Pictures from 2016 Season

Pictures from 2016 Season

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

6th March


James Pollard gets clear away at the start of another sailing season, with Jane Anderson opting for a port-tack start in the foreground	Toby Tobias swapping his usual Bosun for his Mirror - and doing well in it to be heading Adam's Solo at this point of the race	Robin Spiller heading a group of six boats downwind in his Streaker; Nathan Pollard's Topper just ahead of Jane Anderson at this point	James Pollard sheeting in as he hardens up round Dam Green

Two happy smiles as Cilla Gilbert helms the Bosun, in her first race as skipper, with Bob Sampson as crew	Great close-up of Toby, keeping warmly wrapped up (as all helms and crews were) as he contemplates his next move in the Mirror	Tight racing as James stays just ahead of Jane Chadney in the two competing Laser 4.7s	Jane Anderson has only a boat's length lead over Nathan Pollard as they head downwind near the end of the race

13th March


Warm sunshine, a full lake and a steadyish breeze - what more could you want in mid-March: the front runners of the fleet start on a port tack towards Dam Red	Really nice to see Paul Anderson back from foreign climes; Vicki blankets Paul on the broad reach up towards Pinkie	A touch of haze adds soft focus to an inviting picture as the boats head towards the downwind mark at Pinkie	Sufficient wind to get James Pollard hiking out in his full-rig Laser, just ahead of Jane Anderson's Laser Radial

James Pollard looks to have made a good start in the second race, perhaps pointing marginally higher than the following boats	Centreboards up, kickers off, as nearly the entire fleet groups nicely for the camera	Adam Hilton, with a sunny smile, ghosts downwind, whilst the Otter is pushed wide by a header on the beat towards Dam Red	James Pollard and James Williams pictured together as they head back down the lake on a close reach

20th March


The entire fleet in shot at the start of the midday race; Adam Hilton's Solo shows clear in front, having made an absolutely perfect start, hitting the line at speed as the hooter sounded. sadly, he couldn't believe that he wasn't over - and turned back to make an unnecessary re-start. James Pollard's Laser is already round the mark and heading downwind	The fleet heading for the windward mark at Dam Red;	Robin Skinner in the foreground, heading for Dam Red	Clearly the Buckett Bosun hasn't had it's early season clean - and it's in the process of losing a batten to boot

Start of the afternoon race; Robin Spiller shows clear ahead, but downwind of several other boats	Jane Chadney squeezes her Laser 4.7 round Dam Red; Sue Murray in the RS200 looks for a gap between the line of dinghies heading for the mark on starboard tack	James Pollard (eventual winner on handicap) on a close reach back towards the start line, just ahead of the RS200	When the course allows the RS 200 to fly its gennaker, the boat really takes off; here it's starting to show a turn of speed, even in the afternoon's fairly gentle easterly breeze

27th March


With the wind momentarily looking deceptively benign, Steve Axford leads the four-boat fleet away from the start	... and then seconds later, Steve Axford is left in the water as a gust upends his Laser Radial	Bob Sampson has achieved a substantial lead in his Laser 4.7, whilst in the background, the Toppers of Elliot and Nathan are confronted with what looks to be a daunting gybe as they approach Pinkie	A classic close-up of Bob at speed on a broad reach

Steve Axford's Laser Radial kicks up a cloud of spray as his boat flies through the chop across the middle of the lake, whilst Nathan and Elliot are still approaching the windiest section	This time it's Bob Sampson's dinghy that's inverted....	The two Lasers in a quieter patch round Dam Green	Heading downwind past Home One, the imperturbable Bob appears to have lost his hat, but not his cool

3rd April


Bob Sampson gets the RS200 away first at the start of the Tamar Memorial Trophy series	Adam Hilton tight up behind Steve Axford's Laser Radial on the broad reach down to West Red	The trio of Toppers in close contention	Steve Axford in splendid isolation as he heads back towards the Dam

Toby and Jane looking skywards whilst Cilla keeps a precautionary hand on the boom	Vicki gets the Topper away right on the gun with a faultless start in the afternoon race	James Pollard gets clear round Dam Green, with Steve's Radial and Sue Murray in the RS200 in close company immediately behind	Bosuns and Toppers fight it out on the long tactical beat back from Pinkie

