Pictures from 2015 Season

March 8th

Many thanks to Mandy Pollard for taking all the photos, unless otherwise specified

After no sailing on the first, scrub-up, week of the new season, March 8th was sailable, although before the start of the race, intermittent fog drifting across the lake made it look as though racing might not be possible.  But then the fog disappeared and instead the wind suddenly got up to a gusty westerly, but a handful of hardy sailors persisted and both morning and afternoon races were sailed.

The start of the midday race, with five boats and crews heading up the lake into a heavy driving drizzle	Elliot Pomeroy to windward of Vicki Duncalf on what looks to have turned into a beat - the wind, which initially looked to be mainly westerly, turned progressively more northerly during the course of the day	Steve Axford and Bob Sampson on the plane.  The duo were never far apart for the whole race, but Steve, who was just behind as they rounded Dam Green on the final lap, managed to snatch victory by a tactical tack in the last few yards	Vicki Duncalf keeping ahead of the Bosun of Adam Hilton and John Dabbs.  Note the fisherman in the background, who is so unworried by the chill of a bitter early Spring day, that he's prepared to stand in the water
Start of the afternoon race: the Bosun has stolen a march on the remainder of the fleet by getting away quickly and well to windward.  The streaks of foam on the water show that the wind remained pretty strong	Good telephoto close-up of Elliot Pomeroy, wrapped up against the cold	The Bosun's excellent start means that it's still in the lead as it beats up to the first mark at Middle	No early-season rustiness for Sue Murray, who looked very comfortable in her Laser 4.7 - and ended up in the 2nd place

March 15th

Bob Sampson's RS200 gets away first on the short beat to Dam Green in the midday race	And the frontrunners dogleg round Zebra and bear away for Inlet White	Simon and Nicola just ahead of Toby's Bosun, with Vicki Duncalf's Topper squeezed in between	Robin Spiller's Streaker makes an excellent getaway in the afternoon race, with Paul Whybrow's Solo close behind
The RS200 has shot ahead of the initial leaders, with Jane Anderson's Topper just rounding Zebra	Shortly afterwards, nearly all the fleet comes into view	Nathan Pollard at the helm of the RS200 in the afternoon, with Bob Sampson looking to be enjoying the role of crew	Toby Tobias's Bosun (now with crew Alex Clifton) at an impressive angle of heel as he rounds Dam Green just behind Simon Veal

March 22nd

A crowd cluster around Home 1 as the fleet (15 boats, an impressive number for March) get away for the midday race, with Roger Heasman's Streaker looking well placed	Jane Anderson's Laser pulled out an impressive lead in the fluky breeze, which stopped, started and came from practically every direction on the compass; here she gybes at Dam Red, with only a cormorant for company	Robin's Streaker and Linda's Comet running slowly back down towards the Dam in close company	James Williams at the helm of Toby's Bosun
Start of the afternoon race, with the RS200 getting away clear this time, with James Pollard at the helm whilst Bob Sampson was on safety boat duty	Looks to be a slow drift as a cluster of boats inch their way round Dam Red	The safety boat (with Bob Sampson and Sue Murray) keep an eye on the fleet as it heads to Inlet White	John Dabbs' Gull (sail number 2269) up with nominally much faster boats on the way to a brilliant position in the afternoon race

5th April

Lots of pressure on the start line these days, with a couple over the line at the hooter having to thread their way back through 20-odd boats in order to re-start		Interesting mix of classes showing at the front of the fleet on the first beat with, from leeward: Graduate (Adeney Pooler), Laser (Steve Axford), Solo (Adam Hilton) and, almost hidden, Gull (John Dabbs)	Simon Veal and Nicola Clay managing to get the Bosun's spinnaker pulling well, despite the fluky winds; John Savage's Solo just behind	Good action shot as James Pollard hardens up on rounding Dam Green
Good to see Stuart Mealing out on the water, as the Laser beats up towards the Home 2 mark		Start of the Commodore's Cup series in the afternoon: slightly fewer boats on the water, but still lots of pressure on the windward end of the line	Not much wind as Nicky Buckett's Laser ghosts away from Zebra, with Paul Whybrow's Solo just coming up to the buoy	Adeney Pooler's Graduate and Nathan Pollards's Topper, with both helms apparently concentrating on their hands

