Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club race report — Sunday, August 18

Ladies/Gents/Gosling Six

SEVEN boats took to the water on a breezy day, with white horses running across the lake from the west and frequent gusts rippling the slate grey surface. 

However, only six competitors crossed the start line, Robin Spiller having decided his Streaker was behaving just a little too much like a bucking bronco for his liking.

Of the two Laser 4.7s, Nathan Pollard was away first, easing ahead of Bob Sampson and establishing a lead which he went on to stretch lap by lap, keeping Sampson in second place.

Behind them a race long battle developed between the Bosun of Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert and Jane Anderson in her Topper, Anderson advancing close to the Bosun’s stern at times, only to fall behind again as gusts filled the larger boat’s sails. Finally, on the last lap, the Bosun stalled while rounding Inlet buoy, allowing Anderson past. She took full advantage of the opportunity and stormed ahead to the finish.

Vicki Duncalf had cautiously reefed her Topper’s sail, but still managed to stay in front of John Dabbs and Sally Wills in the second Bosun, until the fast broad reached down the lake to Dam Green buoy. She was later lapped by the Lasers but kept up a good enough pace for fifth on handicap.

The first four final places were unusually unchanged from finish order.

Winner: Nathan Pollard (Laser 4.7); Runner-up: Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7); 3rd: Jane Anderson (Topper); 4th: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun); 5th: Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 6th: John Dabbs and Sally Wills (Bosun)

Tamar Nine

TO DO well in this series, sailors with choice must always use the same boat and rig, so Nathan Pollard bravely decided to change to a much larger full size sail. He was a little lucky in that the wind dropped slightly once a violent squall had passed over the lake, but he had to draw on all his skill to stay in control beating against the strongest area of wind and planing down the exciting broad reaches of the course. He soon built up a big lead over the rest of the fleet.

Bob Sampson followed, managing to pull well away from the Brian Pollard/Cilla Gilbert Bosun by the end of the second lap.

Jane Anderson again took on a Bosun challenge, this time with John Dabbs, Sally Wills and third crew member/bailer Robin Spiller. Close behind for two laps, her Topper was propelled past during an impressive plane down the lake on lap three.

The final lap brought the only capsizes of the day. 

Firstly Sampson, while emerging from problematic Inlet buoy, then Nathan Pollard as he approached the finish line. Although both were quickly up and sailing, six and ten minutes respectively ahead of the Topper, these upsets cost Sampson the win and possibly Pollard a higher place, once handicaps corrected their times.

Winner: Jane Anderson (Topper); Runner-up: Bob Sampson (Laser 4.7); 3rd: Nathan Pollard (Laser Full); 4th: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun); 5th: John Dabbs, Sally Wills and Robin Spiller (Bosun).

Grateful thanks were given to Linda Spiller who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard for the photographs.