Tamar 3

Gentle but decidedly flukey easterlies had the fleet doing fifteen minute laps of a course that went up to Far with gybes a plenty on the way. It was warm and sunny and James Pollard got his Blaze over the start line first, was first around the first buoy, Dam Green, and was never headed. But his minute and a half lead at the finish was not enough to keep him in front on handicap. Behind him they scrambled around Dam Green in the order Jane Anderson (Laser 4.7), Nathan Pollard (Laser Full), Adam Hilton (Solo) and then the lead Bosun helmed by John Dabbs with Penny Abbott crewing.

Bob Sampson and Sue Murray were giving the RS200 its first run of the season and used its inherent speed to get up to third as they returned from Far on lap 1. By contrast the small sail on Jane Anderson’s Laser obliged her to relinquish several places, finishing sixth on the water but  she regained them when the handicaps were applied. The Bosuns were scrapping as usual, Brian Pollard (with Cilla Gilbert) finishing the first lap ahead before the Dabbs/Abbott boat established itself in seventh.

Tamar 4

The easterlies were slightly less erratic but still likely to shift and drop. The course now only went as far north as Pinky and in the event was shortened to three laps. Adam Hilton started first but James Pollard led round Dam Green and Jane Anderson (now with a Radial sail on her Laser) followed by Nathan Pollard were second and third on the way to Inlet. Linda Spiller was fifth but the RS200, now helmed by Sue Murray, was snapping at her heels by the end of the lap and went on overtaking until it was at the front at the end. The Blaze seemed to stop dead when the wind dropped below a certain speed and James Pollard found himself as low as sixth on the water. Meanwhile the Bosuns were not far apart and not far behind; they got promoted from eighth and ninth to first and second with John Buckett’s Otter coming up to third.

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

Barnwell 6

James Pollard got his Blaze over the line first, was first round the first buoy and was never headed, finishing the three lap race three minutes ahead of the rest of the fleet. Adam Hilton was second at the first buoy but he was flying a cut down sail on his Solo in response to a forecast of powerful winds and vicious gusts which never materialised. He was rapidly overtaken by the rest of the field. By the time the fleet reached West White the Laser Radials had established themselves behind the flying Blaze, Bob Sampson leading Nathan Pollard. Jane Anderson whose Laser flew the smaller 4.7 sail followed. Then came the double-handers. Roger Heasman and Linda Spiller’s Bosun had begun the race well to the fore but by the end of lap 1 John Dabbs and Penny Abbott’s sister dinghy was ahead of them behind the Lasers. Vicki Duncalf’s little Topper scrapped with the Solo at the back of the fleet, Vicki coming out in front. A stray gust from the tempest that never came had up-ended Robin Spiller’s Streaker Wave and put him out of the race.

Sailboat 6

When the horn sounded for the start of the afternoon race Penny Abbott, now helming the Dabbs Bosun, had been forced to cross the line by a looming pontoon. She had to return and restart. But James Pollard thought the false start signal was aimed at him and turned back too, thus preventing a repeat of the earlier race. He eventually got up to second on the water. The charming weather gods were now providing mist and steady drizzle, but accompanied by a decent little wind which had taken Bob Sampson’s Laser Radial past Jane Anderson’s 4.7 to the lead by the time they reached Inlet. Nathan Pollard (Laser Radial) took over second place before West. Well up the order at this stage of the race (third on the beat to West) was the Bosun helmed by Roger Heasman. Adam Hilton’s Solo (with its proper sail) and the rest of the single-handers had overtaken him by the end of the lap and the Abbott/Dabbs Bosun was ahead by the end of lap 2. The handicaps allowed Bob Sampson his first place on the water but promoted Jane Anderson from 4th to 2nd, Penny Abbott from 6th to 3rd and Vicki Duncalf from 8th to 5th.

Grateful thanks were given to John Buckett and Leila Farmer, Officers of the Day, and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.

Midweek Mug 1

Three boats rigged for the first Wednesday race. But Linda came ashore after experiencing strong gusts in her Laser. The two boats  set off to middle, John Dabbs boat, three up with Linda and Adam, was first across the line. But Bob and Leila slowly overtook on the downwind side to round Middle in the lead. The Dabbs crew took the lead again in the second lap but in the third lap saw Bob overtake. John Dabbs & crew unfortunately missed the middle Mark so disqualifying themselves.  Bob sailed in to Victory!

But as there were only 2 starters the race does not qualify for the series.

Many thanks to Nicky for running the race anyway and writing the report.

Penny apologises for the quality of the photos!

Barnwell 4

Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard in Lasers led away from the line, stayed at the front of the fleet and were still inches apart at the end of the first lap. But they were only one of three pairs of matched boats that spent all day in close competition. Jane Anderson and Sue Murray in Laser Radials finished third and fourth on the water with the handicap giving Jane Anderson the victory over the bigger sailed Lasers. Roger Heasman, with Sally Wills crewing his Bosun, was locked in a two race struggle with Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in Brian’s sister dinghy. The Heasman boat led on the first lap and the last but Brian Pollard was ahead at end of the second. But these pairs were only six of the eleven boats that took the start on a day when the mostly northerly winds appeared just in time to avoid a doldrums race. Breaking up the procession of Lasers at the beginning of the race was Adam Hilton’s Solo which kept between the two pairs for a lap, then was overtaken by Jane Anderson, then spoilt it all by capsizing two legs from the finish. Vicki Duncalf (Topper) mixed it with the Bosuns and John Bucket’s Otter through the race and was rewarded by the handicap with fourth place.