12th April

Adam Hilton and John Dabbs get away clear in the first race of the Sailboat Series	Quite a good number of boats for a very windy day in April	The fleet rounds the first mark at Home 2 and starts the beat towards West Wight, across the windiest part of the lake; Adam Hilton's Bosun still holding onto the lead	James Pollard planing at speed on the reach back towards the Dam
Nice action shot as Simon Veal's three-up Bosun puts in a tack	Looks relatively peaceful (temporarily) as James Pollard and Jane Anderson cross the line at the start of the afternoon race	A contrast in angles of heel in the two Bosuns: Simon Veal's leans to the wind whilst behind, club Bosun the 'Mike Ford' stays bolt upright as helm Nicky Buckett opts for a gentler approach on the beat	Probably the best shot of the day as James Pollard has to hike out hard even on the reach

19th April

Using Start Line 2, a leading group of boats head for the first mark at Zebra, with Alan Comber and John Weller showing ahead in the Enterprise	Spot the difference....  Bob Sampson's full rig Laser sandwiched between the smaller 4.7 rigs of Jane Anderson and James Pollard	Bob Sampson's Laser appears to have pulled out a lead of almost the length of the lake over the bulk of the fleet on the way to his eventual victory in the midday race	Adam Hilton's Solo leads a trio of boats round the dogleg of Dam Red and Dam Green
The fleet already well spread out at the start of the first Cup Race of the 2015 season	Some close-quarters jostling for position at Zebra, just after the start	A study in concentration: a fabulous action close-up of Roger Heasman and Annie Quartermain in the Kestrel	Toby Tobias and Brian Pollard get the Bosun  moving well in a fresher patch of wind on a day of sometimes fickle breezes

26th April

The Bosun of Adam Hilton and John Dabbs make a good start to the midday race; in the foreground, it's good to see Geoff Floyd out racing in his Solo	Heading up to Pinky on the first lap, it's now a different Bosun, with Nicky Buckett and Annie Quartermain, who are in the lead, with the Toppers of Nathan Pollard and Jane Anderson, plus the Streaker of Robin Spiller, not far behind	Most of the fleet in line astern as Nicky Buckett and Annie Quartermain still hold on to the lead, only shortly before having to retire when there were more problems with the Bosun's rigging	A second good start of the day for Adam Hilton and John Dabbs
Close quarters racing as five boats (Linda Spiller's Comet is almost hidden from view) tack round the mark	It was an afternoon dominated by the club's burgeoning Topper fleet (they took the first four places on handicap); the distinctive light blue hull at the back of this quartet is Jane Chadney, who has moved from her Laser into a Topper	Jane Anderson's Topper is pulling out a substantial lead, though the foreshortening effect of the telephoto lens makes it look less in this picture	There was a fascinating ding-dong between the two Bosuns of Adam Hilton and Simon Veal throughout much of the afternoon race: even one of the cattle in the field behind is sufficiently interested to stop eating and watch!

3rd May

Jane Chadney heading downwind in her blue-decked Topper in the afternoon's Pursuit race	Nicky, Rachel and John in the 'Mike Ford' club Bosun, whilst James Pollard sits just behind, surfing on the Bosun's not-inconsiderable wake and ready to plane past on the leeward side	John Savage just getting his Solo onto the plane, on a day of sudden gusts and lengthy lulls	And Paul Whybrow's Solo also going very well downwind
James Pollard on his way to a clearcut victory in the Pursuit	Nice panoramic shot of most of the fleet en-route to Far and back	Excellent close-up of the two Solos	James Pollard unchallenged at the front as the race moves into the closing stages

10th May

A good number of boats on the water for the Tamar Memorial Trophy race, considering the unpleasantly gusty wind	James Pollard and Paul Whybrow look to have got away at the front of the fleet	The fleet round Home 2 and then a dogleg to Middle before heading up to Middle before heading to Pinky	Good close-up of Alan Comber and John Weller in the Enterprise
A crescent of spray from the Topper's bow as Nathan Pollard rides a gust	Tight at the front of the fleet at the start of the second race	Rounding Dam Green in close company, with Jane Anderson at the head of this bunch	Sue Murray's Laser 4.7 and Jane Anderson's Topper side-by-side