17th April


A tight bunch at the start of the midday race, with Jane Anderson's Laser Radial showing in front, but to leeward of the following group	Not long afterwards, the fleet is already more strung out	James Pollard's Laser out in the lead, with the Laser of Bob Sampson and Laser Radial of Jane Anderson not far behind	John Savage's Solo leads a group of boats back downwind, staying on starboard at the mark, whilst the leading Topper has gybed onto port; John Dabb's Gull going well to be still in contention with some of the Toppers at this stage of the race

The start of the afternoon's Commodore Cup race; the bulk of the fleet have gone for a starboard tack start, whilst a couple of helms are on port tack, in order to work their way across to the upwind side	Good to see Ken Lambert's Wayfarer out racing, with Cilla Gilbert as crew	Nathan Pollard heading back in front of the Watersports Centre, heading the rest of the Topper fleet	Bob Sampson having to work hard, as his Laser develops quite a heel on the beat

24th April


Seconds before the start of the midday race, it's getting very tight indeed, as everyone tries to be in the same place at the upwind pin end of the line	Just a few yards up the first beat, the wind seemed to be stronger than forecast at this point; Roger Heasman in the foreground in his Streaker	James Pollard just ahead of Jane Anderson, as they approach the dogleg at Dam Green, before hardening up for the line	Good telephoto shot of John Savage, looking comfortable in his Solo

Not such a tightly packed fleet for the afternoon race, with Adam Hilton's Bosun getting away into clear air	New club member Penny Abbott in the Topper, just a few yards ahead of the larger Solo	Even though initially the wind looked to have dropped appreciably for the afternoon race, there was still enough strength to get the RS 200 up on its ear on the beat, with Sue Murray having to hike hard to keep the show on the road	Toby Tobias and Cilla Gilbert bring the Bosun close inshore for their photocall

1st May


James Pollard is first away for the midday race, but Jane Anderson and Bob Sampson are to windward as they head for Dam Green into a southerly wind	As so often with a short beat from the start to Dam Green, several boats trying to squeeze round the mark at the same time	And at the front of the fleet, Bob Sampson possibly just in front; Adam Hilton's Solo keeping company with the Lasers	The whole fleet in view on a slate-grey lake - not welcoming for May

A trio of Toppers, having to work hard as they beat back towards the start line	In the afternoon Pursuit race, Paul Whybrow's red-hulled Solo making a bright spot on an increasingly murky afternoon	Toby Tobias and Cilla Gilbert look to just have the edge over a well wrapped-up Nathan Pollard in the Topper	This telephoto shot shows just how the mist makes a gloomy picture; here Bob Sampson looks to have gained the lead....

May 8th


Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard at the start of a full-on few minutes; note the effect of the telephoto, bringing into view the meadow flowers in the field behind	Picture of the day: James Pollard more in the water than in the boat, ploughing through the water at high speed as a gust momentarily dies	Bosun (with John Buckett, Brian Pollard and Geoff Floyd), on a broad reach, with small flat-cut Otter sails, three up, two sitting out - and still going like a train.....	Bob Sampson not far from the Dam, at a point where there's practically no fetch in the south-easterly wind - and already there are whitecaps showing

Bob, James and Nathan, in the windiest part of the lake	James heading back from West	James beating back towards the Dam	Nathan still holding it together as he ends the race as the only finisher

15th May


John Dabbs and Adam Hilton show ahead of the pack at the start of the midday race; Nicky Buckett goes for the minority option, with a port tack start	Well into the first lap, Nicky Buckett and Brian Pollard are going well to still be ahead of some of the Lasers, resulting in their eventual second place on handicap	Jane Anderson in the lead as she finds some breeze on the beat back up the lake on the way to her eventual victory	James Pollard and Adam Hilton still in close contention as they beat across from Dam Green as they near the start of the second lap

Annie Quartermain and Linda Spiller jostling for position in their full-rig Lasers	John Dabbs and Cilla Gilbert out in John's Gull	Lots of pressure on the pin end of the line in the afternoon race	Moments after the start, Bob Sampson makes an early tack into clean air on port in the background, a move that gave him a substantial early lead that he retained right into the third lap

