UPPER Tamar Lake Sailing Club races on Sunday June 14.

a.m. Commodore 6

On a brilliantly sunny morning with a gentle wind no less than twenty one boats set off on a beat to the West mark.

So eager to start were the racers that a lot of boats were across the start line before the start horn, necessitating Jane Anderson as Officer of the Day to rush down the pontoon waving a huge Blue Peter aloft like an avenging wraith.

Ten minutes later the race finally started with Sue Murray crewed by son Mark in the Topper Trez getting a storming start on the starboard tack. Roger Ford and crew Val in the Wayfarer soon established a handsome lead with Neill Wallace and crew Nicky chasing hard to catch them.

John Buckett sailing his usual crafty race, found an excellent wind lift and making the most of it put his Otter well above station into third place.

The wind then suddenly died and in the process left those still to round West at a serious disadvantage and making the gybe at Zebra mark a very slow and lazy motion. (Gybes in heavy winds can cause racers capsize problems!)

At the end of the first lap Neill and Nicky had managed to poach the lead from Roger and Val with Bob Samson and light weather crew Megan Higgs in the RS200 going well to move up into third. Jane Chadney and Derek Farnfield were also making the most of the shifting wind opportunities.

Mike Ford profited from a debacle at Dam Green mark to move his Solo up to 6th position whilst Simon Veal and Roger Heasman carried out frustrated 720 degree turns after contact and verbals at the mark.

The breeze kept suddenly changing direction and this gave the Toppers of Stephanie Clark and John and Vickie Duncalf an interesting if stultifying race, as they kept on swapping places

With the second lap taking thirty three minutes Jane Anderson made the wise decision to shorten the course from four laps to three to release the racers from the clutches of a fickle lake.

Result: 1st, Neill Wallace and Nicky Buckett Wayfarer; 2nd, Roger Ford and Val Shillito Wayfarer; 3rd, Sue and Mark Murray Topper Trez; 4th, Bob Sampson and Megan Higgs RS200; 5th, John Buckett Otter; 6th, Derek Farnfield Streaker; 7th, Mike Ford Solo; 8th, Jane Chadney Laser; 9th, Katherine Muller Laser Radial; 10th, Vickie Duncalf Topper; 11th, John Chandler Bosun; 12th, David Higgs Laser; 13th, Simon Veal Laser; 14th, John Savage Solo, 15th, John Duncalf Topper; 16th, Stephanie Clark Topper; 17th, Alan Comber and John Weller Enterprise; 18th, Roger Heasman Laser; 19th, Alan Tobias and Christine Marshall.

Retired: Hugh Norris Mirror and Adeney Pooler Graduate.

Lunchtime: Peter Pocock Novice Series

Six young hopefuls took to the water to improve their racing skills for the first race in the series. Annabelle Rademaker in the slower Optomist dinghy was crewed for moral support by her mother, whilst her sister Liselotte had her father crewing to help guide her round the course.

Bets at the start would have been on Emily Veal as the most experienced, however Emily got a very poor start and had to chase hard to finish second.

Megan Higgs got the best start and sailed well to maintain position throughout the race. Daan Rademaker also starting well in second however, unfortunately for Daan, sister Willemyn stormed past him at the last mark to grab third at the finish. On the day the parental crewing didn't seem to work for Annabelle and Liselotte who perhaps need to re-think the tactics!

Result: 1st, Megan Higgs Pico; 2nd, Emily Veal Pico; 3rd, Willemyn Rademaker Pico; 4th, Daan Rademaker Pico, 5th Liselotte Rademaker Pico; 6th, Annabelle Rademaker Optomist.

p.m.Pursuit 3

With the Toppers of Vicky and John Duncalf acting as the hares for the hounds, the pursuit race got off to an ignoble start with a collision and resultant penalty turns between husband and wife.

John Chandler keen to get a good start in his Bosun, came close inshore and in the process tangled with the launching Lasers of Jane Anderson and Roger Heasman. Toby in the other Bosun started well and Derek Farnfield in the Streaker also took off quickly.

The sense of urgency to chase down the hares seemed to cause a sense of panic as six boats then each started a minute early and were subsequently disqualified.

The race ended with Roger Ford and Val Shillitoe in the Wayfarer having streaked through the field to pass all the other boats and claim first place.

John Buckett finished second with Derek Farnfield third. A tie for fifth place was proclaimed between Vickie Duncalf and Jane Chadney.

Nicky Buckett the club Commodore got egg on her face by losing control of the safety boat and colliding with the pontoon!

Result: 1st, Roger Ford and Val Shillitoe Wayfarer; 2nd, John Buckett Otter; 3rd, Derek Farnfield Streaker; 4th, John Savage Solo; 5th, Vickie Duncald Topper/Jane Chadney Laser; 7th, David Higgs; 8th, Alan Tobias and Christine Marshall Bosun; 9th, John Chandler Bosun; 10th, Jane Anderson Laser; 11th, Paul Whybrow Solo; 12th, Roger Heasman Laser; 13th, John Duncalf Topper.