UPPER Tamar Lake Sailing Club races on Sunday July 19

a.m Barnwell 4

Scudding grey clouds, white caps and dark swirls on the water warned sailors before they launched that it was going to be a testing race. Boats sped around in a sheltered area prior to the beginning of the race with Will Pepworth the senior instructor on duty for the day watching the conditions attentively. Under his gaze Bob and Liz in the RS 200 practiced their capsize drill unintentionally whilst Simon decided discretion was the better part of valour and brought his Laser ashore.

As the gun went Vicki Duncalf's Topper made a prompt start taking the lead heading up with Bob and Liz – speedily upright and shedding water - behind with Meg Higgs also in her Topper chasing them confidently. Following in his Laser Radial was Dad – David Higgs bringing up the rear.

Bob and Liz sped into the lead in the fast boat to round the west mark first and David overtook Meg. Meg then turtled her boat at the west mark and Will sped to stand off and watch as she neatly righted her boat and raced on. David caught and overtook Vicki on the leg up to Pinkie buoy. He could then be seen fighting a gust on the return leg. Meanwhile Meg had further trouble staying upright but battled on valiantly sailing back down the lake at terrific speed. The shore bound sailors watched in admiration as Meg fought on to control her boat and sail the course with aplomb, swimming several more times. Vicki sailed her Topper skilfully weathering some nasty gusts and enjoying the spray as she planed her way round the course.

Meanwhile the RS with Bob and Liz aboard were sailing well and just escaped a gust near Dam green mark that once again flipped over Meg's boat raising a cheer from the shore as she righted the boat and hauled herself in yet again. Will meanwhile maintained a steady watch on the water moving to be in position to support a boat if necessary.

The last lap saw Vicki chasing David down the lake to the finish line and Meg doggedly determined to complete the adult course, even though she could have stopped after 2 laps, well deserving the rousing cheer as she finished. Not a race for the faint hearted!

Results: 1st, Bob Sampson and Liz Royal (RS200); 2nd, Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 3rd, David Higgs (Laser Radial); 4th, Meg Higgs (Topper). Simon Veal (Laser Radial ) DNS

p.m Pursuit Race 4

After the possibility that the lake might have to be closed to dinghy sailors because of the strong winds, the gusts eased just sufficiently to allow the Pursuit race to get underway, with Vicki Duncalf blazing the trail in her Topper.

The next to go was Simon Veal in the Laser Radial a few minutes later, but as the horn sounded, he was the wrong side of the line and had to double back. David Higgs was away shortly after, with Liz Royal helming the RS200 the last away, with a large handicap of 16 minutes behind Vicki. With a difficult beat into the wind to the West mark and then a broad reach up to Pinky and a close reach back to the Dam, all the boats were flying round the course in double-quick time and had soon notched up three laps under their belts with many minutes of the race still to go.

Excitement mounted in the last quarter of the race as it became clear that Simon had a possibility of overhauling Vicki. In the final few minutes, Simon eventually passed Vicki on the reach up to Pinky, with David Higgs showing good speed in hot pursuit. Liz and Bob were still some way off the pace and were struggling to make a big enough dent in their starting handicap to be any threat to the frontrunners.

Just before the horn sounded to signal the end of the race, David also forged ahead of Vicki, leaving Simon the victor, David in second and Vicki in third.

Results: 1st, Simon Veal (Laser Radial); 2nd, David Higgs (Laser Radial); 3rd, Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 4th, Liz Royal and Bob Sampson (RS200).

Model Yachts

SUMMER Series 6 at Upper Tamar Lake: 1st, John White 9pts; 2nd, George Evans 15pts; 3rd, Brian Lewarne 18pts; 4th, Clive Charles 32pts. Roy Bennett had to retire because of a damaged rudder.