17th May

Start of Sailboat 5, with Bob Sampson away well in his Laser	Stuart Mealing's Laser Radial going well in centre of shot, Adam Hilton's yellow Solo just behind	Jane Chadney almost level with Vicki in their Toppers	Converging wakes throwing up some decidedly choppy looking water as the fleet bears away towards Inlet in the afternoon race
The top of the lake looking well filled with boats as they reach all the way back from Far to Dam Green, Sue Murray's Laser 4.7 looking to have a slight advantage over Jane Anderson at this point	Toby Tobias and new member Ellie Tucker speeding across the windiest part of the course	Linda Spiller looking relaxed in her Comet as Jane Chadney has to lean out in the Topper	Lovely to see the re-launched and immaculately refurbished club Bosun, the 'Rob Eason', out on the lake: Annie Quartermain at the helm with Roger Heasman crewing, making the boat kick up an impressive wake

24th May

Jane Anderson leads the fleet away on a misty May Sunday	Adam Hilton and John Dabbs head this quartet searching for the Inlet buoy in the gloom	Nathan Pollard leads the Toppers round the same part of the course	Start of the afternoon's Commodore's Cup race, with Sue Murray looking to try a starboard start along the line, whilst the rest of the fleet go for the port tack option
A tightly grouped fleet just after the start	Jane Chadney in the foreground in her Topper	A cheerful Toby and Ellie in the Bosun	And finally, a shot from the midday race, showing just how misty it was, with only sail of James Pollard's Laser really standing out in the murk

May 31st

James Pollard and Adam Hilton get away first for the midday race in the Sailboat Trophy series; Nathan Pollard's Topper is down to leeward in the foreground after being hit by a particularly vicious gust just before the start	Making choices on which tack to choose, just after the start	Relatively more sheltered for this trio of boats as they head to make the turn at Inlet White	Excellent close-up of Adam Hilton in his Solo on the long downwind leg back towards the Dam
Many thanks to Matt Lennox for his work on safety boat duties, assisted by Brian Pollard, on a day when capsized sailors undoubtedly found it reassuring to have someone standing by, ready to help when needed	Eventual victor James Pollard getting soaked from the spray kicked up by his Laser 4.7	Normally pictures of sailing on windy days tend to make the water look less choppy than it actually is - but in this case the long fetch for the north-westerly wind has created a confused maelstrom from the waves bouncing back off the dam wall that doesn't look very pleasant at all	Nathan Pollard having to work very hard to try to prevent the boom of his Topper dragging in the water

June 7th

Most boats competing for space at the windward end of the line as the fleet starts the long beat up to Far at the start of Sailboat Trophy Race 8	The two Laser Radials, Jane Anderson and James Pollard, battle it out for the lead on the first lap	And Linda Spiller heads the rest of the fleet in her Comet	Toby Tobias and Ellie Tucker in the Bosun lead a tightly-packed procession of boats rounding Dam Green
Good action close-up of the Enterprise, with Alan Comber at the helm and Brian Pollard as crew	In a large fleet of 18 boats, Linda Spiller gets away first in the afternoon race	Topper trio: Nathan Pollard leads John and Vicki on the beat	Robin Spiller in the Streaker finds time for a chat to John Savage in the Solo as they run down towards Dam Green

June 14th

Phil and Alexander Tucker looking comfortable in their Bosun as they settle down for the morning's Pursuit race	Solo duo:Adam Hilton's yellow-hulled Solo getting closer to frontrunner John Savage; John Buckett's Otter is the interloper in the Solo sandwich	A sizeable chunk of the remainder of the pursuing 21-boat fleet (the largest on the water so far this season)	In a breeze that had built considerably over lunchtime, the lead boats beat away into an unexpectedly strong northerly wind at the start of the Commodore's Cup race
Time for a laugh, clearly...: James Pollard just ahead of Bob Sampson, the two full-rig Lasers having built up a substantial lead over the rest of the fleet	Roger working hard in his Streaker	And Jane Chadney absolutely flat out (but revelling at being back in her thoroughbred Laser for the day)	Tack tactics on the beat up to Pinky