22nd May


Jostling for position as the fleet starts on the beat towards West Red	The whole fleet in shot as Bob Sampson and Sue Murray lead the fleet away, whilst in the background, Adam Hilton's Solo is the sole boat to tack away onto port	Rachael Pomeroy looks to make her next move in the Bosun, en-route to an impressive third place; Nathan Pollard and John Buckett to windward	Fabulous action shot of the RS 200 and Jane Anderson's Laser Radial hardening up around Dam Green

Linda Spiller has her Laser Radial moving well	Good to see Roger Heasman completing both races, as he works his way back to fitness	Paul Whybrow's distinctive red-hulled Solo in the foreground; James Pollard breaks cover onto port in the background	Alan Comber and John Weller make their first outing of the season, here seen ahead of the Streaker and Topper

29th May


A big fleet heading on the short beat to Dam Red; looks as though one of the Streakers has decided it's gone too soon and is looping round to re-start	Vicki's Topper leads a group of boats heading downwind; nice to see John White back on the water in his Bosun, on this occasion with Cilla Gilbert as crew	Nathan Pollard heads a trio of Toppers back through the start line on the second lap	Eventual winner of the midday Cup Race, Bob Sampson finds enough wind to require hiking out

Adeney Pooler's Graduate, with the black inserts on his crisp new sails generating a dramatic effect (and lots of power, apparently) on the water	Elliot Pomeroy on his way to victory in the afternoon's Pursuit race	Jane Chadney in her element, gliding downwind on a day when Lasers seemed to find the conditions just to their liking	Close boat-on-boat competition in the Laser fleet as Jane Anderson and James Pollard vie for position

5th June


Jane Anderson gets her Laser away clear as the fleet start the short beat towards Dam Green, with the Dam wall forming a windshadow from the generally south-south-easterly wind, making for a few fluky zephyrs with large flat patches	In the distance Jane Anderson has built on her good start and has already rounded Zebra and is en-route to West, with a substantial lead over the rest of the fleet	In a race which was sometimes little more than a drift, Robin Spiller has found sufficient breeze from somewhere to enable his Streaker to generate a proper wake	Brian Pollard takes over the helm on the way back to the pontoon, after the Bosun retires from the midday race

Nathan Pollard still cheerful on a day when the Topper could probably have done with more wind	In the afternoon Pursuit Race, Jane Anderson and Paul Whybrow head downwind past the fishermen lining the Devon bank	Alan Comber produces a neat rounding of Dam Green	John Savage takes out his Otter (in past years owned by former Club Secretary David Harris) on the race course, chatting to James Pollard in the Laser

12th June


Bob Sampson holds the windward spot on the line, with Jane Anderson just ahead to leeward	A trio of Lasers battling for the lead on the first beat to Middle	A difference of opinion on the tricky downwind dogleg from Dam Green to Dam Red: Elliot Pomeroy hangs on to port, whilst the other three helms have opted to gybe onto starboard at Dam Green	A warm welcome to new club member Graham Joyce, here in the foreground in his Laser

Start of the afternoon race, with Bob Sampson again in pole position by the Home 1 buoy	Nathan Pollard's Topper still up with the faster boats on the first beat, on his way to victory on handicap	The telephoto foreshortening makes the mid-fleet group look very close together as they head back downwind from Pinky; Paul Whybrow's red-hulled Solo looks to be going well on the plane	The afternoon race produced some unpleasantly fluky gusts at times that kept Toby on his toes in his single-handed Bosun: Elliot attempts an overtaking manoeuvre to windward

19th June


Start of the Cup 2 race, with deceptively calm conditions in the lee of the trees	Steve Axford rounds Middle and heads for West White, building an early lead over the rest of the small fleet	Despite the smooth surface of the water, Steve looks to have caught a sudden gust - something that happened time and again to most competitors during the day	On a beat back from Inlet Red to Zebra, this long shot of Steve Axford and Bob Sampson shows the deteriorating visibility that set in during the first race

Elliot and Rachael Pomeroy are well wrapped up against the driving rain as they round Dam Green	A revised course for the afternoon race, as Steve leads just four boats towards the first mark at Dam Green	Lumpier conditions as the two Lasers start the beat from Inlet Red to West White	And towards the end of the race, visibility was getting steadily worse; here Jane Anderson has got to windward of Nathan Pollard

