Pictures from 2013 Season
First Race of Season Pictures
Many thanks to Mandy Pollard for taking all the photos, unless otherwise specified
After the first two weeks of the season when racing was cancelled due to the weather, these pictures show action from the first race of the year, on March 17th.
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| Stuart Mealing gets away well at the start of the midday race, with Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard just behind in the RS 200 | Close quarters racing at Inlet: L to R - John Duncalf in the Topper, John Dabbs in the Bosun (with helm Adam Hilton hidden) and James Pollard in the Topper | Bob Sampson leaning out to keep the RS 200 flat whilst heading the fleet |
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| Circling before the start of the afternoon race | Start of the afternoon race: Bob Sampson nicely positioned to windward in the RS 200, but Paul Whybrow in pole position in the Solo |
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| Start of the midday race: in a gentle wind, Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard in the RS200 lead the fleet towards the first mark at Dam Green | The fleet takes the dogleg around Zebra; Roger Heasman and James Pollard have got the RS 200's asymmetric flying | Later in the race, Simon Veal and Elliot Pomeroy keep the Enterprise of Alan Comber and John Weller at bay |
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| In the afternoon race, Paul Whybrow heads the restart after a General Recall | The wake of Jane Chadney's Laser Radial hints that the wind is now gaining strength across the middle of the lake | The entire fleet in shot as Roger Heasman and Nathan Pollard approach Inlet White in the lead. On the lake for the first time is Steve Harrisson's Express dinghy, tracking the fleet round the course at the back. |
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| In the midday race, Jane Chadney gets away first on a broad reach to the first mark at Dam Green | The fleet bears away round Zebra, with Elliott Pomeroy going well in the Topper; good to see Sue Murray out in the Topper Trez | Playing follow-my-leader behind Mary Carter, in the Laser Radial, with Alan Comber and John Weller going well in the Enterprise | Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard get the asymmetric pulling well on the downwind section back to the start line. |
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| Roger Heasman and James Pollard in the RS200 now ahead of Mary Carter | The wind had increased by the afternoon race, as the sight of the Bosun with three up (and all sitting out) confirms, though John Duncalf looks very comfortable in the Topper | Steve Axford starting to kick up an impressive plume of spray in the Laser Radial, as he bears away towards Inlet White, but with RS200, Solo and Streaker not far behind | Bosun going downwind at speed; impressive mast bend on Steve Axford's Laser Radial in the background |
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| Adeney demonstrating how clean he keeps the bottom of his Graduate as he chases the Bosun in the afternoon race | Elliot Pomeroy going really well in his Topper as he approaches Zebra mark | Jane Anderson at speed, planing in her Laser Radial as she attempts to make up a deficit of over a lap behind the earliest starting boats | In the foreground, Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard in the RS200 and Adam Hilton in his Solo |
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| Later in the race, the Enterprise approaches Zebra once again, overtaking John Duncalf's Topper, but in turn in danger of being caught by Roger Heasman in the Streaker | Just before the hooter sounds for the end of the race, Roger Heasman's Streaker heads the Bosun as they pass Zebra, but James Pollard, the runaway winner in his Topper in the left of shot, is already beating back up the lake towards West |
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| Start of the midday race: Bob Sampson gets away first, with Adam Hilton's Solo squeezed just inside and Jane Anderson and Roger Heasman close behind | Just after the start, Nathan and James Pollard's Toppers, with Adeney Pooler and John Weller to windward | On a broad reach back from from Inlet White to Zebra, the Graduate well up the fleet on the first lap, keeping up with Roger Heasman's Streaker. The pairing of Sue Murray and Alex Clifton also going very well, as would be reflected by their eventual third place on handicap | John Weller's Laser and Mary Carter's Laser Radial try different tacks on the beat up the lake on the second lap, but they were still close together at the finish |
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| Jane Chadney gets a good line up the centre of the lake for the Bosun on the windward leg of the second lap | John Duncalf leading a trio of Toppers and John Weller on an altered course for the afternoon race, beating towards Inlet White | Struggling towards Inlet White, as the lee of the hill reduces the power of the Northerly breeze, whilst in the foreground, the Toppers are still running down towards Dam Green | Heading back to shore after a good race |
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| Circling before the start, waiting to begin the beat up to West White in the gentle and fluky breeze | A group of boats still circling, with Sue Murray and Alex Clifton (the eventual winners on handicap in the Topper Topaz) on the right | Almost the entire fleet in shot, with most helms opting for a port tack start, following a run in from the near the shore next to the Dam | With the midday race now underway, the trio of Roger Heaman's Streaker, Jane Chadney's Laser Radial and Sue and Alex in the Topper Topaz all in very close contention |
