JAMES Pollard, Steve Axford and Bob Sampson took part in a brilliant order-swapping race in their Laser Radials on a very windy, gusty day when the runs back down the lake from Far buoy were taken at breakneck speed and the several gybes were difficult.

Pollard got away first and the Duncalfs’ Toppers followed before any of the other Lasers crossed the line, but Steve was second and Bob third by the time they rounded West White, the first buoy. After Far, Axford overtook Pollard and the order stayed the same until Dam Red, after which James got his lead back.

Dam Red featured several times in the battle, Sampson neatly overtaking at the buoy only to get stuck in irons immediately after and lose his advantage. In the end James came first with the other two a mere fifteen and sixteen seconds behind!

For the rest of the field it was a more lonely race with just the weather to deal with. Nathan Pollard, who only had a little 4.7 sail, toured round behind the other Lasers in fourth. Jane Anderson’s Topper was consistently fifth followed by the increasingly distant Bosun party. John Duncalf led Vicki Duncalf throughout.

However, it was Jane who took the race victory once the handicaps had been applied.

John Duncalf started the Pursuit race first, as is traditional.

Vicki’s Topper followed a minute later and Jane Anderson, also in a Topper, another couple of minutes after that. Linda Spiller didn’t start because Robin had rigged her rudder wrongly!

It wasn’t until the second lap that much change in the order took place. John Duncalf pulled out a fair lead and Jane overtook Vicki.

The Laser Radials, which started on 29 minutes (James Pollard, Bob Sampson) and 30 minutes (Steve Axford) were led by Sampson and had all overtaken the Pollard/Gilbert Bosun.

Later, Axford overtook Pollard and pulled out quite a gap but lost it all again.

Nathan Pollard, caught out by the gybe at Middle buoy, capsized but was rapidly underway. Near the end of the lap Jane Anderson managed to get past the flying John Duncalf to grab the win.The Officer of the Day, Adam Hilton, was ably assisted by Christine Hartigan and Penny Abbott with Mandy Pollard taking the pictures.

See this week’s Post for the results.