June 21st

James Pollard gets away first at the start of the midday race in the Sailboat series	Jane Anderson tacks onto starboard, looking for clean air, whilst the remainder of the fleet remains on port as they start the long beat up to Far	Adeney Pooler keeps control of the Graduate in one of the strong gusts, despite being heeled right over on its side, with the rudder almost coming out of the water; in extremely tricky conditions, he persevered to avoid any capsizes and stayed upright (albeit sometimes only very approximately so) for the whole race	Linda Spiller's Comet and Nathan Pollard's Topper just ahead of Robin Spiller's Solo, which was rigged  with the smaller Wave sail, in deference to the windy weather
Happy-looking crew on Toby Tobias's Bosun; not the fastest dinghy on the water on the day, but quite possibly the most enjoyable boat to be in....	Start of the afternoon Cup Race, when the conditions sometimes seemed to ease, only to then return with a vengeance	Bob Sampson in a cloud of spray at warp speed whilst on the plane, but despite this, a late capsize put an end to his chances of a win	Sue Murray also going well, in the Laser 4.7

28th June

Another damp day for the start of the midday race, with Bob Sampson away first; Bideford Canoeing Club doing training in the foreground	Another race when the gusts were so sharp and short-lived that helms and crews had to work very hard; here Bob is sitting out whilst, just behind, the gust has died for James Pollard and he is having to scramble back inboard	Both Jane Anderson and James on a high-speed plane across the mist-shrouded water; because the wind built suddenly just before the start of the race, several helms probably went out in larger rigs than were ideal for the conditions	Family team of Elliot and Rachel Pomeroy took out the RS 200 on a day that must have made for a very steep learning curve (and angle of heel), but they kept her going in extremely testing conditions
Calmer waters and brighter weather for the afternoon Pursuit race: here Jane Chadney and James Pollard are in close company	Same boat, different crew; for the Pursuit, Bob Sampson was back at the helm of the RS200, with Annie Quartermain getting the pink asymmetric spinnaker flying	John Buckett and Brian Pollard in the Bosun briefly ahead of Nathan's Topper, with the pursuing cavalry, in the form of James's and Jane's Lasers, catching up rapidly	And by the end of the race, the sun was properly out to give a lovely day; here Nathan is on the beat whilst Bob and Annie are serenely gliding downwind

5th July

Paul Whybrow amd Brian Pollard out in the club Bosun on yet another Sunday of very gusty, testing conditions	Jane Anderson on a high-speed plane in her Topper, looking relaxed on the broad reach back towards the Dam	And James Pollard, in a Laser Radial, looks to be hitting another boat's wake at high speed	On a day when many sailors were scurrying round to find smaller sails, Bob Sampson went round in both races in his full-rig Laser and so gets the award for bravest helm of the day
Congestion rounding Dam Green in the Class Cups race, as three Bosuns (all with smaller sails) are closely matched	And all four Bosuns in close company on the close reach up to Far, on an altered course for the second race.	Eventual class winners Adam Hilton and Steve Osgood in the lead	Nice close-up of Rachel Pomeroy at the helm, with James and Brian Pollard making up the crew

12th July

Start of the midday Tamar Memorial Trophy 3 race in some pretty murky conditions; James Pollard in the lead, with Bob Sampson just behind and Jane Anderson to windward in the foreground	And just what an unpleasant day it was becomes even more obvious as the small fleet heads towards the first mark in West	Jane Anderson in her Topper overtakes to leeward of Adam Hilton in the small-sailed Solo Wave	John Savage's Solo looms out of the mist and low cloud

19th July

Start of Tamar 3, with the boats already spread out just a few seconds after the start	Three of the four Bosuns in the race in line across the lake; at this point, the breeze was still reasonably strong, but it became increasingly fickle as the day went on	Bob Sampson and Melanie Cage getting the RS200's asymmetric spinnaker flying well	In almost the same spot, Nicky Buckett and Cilla Gilbert get the Bosun showing a good bow wave
In a delayed start to the afternoon race, Paul Whybrow's Solo shows clear at the front of the fleet	As they beat towards West Red,James Pollard and Jane Anderson are clear to windward of this group of half a dozen dinghies	Phil and Julie Tucker in the fourth of the Bosun fleet out	The breeze looks to have died almost to a whisper as James Pollard and Sue Murray glide slowly downwind