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| Just after the start of the afternoon race, a group of boats tightly bunched in the middle of the fleet, but Bob Sampson and James Pollard are away out ahead in clean air | Adam Hilton and John Dabbs close on the heels of Nicky Buckett, Rachel Pomeroy and John Leveridge | A quartet of boats being pushed straight up the lake by the afternoon's building breeze on the beat to West White | The RS200 heeling as it beats to West White, whilst boats on the previous lap run down towards Middlle and prepare to gybe before heading to Inlet White, as the Bosun is already doing |
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| Not racing, but really nice to see John Savage back on the water on Sunday, after the long lay-off following his fall; thanks to Adam Hilton for the photo |
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| James Pollard test drives a Pico, whilst Nathan looks comfortable in the Topper | Although it was a day that overall had relatively little wind, there were still some sudden gusts, as the angle of heel of Nathan Pollard's Topper shows | Crowded in the middle of the lake; James Pollard and Jane Chadney head in opposite directions | Circling before the start of the midday race, Adam Hilton heads back for another circuit, whilst the remainder of the helms search for that elusive starting position for a start on the less-used Start Line 2 |
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| At the start, Nicky Buckett streaks into clean air and leaves the rest of the fleet trailing, though John Savage's Solo also looks to be well away | Another classic shot of the bulk of the fleet bearing away at Zebra and heading for West White | Almost the entire fleet in shot as they head up to Pinky and turn back down the lake. | Two Solos in the foreground, with Adam Hilton heading John Savage; John Weller also seems to be getting his Laser to move well in the fluky breeze |
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| Circling before the start of the midday race | Just after the start of the midday race: James Pollard and Bob Sampson are hiking hard as the RS200 leans to a gust, whilst Vicki Duncalf keeps her Topper level; Roger Heasman in the background in his Streaker | Jane Anderson in her Laser Radial about to be overtaken by the RS200 flying its gennaker | Sue Murray in the Topper Trez ahead of the duo of Jane Chadney in the Laser 4.7 and Paul Whybrow in the Solo |
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| A panoramic shot of the afternoon race | Lee Bartrop in the Topper in the Pursuit, with Jane Chadney's Laser 4.7 catching up behind. In the background, Paul Anderson still has some catching up to do in the Laser |
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| Circling before the start of the midday race - never knew the Dam was quite that shape...! | Excellent shot from the vantage point of the Dam as the fleet starts the midday race, with Roger Heasman's Streaker and Sue Murray's Topper Trez at the front of the fleet | Sue Murray going well to be just ahead of Jane Anderson's Laser as they pass the rowing club's gig, on the way back towards the Dam | The sort of sunny Sunday we haven't seen too many of in the past year or two: Sue Murray heads back up the lake |
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| James Pollard, in the Laser 4.7, has got clear water ahead of the group behind at the start of the afternoon race | John Savage's Solo with a clutch of Toppers just behind on the run back down the lake | Great action shot of Katie Leveridge hiking out to the max as her Laser Radial rides a gust | The wind getting stronger in the afternoon as the boats start to generate little bow waves on the run; Caroline Lucas in her Walker Bay out enjoying the sunshine as well |
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| Everybody gets away on a starboard tack start for the midday race, with Roger Heasman's Streaker in the lead and James Pollard in the Laser close behind | Boats now swapping tacks, as they try to make headway towards the mark at Inlet White, with the wind shadow of the hillside under the trees from the northerly breeze making the job harder | Having reached the goal, the Bosun of Adam and Rosie Hamilton bears away round the Inlet White buoy, with a Laser and Toppers almost in line astern | Nathan Pollard and John Duncalf in matching postures as they head back on a run towards the Dam |
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| John Duncalf heads up the lake on port tack, as several of the fleet go for a starboard tack start in the afternoon race | Bob Sampson's Laser just in front of Jane Anderson's Laser Radial as they turn upwind in front of the Dam; the growing height of the spillway above the water gives an indication of the rapidity with which the water level is dropping. | New club members Linda and Robin Spiller make their race debut in their Bosun | Simon Veal runs a happy ship.... Waves from crew Amy Pillman and Brendon Pomeroy |
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| Three Topper helms, only two Topper boats (apparently...) James and Nathan Pollard with Vicki Duncalf in between, in front of a rapidly growing shoreline | Alan Comber with John White in the Enterprise, with a quartet of Toppers behind | James Pollard heeling to a gust in the morning race | .... and Nathan Pollard heeling even more.... |