26th June


'Interesting times' on the start line, as Vicki's lone Topper, with right-of-way on starboard, stands on across the bulk of the fleet starting on port tack	Shortly afterwards, the fleet is gradually sorting itself out: Bob Sampson has got away clear, whilst in the foreground, Jane Anderson is heading towards the Cornwall bank on starboard	A nice photographic composition, with alternating Toppers and Lasers on the first leg, just after the start	Bob Sampson still at the front, but James Pollard taking closer order behind in second place

Really good to see two new additions to the club's Laser fleet: Graham Joyce and Penny Abbot	Synchronised tacking in the afternoon Pursuit Race, as Nathan and Adam start their turns	Still enough wind across the middle of the lake in the afternoon to give James Pollard a good bow wave, in the middle of the shot	Nice close-up of Bob and Linda in close company

3rd July


Just after the start of the re-scheduled Commodore's cup 2 race, with the bulk of the 18-strong fleet starting on starboard, whilst Toby opts for a port tack flyer in his Bosun in the foreground	The middle of the fleet negotiates the dogleg from Pinky round to Inlet Red, which in the lee of the trees and hillside, could be a tortuous and slow business	Nicky Buckett, back in her Laser after a year's gap, leads a group of boats back from Dam Red	Excellent close-up of Linda Spiller in her Laser

John Dabbs' Gull chasing Vicki's Topper in the afternoon Pursuit race	Toby Tobias and Cilla Gilbert both sitting out as the Bosun starts to harden up after Dam Green	Paul Whybrow, the eventual winner of the Pursuit race, leads John Savage, who went on to take second place	The Lasers of Bob Sampson and James Pollard catching up the Bosun, as the Pursuit race nears the end

10th July


Deceptively calm, as James Pollard, in the Laser 4.7, leads away the trio of Toppers, just after start, from Start Line 2	James Pollard at speed in the windiest section across the middle of the lake	The data from the met station at Chivenor (near Barnstaple) gave windspeeds of 23mph, gusting 31mpg for midday, so these are the sort of gusty conditions that the Toppers were probably encountering as they plane back down the lake, heading for Dam Red	All looks calm and under control in the Hilton Bosun

The three Bosuns down near the Dam; looks as though the Buckett Bosun could do with some more kicker....	A smile of enjoyment from Jane Anderson as her Topper whips up a cloud of spray - or perhaps a grimace of foreboding....	Elliot Pomeroy's full (blue) sail Bosun made for quite a handful, even on the reach back from Pinky	Nathan Pollard rides a gust as he beats back from Dam Red

17th July


Four full-rig Lasers head the 18-strong fleet at the midday start, with Nicky Buckett well positioned to windward	Tight racing in the Laser fleet, as a bunch of four helms arrive at Dam Green, with Graham Joyce at the front of the pack	John Dabbs up at the sharp end, surmounting the intricacies of using a spinnaker (a rare sight at Tamar - but with the course including a reach from Pinky to Dam Green, a sufficiently long leg to make it worth a try)	Only a slightly smaller start for the afternoon race, with a split between port and starboard tack starters

On the reach back from Pinkie, with the Lasers showing at the front of the fleet and Jane Anderson pulling away clear	The wind picked up for the afternoon race (with the westerly probably aided by a sea breeze), giving sufficient power to get the Lasers on the plane across the middle of the lake	Good close-up of Nicky Buckett, going nicely in a quieter patch	More close quarters competition at Dam Green (apparently sufficiently nerve-racking enough to get Robin biting his fingernails)

24th July


With a course set to use Start Line 2, five boats head towards Middle on a day of intermittent drizzle/rain and low cloud	Eventual winner Jane Anderson in her Radial, between the two full-rig Lasers of Bob Sampson and James Pollard	A beacon on a grey day, the yellow-hulled Solo of Adam Hilton emerges out of the murk on a fast reach back to Dam Green	Brian Pollard busy bailing (from rainwater rather than lake water) in the Bosun; the two Toppers behind show the strength of some of the gusts, which were also alarmingly variable in direction at times

Nathan Pollard, out on his own in the afternoon's Pursuit Race	When the low cloud rolled across the lake at times, visibility became so poor that the safety boat took up station in the middle of the lake; here Bob Sampson's Laser is in stealth mode as it glides through the fog	The Bosun of Nicky Buckett and Brian Pollard has just managed to overtake Nathan Pollard, as the two boats emerge out of the gloom at Middle	But then finally the mist cleared, to allow a crisp shot of Sue Murray getting the Laser 4.7 onto the plane