2nd August

Toby Tobias and Ellie Tucker bear away round Dam Green at the start of the midday Cup Race, whilst Elliot and Jack Pomeroy are close on their heels	The leading group of half a dozen boats on the broad reach down to Middle: James Pollard's Laser 4.7 in the lead, with Jane Chadney's Topper overlapped and Jane Anderson's Laser 4.7 to windward.  The Bosun of Nicky Buckett and Annie Quartermain is tucked in just ahead of Steve Axford's Laser Radial, with Nathan Pollard's Topper making up the final boat of the six	Almost continuous wall-to-wall sails, with the bulk of the fleet in shot as they head downwind to Pinky; it may look deceptively calm, but note the crews' arms reaching out to the boom in several of the double handers	Not easy upwind, either: the effort showing on Nicky and Annie's faces as club Bosun the 'Rob Eason' beats back towards the Dam
The start of the first in the Peter Pocock series for 2015; eventual winner James Williams in the Topper leads the fleet	Probably not much of the Bosun's rudder left in the water as Toby Tobias and Julie Tucker also beat back, in the afternoon Pursuit race this time.  And no, Toby hasn't fitted a bowsprit - it's a mounting for trying out his Go-Pro digital video camera	Good close-up of Paul Whybrow, as he beats back towards the race box side of the lake	Almost the sole remnants of the original 15-strong fleet that set out for the Pursuit; here James Pollard is already away clear in the lead - even from the upwind side, the whitecaps are can still be seen

9th August

Paul Whybrow gets his Solo away clear at the start of the midday Tamar race, ahead of a tightly-packed cluster of boats	Seconds later, Roger Heasman and Cilla Gilbert have suddenly appeared to windward of the fleet and shot ahead, having blanketed the boats below them	The leading boats just starting to heel to the wind as they emerge into West Bay from the sheltered water by the pontoon; Roger's club Bosun leads from Adeney Pooler's Graduate, who has shot through from the back of the fleet, with the Solos of Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton just behind	Linda Spiller's Comet at speed on a run from West to Middle in the foreground, whilst in the background, some of the fleet negotiate the sometimes-tricky gybe at Far
Jane Chadney gets her Laser 4.7 up onto the plane on the same leg of the course	Bob Sampson, on a charge that took him from one of the late starters to become eventual winner of the Pursuit Race, passes Adam Hilton to windward	Roger Heasman and Cilla Gilbert close in on Nathan Pollard's Topper, whilst James Pollard, the final starter in the Pursuit, is still almost a lap behind, attempting to make up the huge deficit	Great picture of James Pollard, in his full-rig Laser, in a cloud of spray as he planes past Home 2 buoy on the windiest part of the lake

12th August Teatime Tankard

Nathan Pollard first away in the Teatime Tankard	Roger Heasman leads this trio, heading downwind to Pinky	Linda Spiller blanketing Nathan Pollard's Topper to ease past  downwind in her Comet	John Dabbs going well in the Gull, sandwiched between Robin Spiller's Streaker and John White and George Evans in the Bosun
Roger Heasman and Adam Hilton on opposite tacks	John Dabbs and Nathan Pollard at close quarters as they pass Home 1

16th August

Heading to the first mark at Dam Green, very, very slowly.....	Just the smallest of ripples on the almost mirror-smooth water	Toby  - so laid-back he's horizontal...	Wonderfully crisp close-up of Annie Quartermain helming Roger's RS200
The top of the lake was covered with goose feathers drifting on the calm water (and sadly, everywhere also had lots of blue-green algae that had appeared in the space of a day....)	Start of the afternoon's Gosling Shield, Ladies Cup and Junior Helm: if anything, even less wind	As idle as a painted ship, Upon a painted ocean	Jane, Bob and Adam in slow motion

