FIVE boats started the race at 12pm on a very wet day with the wind gusting over the lake from the west towards a bank of competing anglers.

Marks Zebra and Middle were put in the course to keep the boats well away from the anglers.

Nathan Pollard, helming with dad Brian as crew, overtook Jane Anderson on the start line. Bob Sampson had a sporting slow start. After rounding the Dam Green mark, Vicki Duncalf tipped in to allow John Duncalf and Sampson to pass her.

But she managed to catch up by Inlet mark to overtake John Duncalf. Nathan Pollard had problems just after Inlet and also capsized. He managed to stay dry while dad Brian went in the water. They were up quickly to remain in third behind Sampson and Anderson as Sampson extended his lead up to Pinkie. Nathan Pollard caught Anderson up on the way from Pinkie to Middle. The two had a contest beating to West White with Pollard taking the lead after West White towards the start line.

The second lap increased the gaps between the competitors and it wasn’t long until John Duncalf capsized after rounding Inlet — forcing Matt, from the South West Lakes Trust, to come to rescue him, although John’s boot was lost in the process.

By this time the rain was so heavy it was difficult to see from the race hut to the furthest mark. Everyone was widely separated and it did not look fun, so the course was shortened to three laps.

Nobody objected when they came off the water with the competitors in the same positions as lap two, which meant that Sampson was the winner.

With the mist rolling in over lunch, the scheduled afternoon race was abandoned as no-one could see three marks round which to race.

Thanks were expressed to Penny Abbot for carrying out the Officer of the Day duties and to Mandy Pollard for her photographs.