Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club race report — Sunday, October 7

Frostbite Two

WITH very light winds being presented to sailors for the morning race, 14 boats set off in almost summer-like sunshine.

The fickle winds caused all sorts of problems for everyone at the start — Bob Sampson (Laser) and Vicki Duncalf (Topper) were the wrong side of the line at the start and had to duck under everyone advancing towards them to start their race.

Nathan Pollard (Laser) was first around Dam Buoy, followed by the rest of the fleet in various orders and the flat airs still gave position problems.

Once Duncalf managed to cross the line to start (after reversing some of the way!) she made good progress as the wind filled in here and there.

Paul Whybrow (Solo) and John Buckett (Otter) made particularly good progress. Whybrow was having a particularly excellent race, sailing along behind the leading Lasers and snapping at their heels.

As the first boats finished, the wind at the upper end of the lake filled in allowing those behind to do an excellent catch-up, and all arriving within a few minutes of each other for lunch!

Whybrow’s persistence and light airs skill gave him first place on handicap!

Winner: Paul Whybrow (Solo); Runner-up: John Buckett (Otter); 3rd: Jane Anderson (Laser Radial); 4th: John Dabbs (Gull); 5th: Robin Spiller (Streaker); 6th: Sue Murray (Laser Radial); 7th: Nathan Pollard (Laser); 8th: Linda Spiller (Laser); 9th: Bob Sampson (Laser), 10th: Sally Wills and Jane Chadney (Bosun); 11th: Graham Joyce (Laser); 12th: Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 13th: Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard (Bosun); 14th: Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise)

Icicle Two

THE wind had risen slightly over lunchtime and was more usable in the afternoon.

Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun) were over the line at the start and had to return.

Everyone else managed to get away reasonable cleanly, but it was Sue Murray and Bob Sampson in their Lasers who led the fleet up to West Mark.

Robin Spiller had had an excellent start and was lying in third place in his Streaker, closely followed by Paul Whybrow (Solo) and Nathan Pollard and Linda Spiller in their Laser full rigs.

On the leg back down to the Dam, Sue Murray confused herself by passing the right side of Zebra mark and then decided that was not right and proceeded to the wrong side of Zebra mark (which then took some unravelling to get her back on track).

By the end of the first lap, the Gull of John Dabbs, John Buckett’s Otter and the two Bosuns crossed the line to commence the second lap virtually abreast each other.

Jane Chadney and Sally Wills came to grief in their Bosun hitting Dam buoy; Nathan Pollard sailed an excellent race to finish second to Sampson who took the line honours.

However, it was Robin Spiller’s afternoon; he sailed a nice steady race to finish first on handicap!

Winner: Robin Spiller (Streaker); Runner-up: Jane Anderson (Laser Radial); 3rd: Bob Sampson (Laser); 4th: Nathan Pollard (Laser); 5th: John Dabbs (Gull); 6th: Sue Murray (Laser Radial); 7th: Paul Whybrow (Solo); 8th: Linda Spiller (Laser); Joint-ninth: John Buckett (Otter) and Vicki Duncalf (Topper); 11th: Jane Chadney and Sally Wills (Bosun); 12th: Alan Comber and John Weller (Enterprise); 13th: Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)

Thanks were expressed to Steve Axford for carrying out the race officer duties and for writing the report.