23rd August

Start of the midday Tamar Memorial Trophy race: Bob Sampson and Jane Anderson get away first, with Robin Spiller's Streaker making a good start to leeward on the way to an impressive third place	The whole fleet of 16 boats in view as they head for Pinky on a close reach	A tightly-bunched fleet at the start of the afternoon's Cup Race, this time making for the Home 2 buoy before starting the tactical beat to West Red	As the photo indicates, some pretty choppy water for helms to contend with at times: as so often with a (mainly) westerly wind, the breeze was really quite brisk across the middle of the lake between West and Inlet, whilst there were rather more placid conditions at both the top and bottom of the lake
Bob on the plane, heron on the wing - a stunning photo that captures a special moment: unlike albatrosses, herons clearly aren't birds of ill omen for mariners, as Bob went on to complete a double of first places	Adam Hilton's distinctive yellow-hulled Solo in the foreground, hotly pursued by a disparate group of dinghy classes - all competing via the (sometimes abstruse) alchemy of Portsmouth Yardstick handicap racing	James Pollard right on the heels of Jane Anderson as they harden up round Dam Green	A crisp close-up of Roger Heasman and Jane Chadney heading in opposite directions

26th August Teatime Tankard

Three boats start the race (just enough to make it quorate); the well-defined edge of the windy part of the lake can just be seen as a distant line of foam in the background, behind the Topper sail	Hardening up past Middle for a beat to West Red, with Adam Hilton's Bosun (three up and on Otter sails) to windward of Nathan Pollard's Topper during the second lap	The agility of youth: Nathan demonstrating just how quickly it's possible to recover from a capsize	Nathan up on the plane on the run back from West Red to Home 1

30th August

A tight group of four, seconds after the horn for Race 8 in the Tamar Memorial Trophy series, in a wind that at the last minute had swung through over 90 degrees to give almost a running start	All clear ahead? Toby Tobias, peering under the boom, with Geoff Floyd as crew	Despite fears of a windless drift that dissuaded some potential sailors from venturing out, after a couple of short laps the wind had built to quite a substantial south-easterly; John Dabbs is looking comfortable heading downwind in the Gull, whilst Alan Comber in the Enterprise appears to be trying for an overtaking manoeuvre to windward of Robin Spiller's Streaker	Nicky Buckett and Brian Pollard in club boat the 'Rob Eason', on their way to a rare win on handicap for a Bosun dinghy at Upper Tamar
Start of the afternoon Cup Race 5; Jane Anderson makes one of her trademark good starts in her Laser Radial, though almost out of sight behind her, Roger Heasman has got a flyer to windward in his Streaker	Although the telephoto compresses distances, this bunch is still pretty tightly packed as they beat away from the start in a wind that had swung round to a wobbly north-easterly	Definitely enjoying their racing; Toby Tobias in the Bosun again, this time with Cilla Gilbert taking over as crew for the afternoon race	James Pollard going overboard in his efforts to get the pink gennaker flying, as Rachel Pomeroy brings Roger's RS200 ghosting down the lake

2nd September Teatime Tankard

Linda Spiller leads the fleet away on a far-side start, with eventual winner Jane Chadney in second place in her Laser 4.7	Roger Heasman's Streaker just ahead of Robin Spiller	John Dabbs, with crew Cilla Gilbert, going well in the reefed Gull, before a broken centreboard unfortunately meant retirement and a slow return downwind to the pontoon under jib alone	The Tamar heron gets into the shot again, upstaging Nathan Pollard and Adam Hilton as they beat into a rather stronger than forecast northerly

6th September

Jane Anderson heads the first quartet of boats across the line, whilst behind the breeze died so that the rest of the fleet were left stranded some way behind the start	A watchful Bob Sampson at Dam Green, with new member David Currie as crew	James Pollard gives Roger Heasman's speedy Topper Blaze an outing, successfully negotiating the gybe at Dam Green	Despite forecast light winds, in reality from time to time they produced some gusts that were enough to make keep helms on their toes: here Nathan Pollard heels to one of these
Nicky Buckett and Viki Herbert-Coulson take the lead in the afternoon Pursuit Race, which they held to the end; Elliot Pomeroy's Topper and John Savage's Solo are some little way behind in second and third place by this stage	The combination of a quick class of boat and a less favourable helm handicap than some competitors means that James Pollard's Blaze is only just starting the race as Nicky Buckett's Bosun comes down the lake towards the end of its first lap	And now in stereo...(though only if you're colour-blind); Sue Murray and Bob Sampson (with the blue gennaker) just ahead of Roger Heasman and Annie Quartermain (with the pink gennaker)	John Savage beating up the lake in his Solo as the race moves into its later stages