Sailboat 4

Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard were again away first followed by Sue Murray and Vicki Duncalf. All of these were bunched up off the end of the pontoon, ready for port tacks towards Middle buoy. But Jane Anderson was at the other end of the line on starboard tack; it didn’t give her an advantage and Sue Murray stayed ahead for the first lap. But on the return run to Dam Green on lap 2 the Anderson Laser was nosing ahead and stayed there. After lap 1 Bob Sampson built up a substantial lead, nearly three minutes at the end, and enough to keep his victory on the water when the handicaps were applied to the times.

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

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.28.2

Barnwell 2

James Pollard’s Blaze crossed the line first and stayed first all race, gloriously lapping half the fleet and finishing five minutes in front of anyone else. Not even a thoroughly disadvantageous handicap could take victory from him. The race was run under a strong sun and moderate, mostly northerly winds with not too many gusts but a powerful windchill. John Dabbs (Bosun, Adam Hilton as crew) had come up to the start line too soon, had to sail down it to leeward, and was actually the wrong side of it but sailing back at the start. There was also pushing and shoving on the line which led to Linda Spiller’s post race retirement. From then on the two Lasers in the race, Bob Sampson’s with a full sail and Linda Spiller’s with a little 4.7, were second and third and had a fairly uneventful race as did fourth place Robin Spiller in his Streaker Wave.

Behind them the story was quite different, with the two Toppers, Vicki Duncalf’s and Jane Anderson’s, competing with each other and with the two Bosuns, John Dabbs’ and Brian Pollard’s (Cilla Gilbert crewing). The order among seemed to change with every leg of the race with all four leading at different points. They were generally close together and with the multiple tacks needed to get to the top of the Lake causing conflicts, John Dabbs Bosun impeded a Topper and had to perform penalty turns. Applying the handicaps gave the little Toppers victory over (almost) everyone.

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.28.2

As the sailors ate their lunch the sky darkened, the wind strengthened, the cold increased and streaks appeared on the waters of the Lake. The second race was abandoned.

Grateful thanks were given to Sue Murray who ran the race, to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs and to Penny Abbott who volunteered at short notice to replace the Lakes Trust’s safety boat crew.

Barnwell 1

Easter Sunday delivered what it had promised; a glorious sunny day with light winds. Thirteen boats were enticed onto the water for the first race of the season, only to find, once launched, that they drifted about, windless, like soap suds in a sink. By general consent the race was postponed for an hour by which time a fresh little, mostly north-westerly, breeze had appeared.

James Pollard’s rarely seen Blaze was first over the line and led the race, with James making the most of the dinghies 10 square metres of sail. But by the end of the first lap Bob Sampson’s Laser (with 3 square metres less sail area) had had a stint in the lead. On the second lap they came over the line with seconds between them and continued to swap places, Bob finishing the race nine seconds ahead.

John Dabbs, sailing with Penny Abbott in one of the two Bosuns in the race, had a very good start, getting away second, but could not maintain the advantage and Brian Pollard’s yellow-hulled Bosun, crewed by Cilla Gilbert, was the leading him at the end of each lap.

Nathan Pollard’s Laser spent the race at third, with Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial following. But it was Sue Murray’s Laser with the smallest of the available Laser sails, cruising round at fifth or sixth, that picked up second place when the handicaps were applied.

Sailboat 1

The winds for the second race were of similar strength, if a little more westerly, and the fleet was reduced to ten boats. James Pollard again got away first and this time his Blaze led at the end of each lap but, with only a fifteen second lead over Bob Sampson at the end, the handicap demoted him to third. It was Jane Anderson, only managing tenth over the start line who, finishing third on the water, was given the victory by the handicap. Penny Abbott had taken the helm of John Dabbs Bosun and did very well, starting fourth and circulating at eighth and gaining fifth on handicap.

Sailwave Scoring Software 2.28.2
www.sailwave.com

Grateful thanks were given to Paul Anderson who ran the races and took the photographs.

Photos taken by Vicki on Adam’s camera

More photos taken by Nicky

Covid-19 Autumn 6

Eight boats started in a light south easterly breeze. The whole fleet were a little tardy to cross the line but Penny Abbott (Laser) was the first to cross followed closely by Linda Spiller(Laser). There was then a melee of boats gathered around the first mark but soon the breeze increased a bit and the boats headed up the lake with Penny having established a good lead. It was good to see John Buckett (Otter) sailing again and looking very comfortable sailing in his favoured wind conditions. At the end of lap one Linda had taken over the lead with Penny and Jane Anderson (Laser Radial) close behind. During the second lap the officer of the day shortened the course to two laps, although some boats took advantage of a slight increase in the breeze close to the finishing line. The results on handicap showed the light wind specialist John Buckett had won with only 9 seconds separating the first three positions.

