Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club race report — Sunday, October 14

Frostbite Three

THE morning had been wet and blustery but at noon, as the first race started, the sun came out and the gusts toned down, making for a very nice day’s racing.

The winds were from points North of East so the nearest thing to a beating start that James Pollard, race officer on the day, could design was a Home Two startline aimed at Dam Green, where the usual push and shove took place as 14 boats tried to go round at much the same moment.

Nathan Pollard emerged in the lead on the reach to Zebra and the beat to Inlet. He was closely followed by Bob Sampson in the other full-sailed Laser in the day’s fleet.

These two dominated the front of the race and stayed in the lead even when the handicaps were applied, although it was Pollard who emerged victorious.

A trio of Laser Radials came along next — Sue Murray’s, Linda Spiller’s and Penny Abbott’s — but between and around them, and having a fine race, was the Enterprise of Alan Comber and John Weller.

There were four Bosuns sailing of which Roger Heasman’s (Sally Wills crewing) was the consistent leader, gaining third place after handicapping.

And there were two Toppers, Vicki Duncalf’s and Jane Anderson’s, somewhat tangled up in Bosuns, and the familiar yellow-hulled Solo twins of Geoff Floyd and Adam Hilton.

Winner: Nathan Pollard (Laser Full); Runner-up: Bob Sampson (Laser Full); 3rd: Roger Heasman and Sally  Wills (Bosun); 4th: Sue Murray (Laser Radial); 5th: Adam Hilton (Solo); 6th: Linda Spiller (Laser Radial); 7th: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun); 8th:  Penny Abbott (Laser Radial); 9th: John Dabbs and Jane Chadney (Bosun); 10th: Jane Anderson (Topper); 11th: Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise); 12th: Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 13th: Geoff Floyd (Solo); 14th: Toby Tobias and Paul Whybrow (Bosun)

Icicle Three

THERE were additions to the morning’s fast starters; it was probably Vicki Duncalf first over the line with Jane Chadney (now helming the Commodore’s Bosun with John Dabbs crewing) and Adam Hilton not far behind.

But Bob Sampson got round Dam Green first with Nathan Pollard second and they again dominated the race although in the reverse order from the morning. However, for a while, Pollard fell back to third; it was crucial, in both races, to get between Zebra and Inlet in one tack.

If the boat (or it’s helm) couldn’t point high enough, places were liable to be lost. This may have been what happened to Pollard’s Laser; in any event he had to overtake the Hilton Solo later in lap one.

The Laser Radials had their usual ding-dong, with Penny Abbott the eventual winner over Sue Murray and Linda Spiller, salvaging sixth place on the water after a series of mishaps.

Alan Comber’s Enterprise again led the double-handers for much of the race with Chadney in the leading Bosun behind it until the two boats collided at Middle, Jane emerging from penalty turns in front.

At the end, Hilton’s Solo was only a minute and a half behind Sampson’s leading Laser, little enough for the handicap to give the victory to the Solo.

Winner: Adam Hilton (Solo); Runner-up: Bob Sampson (Laser Full); 3rd: Nathan Pollard (Laser Full); 4th: Jane Anderson (Topper); 5th: Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 6th: Penny Abbott (Laser Radial); 7th: Sue Murray (Laser Radial); 8th: Jane Chadney and John Dabbs (Bosun); 9th: Linda Spiller (Laser Radial); 10th: Sally Wills and Roger Heasman (Bosun); 11th: Toby Tobias and Paul Whybrow (Bosun); 12th: Geoff Floyd (Solo); 13th: Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

Retired: Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun)

Thanks were expressed to James Pollard who ran the races and to Mandy Pollard who took the photographs.