13th September

Relatively rarely used, Start Line 2 very often leads to a widely spread-out fleet and it's no exception here, but James Pollard, hovering on the line on port tack, gets it just right	Mike Coulson and Viki Herbert-Coulson get the 'Rob Eason' going nicely, despite a day of some erratic and vicious gusts	Sue Murray looks for the wind shifts on the beat back from Middle to Dam Green	A day to opt for the Topper: Jane Chadney downsizes to good effect on another blustery Sunday
Reverting to Start Line 1 for the second race, James Pollard still gets away well in the foreground, with Jane Anderson being the only helm to go for a port start in the background	Jane Anderson's Topper travelling at speed, whilst James Pollard and Bob Sampson are moving more slowly as they strive to make their potential starboard tack advantage tell	Despite capsizing to windward as the wind just died on him, Bob Sampson is quickly up and heading over onto the centreboard, whilst Steve Axford has to go the long way round	Steve Axford and Bob Sampson race for the finishing line on the final beat back from Middle

20th September

With the Race Officer using the far side of Start Line 2, Roger Heasman pulls out a substantial lead in the first few seconds of the midday Gosling Shield race	Even though the use of Start Line 2 meant that it was further to the windward mark at Dam Green (and therefore longer for the fleet to sort itself out), there are still plenty of tightly packed boats jostling for position  as they round the mark	The far side of the lake still has sufficient wind to ruffle the water, but where the westerly wind is sheltered by the trees nearer the Cornwall bank, the lake is sufficiently mirror-like to produce attractive reflections of the sails.  Here Jane Chadney and Nathan Pollard have got the asymmetric spinnaker pulling well, at the tail-end of a quintet of boats led by Steve Axford and Roger Heasman	More comfortable standing.....  Nicky Buckett looks ahead whilst Brian Pollard trims the jib
A tactical conundrum: do you go for the windward end of the line, so that you're not blanketed by boats, but where the wind is fluky and patchy (like Jane Anderson in the foreground) - or stay out in the middle of the lake (where Adam Hilton is away quickly), where there's more wind but you run the risk of dirty air from other boats....	Nathan Pollard concentrating at the helm, whilst Jane Chadney tends the spinnaker	The two Streakers locked together as they glide downwind	Follow my leader round Dam Green: Vicki's Topper  leads Geoff Floyds Solo, just ahead of Toby and Ellie in the Bosun and John Savage's Solo

27th September

With what should have been a 19 boat start and the windward mark at Dam Green, Start Line 2 was once more pressed into service to give a few more yards for the fleet to sort itself out before arriving at the first buoy; here Bob Sampson and James Pollard are opting to start tight inshore	Wonderfully crisp close-up of Robin Spiller breathing down the neck of James William's Topper	Bob Sampson having to work hard in the full-rig Laser, in winds that seemed to be considerably more than advertised at times	The autumn sunshine highlighting the deep lustre on the varnish of Adam Hilton's immaculate Solo
John Dabbs under reefed main in the Gull	A much more tightly-bunched fleet for the start of the afternoon race; this time Jane Anderson seems to have made the best start	Bob Sampson getting higher to windward than the chasing Jane Anderson on the beat back from Pinky	Shades on, guys.....  Sunglasses are clearly de rigeur on Toby's Bosun

4th October

Still rather misty as the fleet again grapple with complexities of where to position yourself when using Start Line 2	Nathan Pollard seems to be trying to ease the RS200 past the upwind side of Adam Hilton's Bosun with crew of  John Dabbs and Kian Downes on board	The fleet set off on a long downwind leg all the way to Far	Nathan Pollard and Jane Chadney clearly having a really enjoyable time whilst getting to grips with Roger's RS200
James Pollard helming Bob's RS200, whilst Bob gets more crewing experience at the sharp end	The RS200 spinnaker is a lot of canvas to control, but all seems to be going well here as James and Bob get onto the plane	Nathan and Jane having to work hard on the beat	Jane Anderson calmly in control on her way to complete a double of victories on the day