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| The start of the afternoon race: Bob and James lead the fleet off towards Dam Green, whilst some boats head across the lake on starboard | James Pollard leads the field, with Bob Sampson just behind | Paul Whybrow, back from the Solo Nationals, keeps to windward of the two Bosuns, with Elliot Pomeroy in the background | Bob and Jane on the run down towards Inlet White, with James still in close attendance; no surprise that James was the eventual winner on handicap - many congratulations. |
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| Just after the start of the midday race, with Bob Sampson and James Pollard leading the fleet | Paul Whybrow's Solo leads three Lasers on the way back from West | The fleet beating up the lake, with the leaders having rounded the mark and running back down the lake | James Pollard working hard to keep the Laser flat on the beat |
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| A study in concentration: a watchful Bob Sampson | John Savage ahead of the pack in the afternoon's Pursuit Race | Paul Whybrow's Solo ahead of John Duncalf in the Topper | Jane Chadney hiking hard in her Laser |
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| General shot of the fleet rounding Inlet White at the start of the midday race | Front-runners Bob Sampson and Ros Down in the RS200 chatting to Jane Anderson in the Laser 4.7 | Surfing downwind, Katie Leveridge just in front of John Savage's Solo | Sue Murray' s Topper Trez leading the Toppers of James Pollard and John Duncalf, with the Enterprise of Alan Comber and John Weller just behind |
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| The leading pack at the start of the afternoon race | Almost the entire fleet in shot as they round Inlet White - nice to see so many boats on the water in a race | Good telephoto shot of the fleet rounding Far | Nicky Buckett and Rachel Pomeroy lead a trio of Bosuns round Inlet White; the Toppers of James Pollard and Vicki Duncalf keeping well in touch with the bigger boats |
24th August Saturday Bank Holiday Fun Regatta
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| Good picture of Brendon Pomeroy helming a Pico, with Alex Clifton as crew | James Pollard in the Pico upwind, with Elliot Pomeroy in the middle and Nathan Pollard on the right | Jane Chadney helming the Bosun on a dead run, with John Buckett goosewinging the jib and John White guarding against against an involuntary gybe in the oscillating breeze | Rachel Pomeroy really getting to grips with the Pico, beating upwind into a stiff northerly wind |
25th August Bank Holiday Sunday Bottle
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| Adam Hilton going well in the morning race | Telephoto shot of most of the fleet at the top end of the lake, Nathan Pollard's Topper still heading the fleet | The 'Mike Ford' club Bosun in the morning Pursuit race, with Christine Hartigan (sitting out) and Chris Marshall | Vicki Duncalf leading John Duncalf on the beat |
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| James Pollard in the Laser 4.7 chasing down the Bosuns of Roger Heasman (with John White and Joseph Talbot-Adams as crew) and Nicky Buckett (with John Weller and Christine Marshall) | ... and after rounding Dam Green, James is now clear ahead of the Bosuns | Some happy faces at the end of the day.... | Awaiting the presentation of the prizes by Paul Anderson |
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| Most of the fleet in shot as they criss-cross the lake before the start | Nicky Buckett in her Laser just ahead of the Bosun of Toby Tobias on the beat to West White | Robin and Linda Spiller's Bosun leading a quintet of Toppers on the run back from Pinky | Toby with Alex Clifton and Joseph Talbot-Adams in the Bosun, whilst James Pollard heads upwind in his full-rig Laser |
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| As the lake level drops, the start line gets shorter and shorter, so finding space for a clear start gets harder. Here Bob Sampson, on a port tack start next to the pontoon, looks anxiously under the boom at the approaching starboard tack boats; just behind, Elliot Pomeroy looks likely to get a clear getaway | James Pollard, now in a Radial rig, hot on the heels of Jane Anderson | Bob Sampson and Brendon Pomeroy get the RS200's asymmetric pulling well on the run back towards the Dam, but still have Jane Anderson close behind | Eventual race winner on handicap, Nathan Pollard is close behind Adeney Pooler in the Graduate |
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| 'Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens.....' - but rain was probably not one of the favourite things of the handful of Upper Tamar sailors as they drifted towards the start line for the midday race | And four boats in line astern as Bob Sampson leads the way just after the start | The sun has come out for the Pursuit race in the afternoon | James Pollard heading Bob Sampson as they keep clear of the shallow water and the rocky foreshore as they beat towards West mark |
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| Nathan Pollard leading the Pursuit race, with John Savage closing up behind him | Not racing, but nice to see Mary Carter back on the water on her return from foreign climes | John Savage running downwind in the Solo |
