UTLSC Race Report — Sunday, July 31

Cup Five

WITH admirable simplicity, the chosen course demanded of the seventeen boats competing, that they sail against the nor’ nor’ westerly wind from a start line across the lake right up to the furthest buoy.

The result was a great variety of tactics; some started on port tack and made their way towards the inlet; some on starboard and tacked towards the west. Many of the starboarders came across their port-tacking competitors and demanded their right-of-way, with predicable chaos ensuing.

James Pollard got away first with Jane Anderson following. He kept that lead throughout the race, but fifteen seconds at the end was not enough to overcome the handicap of his larger sail and Jane got the victory.

The flying John’s, Buckett and Dabbs, were next over the line and continued to make the most of the Bosun’s capabilities, lying as high as fifth at the end of lap three with many theoretically faster boats behind them.

Paul Whybrow’s Solo spent the first couple of laps in third until a vicious gust caught him with his weight in the wrong place and ended his race.

Nathan Pollard led the Toppers and plenty of other boats, gaining himself third overall on the handicap.

1. J Anderson (Laser Radial); 2. J Pollard (Laser); 3. N Pollard (Topper); 4. J Chadney (Laser 4.7); 5. J Buckett, J.Dabbs (Bosun); 6. E Pomeroy (Topper); 7. V Duncalf (Topper); 8. J Duncalf (Topper); 9. R Heasman (Streaker); 10. T Tobias, B Pollard (Bosun); 11. S Mealing (Laser Radial); 12. J White, C.Gilbert (Bosun); 13. J Savage (Solo); 14. A Comber, J.Weller (Enterprise); 15. A Quatermaine (Laser Radial); Retired: P Whybrow (Solo), A Hilton (Solo)

Pursuit Six

The promised sun was much more in evidence than at noon as it turned into a glorious afternoon, however the wind was much more in evidence too.

Gusts and shifts were powerful and capsizes were frequent; Sampson, Heasman and various Spillers, amongst others, were caught out.

The early starters, led by John Duncalf, were all Toppers.

Elliot Pomeroy did best as only Jane Anderson got past him. She made up twelve minutes to take the lead.

Jane Chadney in her little 4.7 started eleventh and did well, as she had in the noon race, eventually finishing a very creditable third while John Duncalf let no-one else past and came fourth to add to his eighth earlier.

Bob Sampson’s start time was calculated at a quarter of an hour after the beginning of the race; a little less daunting than his start time in the last pursuit race. He got himself up to seventh.

1. J Anderson (Laser Radial); 2. E Pomeroy (Topper); 3. J Chadney (Laser 4.7); 4. J Duncalf (Topper); 5. J Pollard (Laser); 6. N Pollard (Topper); 7. R Sampson (Laser); 8. V Duncalf (Topper); 9. T Tobias, B.Pollard (Bosun); 10. A Comber, J.Weller (Enterprise); 11. A Hilton (Solo); 12. R Spiller (Streaker); 13. L Spiller (Laser Radial); Retired: R Heasman (Streaker); Disqualified: J Savage (Solo)

Many thanks were expressed to Rachael Pomeroy and Nicky Buckett for running the races.