11th October

Linda Spiller gets away first in her new Laser in the second of the Icicle series, with Nathan Pollard and Jane Chadney just behind	Around Dam Green and heading to West Red, Jane Chadney already has the RS 200's pink asymmetric spinnaker pulling, but Rachel Pomeroy is just behind in club Bosun the 'Rob Eason'	It's presumably an optical illusion, but it looks uncannily as if the Bosun (and also Linda Spiller's Laser) both have seagulls taking a ride on their dinghies (and no, nobody has been fiddling with Photoshop....)	Elliot Pomeroy, with Kian Downes as crew, looking comfortable in the 'Mike Ford'
Jane Anderson is showing ahead of the fleet, but is slightly down to leeward as the whole fleet forms a procession at the upwind end of the start line in Frostbite 2, but Vicki's Topper seems to be well placed to windward	With a 15-strong fleet and only a short beat to Dam Green, there's lots of pressure to get in the right place to squeeze round the mark; here, Paul Whybrow's Solo heads a tightly-packed group of eight boats as they head for Home 2	Geoff Floyd gliding along in his Solo, just in front of new member Mike Coulson, who is testing out his new sail in the Laser Pico and is apparently the only one of this trio to have found a temporary gust of wind	If they ever invent a new sport of  synchronised sailing, it looks as though Rachel and Vicki would be naturals at it

18th October

Linda Spiller gets away first in her new Laser on Start Line 2	Lots of two-way traffic as the fleet tacks in front of the Dam and then heads downwind, with boats running on Starboard tack confronting helms heading for the mark on Port	Nathan Pollard and Jane Chadney head this group of four boats but Elliot Pomeroy in the Bosun is well placed with faster boats	Still time for a chat: Linda and Robin Spiller gliding downwind
The view from the Dam walkway: quite a reasonable amount of wind at this point in the race, but further up the lake towards Pinky, there were numerous dead spots to be negotiated	A tightly packed fleet just after the start of the afternoon's race in the Icicle series	A nice composition of criss-crossing masts as the leading boats vie to be first around Dam Red: eventual winner James Pollard gets to the lay line for an approach on starboard	Helms and crews wearing dry suits and a grey misty background suggests that winter is getting close: James Pollard still managing to keep ahead of Sue Murray and Bob Sampson in the RS200

25th October

A sunny late October day brings out a 16-strong fleet, starting with a beat into the southerly wind to Dam Green	Tight at Dam Green as helms take various strategies to getting round the mark and off downwind	Annie Quartermain looking comfortable at the helm of her new Laser, with Nicky Buckett in the Bosun and Allan Comber in the Enterprise upwind of her	Although the predicted windspeeds suggested a gentle sail, at times there were patches that had boats heeled hard over, with helms and crews having to work hard: here Sue Murray and Bob Sampson in the RS200 are leading Adam Hilton in the distinctive yellow-hulled Sollo
Jane Anderson and James Pollard already leading the fleet away for the start of the afternoon's Icicle Series race	Once more, very tight at the first mark as the bulk of the fleet arrive at Dam Green almost together	The fleet disappear into the distance at Far; Bosun 101, with Rachel Pomeroy and Cilla Gilbert, are well up towards the front of the fleet, on their way to the second of their day's victories on handicap	Adam Hilton leading Linda and Robin Spiller in the Laser Radial and Streaker respectively

1st November

'I think this might come in useful...'; with almost no wind in evidence and a long slow drift in prospect, paddles were the 'must-have' accessory of the day - though in fact, most boats stuck it out to the end of the race	With the wind direction fluctuating wildly, it was never going to be a start into a true beat - and the whole fleet wanted to be starting at the Home 1 end of the line, so there was much jostling for position	Very slow going as a trio of boats drift towards West Red	Here there are at least tiny wakes coming from the sterns of the three dinghies, so they are at least perceptible movement
A new course for the afternoon race, with a beat to Dam Green into a (mainly) south-easterly breeze that was appreciably stronger than in the morning	Winner of both the day's races, Jane Anderson is away clear round the first mark	Fewer boats out in the afternoon race, but the fabulous weather produced an excellent turn-out for an end-of-season race in November, with a total of nine different dinghy classes visible on the water in this shot	Jane Anderson increasing her lead as she glides downwind, but Adam Hilton's yellow Solo, which eventually ended up in second place, still has work to do here, some distance behind the Bosun of Rachel Pomeroy and Cilla Gilbert

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