Covid-19 Autumn 7

In the afternoon a very jazzy and colourful Hartley 12.2 joined the racing helmed by Anna Farmer and crewed by Mum, Leila. Jane Anderson crossed the line just ahead of Adam Hilton (Solo) They headed up the lake with Adam leading and then Jane Anderson just ahead of Penny. At the end of lap one Jane took a course tacking towards the Cornwall bank and seemed to lose out to Penny and Adam who stuck to the centre of the lake. At the end of lap one Jane and husband Paul (Laser) crossed the start line one second apart. Penny, Jane and Adam were all very close as they rounded zebra buoy but unfortunately a slight tap cost Jane a 720° penalty which lost her some time. Adam continued to forge a good lead finding the favourable gusts and it was never in doubt that he would emerge the winner.

Thanks to Vicki Duncalf for running the races and to Bob Sampson and Sue Murray for the cold job of safety boat.

The sun shone and the wind was blowing from the south-east when all the forecasts had said it would come from the north-east. It was brisk; strong enough for Bob Sampson to say buddy sailing wouldn’t be safe and that he would man the safety boat. Thank you Bob. Robin Spiller, volunteer OOD – thank you Robin 

– designed a short course that went south to Dam Green, west to West White, as far north as Middle and back by way of Inlet White, the inlet being mercifully free of anglers for once.

John Dabbs, with Adam Hilton crewing the Bosun, was first over the starting line with Sue Murray (Laser 4.7) next and Linda Spiller (Laser 4.7) following. John gave the Lasers too much water at Dam Green and they went past. And that was the order for the next two laps, but on lap 3 Linda overtook Sue near West White. The order stayed the same thereafter.

Many thanks to Bob Sampson in the safety boat and Robin Spiller in the race hut.

Covid 19 Sunday Race 15

Roger Heasman with Sally Wills in the Bosun were first over the start line on an improving day with moderate northwest wind speeds of around 12 mph. Jane Anderson’s Laser Radial had gained the lead by the middle of the Lake on the many-legged and testing beat up to Far. Sue Murray followed with the smaller Laser 4.7 and managed to keep the faster boat’s lead down to three minutes after an hour’s racing giving her the victory on handicap. The fleet had been reduced when Paul Anderson took to the water only to have cordage give way rendering his Laser uncontrollable. It had to be towed in by the safety boat. In addition Adam Hilton had capsized his Solo shortly before the start and took a minute and a half to get going. The Solo, pointing high in these moderate winds, managed to pass the Heasman/Wills Bosun as well as Vicki Duncalf’s Topper by the time they reached West White on the way back from the end of the Lake.

UTLSC PNs

Personal PNs

Covid 19 Sunday Race 16

The fleet was augmented by the welcome first 2020 outing for Nicky and John Buckett’s Bosun and by Graham Joyce’s Laser Full. The Joyce Laser may well have started first (if not it was Sue Murray’s 4.7) and he certainly took the lead on the beat up to Far at which buoy the next to gybe round were Jane Anderson, Sue Murray and Adam Hilton. Behind, a battle of the Bosuns raged, Nicky Buckett just managing to round Far in front of Roger Heasman.  On the way back Graham Joyce and Jane Anderson were neck and neck at Zebra but, discombobulated by a difficult gybe at Dam Green, Graham Joyce went the wrong side of the next course buoy and had to be excluded from the results. The Buckett Bosun pulled away from the Heasman one, Nicky Buckett craftily finding her own wind corridor parallel to the Devon bank. The 8.7 square metres of Adam Hilton’s Solo sail very gradually pulled him up towards Sue Murray’s 4.7 square metres, with the Solo eventually overtaking just before Dam Green on the last lap. A twelve second lead over the finish line was not nearly enough to counter the little Laser’s handicap advantage.

UTLSC PNs

Personal PNs

Grateful thanks were given to Bob Sampson who ran the races and to John Dabbs who took the photographs.

Covid 19 Wednesday Race 4

Bob Sampson, intrepid as ever in his full sailed Laser, led off the line, led across to Inlet, and across to West and up to Far. Bob Sampson led all four laps of the race. Linda Spiller, with a Radial sail, followed him at an increasing distance, finishing four minutes behind. There was a good deal of north-westerly wind, gusting viciously in the familiar Tamar Lake manner. Adam Hilton followed the Lasers. He had put the smallest sail on his Aero but nonetheless spent the race exposing large areas of the boat’s bottom which attracted cheeky remarks from the OOD. John Dabbs was trying out the Club’s small sails on his Bosun; they are a little bigger than the Gull sails he usually retreats to in winds like this. He spent the race a couple of boat lengths away from Geoff Floyd, whose Solo was also flying a cut down sail. Geoff led at the end of the first lap, John led at the end of the next two and would have beaten Geoff over the finish line if he hadn’t gone about a few seconds too late when tacking from Dam Green to Home 1, allowing Geoff to sneak past. Out of control kayakers may have got in the Bosun’s way.

UTLSC PNs

Personal PNs

Many thanks to Robin Spiller who ran the race and took the photographs.