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| The three Toppers closely grouped at the start of the race: James and Nathan Pollard and Elliot Pomeroy | The entire race fleet of four boats heading into (and out of) West | By now even mistier, Bob Sampson leads in his Laser 4.7 on a reach back down the lake: Bob's use of his 4.7 rig in itself gives an indication of just how strong the gusts must have been.... |
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| Start of the midday race: Jane Anderson tacks away onto port, whilst Adam Hilton is also well to the fore in his Solo | Close-up of the fleet rounding Dam Green from the vantage point of the Dam | Slow going on the run back up the lake | Sue Murray (trying out a Laser) leads a trio playing follow my leader, with the Toppers of Nathan Pollard and Vicki Duncalf in close attendance |
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| For the afternoon race, the fluky southerly zephyrs coming over the dam made rounding Dam Green even more problematic for many | 'As idle as a painted ship, Upon a painted ocean....' | The two club Bosuns haven't somehow magically shot to the front of the fleet; they weren't racing but were doing taster sessions for pupils from Bradworthy School.... | Eventual race winner Jane Anderson has already pulled out a respectable lead as she bears away towards Inlet, with James Pollard's Laser giving chase |
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| Before the start of the midday race; Gig club boat in the background | Boats going all ways on the beat | Vicki and John Duncalf and Nathan Pollard, probably contemplating a tricky gybe | Start of the afternoon race; think that it's Jane Anderson who has stolen a march on the rest of the fleet |
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| John Duncalf rounding the mark, with Adam Hilton's Bosun (with crew of Brian Pollard and Jane Chadney) next to turn | Bob Sampson's Laser 4.7 just ahead of Paul Whybrow's Solo | Nathan Pollard's Topper in a quiet patch, whilst Vicki Duncalf has found a gust in the background | Paul Whybrow rounds the mark just ahead of Jane Anderson |
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| Close-up shot of the front of the fleet gliding past the end of the pontoon at the start of the midday race, after the earlier fog had rolled away; Sue Murray in the Laser has pole position to windward, with Roger Heasman and Jane Anderson in the RS 200 just to leeward and John Duncalf just behind | Just after the start, the fleet have rounded Dam Green and are heading up the lake, with eventual race winner Adam Hilton having established a lead | A quintet of Toppers rounding Pinky; John Duncalf has just rounded, whilst Vicki Duncalf, Rachel Pomeroy, Elliot Pomeroy and Alex Clifton look set for some close quarters tacking as they reach the mark together | Adam now in splendid isolation in his Solo, well clear at the front of the fleet |
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| Just after the gun for the afternoon race, with the start now heading up the lake towards Zebra, after the wind had turned W/NW during lunch | Classic shot of the entire fleet heading up to Zebra and then bearing away towards Inlet White, just after the start | Alan Comber and John Weller in the Enterprise, followed by Sue Murray in the Laser, both going well in the afternoon race | The RS 200 looking pretty in pink, as the course provides lots of opportunity to get the big gennaker flying |
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| Start of the midday race: James and Nathan Pollard already in first and second place respectively, which is where they finished in the results on handicap | Just a few seconds later: in the foreground Stuart Mealing in the Laser and Toby Tobias, single-handed in the Bosun, both look to be going well on the short beat to the first mark at Zebra | The view of the Sunday racing that passing visitors see from below the car park | James Pollard gets away well in the afternoon race, but with Paul Whybrow's Solo, Roger Heasman's RS 200 and Toby Tobias's Bosun only just behind |
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| As the fleet beats towards Zebra, the boats are already spreading out; the Toppers of Nathan Pollard and Elliott Pomeroy are positioned well as they tack across on port to make the lay line to the mark | Excellent action shot from Mandy Pollard as Roger Heasman and Jane Anderson are in determined mode as they round Dam Green just a few feet ahead of the other RS 200 helmed by Sue Murray, with Paul Whybrow clearly sailing above the Solo's handicap rating to keep them in his sights | The same trio, this time from a first-rate photograph by Stuart Mealing, with Jane Anderson about to hike out as the lead RS200 heels to a gust | The Bosun of Toby Tobias, with afternoon crew Rachel Pomeroy holding the boom to prevent an accidental gybe, holding off the Enterprise duo of Alan Comber and John Weller on the run back from Pinky |
Thanks to John Leveridge (and Mandy's camera) for the photos
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| James Pollard's Laser Radial just ahead of Jane Chadney's Laser 4.7, on the mirror-like surface of the lake as they approach the start of their (very lengthy) second lap | Nathan Pollard still heading for the Dam in his Topper, as James seeks the elusive wind on the beat back up the lake | Nathan Pollard now to windward (using the term very loosely) of Jane Chadney |