31st July


Jane Anderson and James Pollard lead the fleet away from a start that utilised the whole start line	The whole of the 17-strong fleet in shot as they start the long tactical beat up to Far	Really good to see John White's Bosun out on the water, crewed for the day by Cilla Gilbert	Paul Whybrow and Stuart Mealing lead a group of half-a-dozen boats round the tricky 'shall I or shan't I have to gybe' mark at West White

Sufficient wind to have Jane Chadney hiking out, even with the smaller Laser 4.7 rig	And James Pollard flat out, keeping the full-rig Laser impressively level	Elliot Pomeroy on the way to a second place in the afternoon Pursuit race	Fabulous photo of Adam Hilton with his Solo up on the chine on the beat up to Far

3rd August Teatime Tankard


Nathan keeping a watchful eye on the sail when heading downwind, whilst Linda Spiller undertakes the short beat up to Zebra	Round the buoy and whizz..... immediately up onto the plane	John Dabbs helming on a day not for the faint-hearted	Nathan bears away towards the turn at Zebra, almost submerging the end of the boom as he does so. The edge of the whitecaps and sizeable chop across the exposed middle of the lake can clearly be seen just a few yards behind....

7th August


Sue Murray makes a brilliant start in her Laser 4.7 at extreme left, whilst the Enterprise has to circle round for a re-start	Adam Hilton and John Dabbs lead a trio of boats up the lake towards Far	And another trio of boats, further up the lake, passing the Start Line 2 mark; the strength of the wind meant that Roger had switched to the smaller Streaker Wave rig	James Pollard at full stretch on the plane across the middle of the lake, in a full-rig Laser, no less.....

Adam looks back... but doesn't get turned into a pillar of salt, on a day when he and John Dabbs surmounted anything the elements could throw at them - the two Solos picking up the gusts just behind	Start of the afternoon race, with Jane Chadney making an excellent start	James again blasting downwind on a broad reach	And Jane Chadney generating an impressive cloud of spray, even in the smaller 4.7 rig

10th August Teatime Tankard


Linda Spiller's Laser 4.7 in between the two Bosuns	Nice shot of the three Bosun's competing for the Roger's Bosun Trophy: John Dabbs and Adam Hilton lead the way, with Brian Pollard and Roger Heasman in the 'Rob Eason', with Cilla Gilbert and Bob Sampson completing the trio. Good to see....	Ensemble picture of all eight boats in the fleet - encouraging for a Wednesday race.	Nathan Pollard takes a step into the unknown, racing with brother James's Laser.

14th August


John Duncalf at the front of a gently drifting fleet as the horn sounds	But then they all line line up into a tightly packed phalanx of boats	Plenty of time for an extended chat, as Bosun and Enterprise ghost past Zebra	Lasers at the front of the fleet, but surprisingly, Adeney Pooler's Graduate and Adam Hilton's Solo are only just behind, resulting in well-earned first and second places respectively on handicap

John Buckett's Otter temporarily at the front in the afternoon's Pursuit Race, just ahead of early leader Nathan Pollard, but the red hull of Paul Whybrow's Solo is looming up in the background, on its way to victory	The afternoon's racing was in considerably more wind, with a steadyish north-easterly pushing the boats along quite nicely at times; here, a gust has Adeney's Graduate up on the chine	The powerboat heads out to get ready to record the finishing places, with Paul Whybrow having a comfortable cushion ahead of the chasing fleet	Tight competition for the minor places, as gulls swirl across the foreground to give sometime of a maritime atmosphere at the landlocked reservoir

17th August Teatime Tankard


Paul Whybrow first away to leeward, in very light airs	Close racing in the Roger's Bosun competition; here Brian Pollard is just ahead of John Dabbs	Brian Pollard helming, with Roger Heasman ever-watchful from under the boom	Cilla Gilbert looks to have found a little more wind here, at the helm of the recently-renamed 'Mona and Mike Ford', with Bob Sampson sitting out to leeward to induce a little heel

24th August Teatime Tankard


Enough wind to get the fleet moving, with Paul Whybrow showing just ahead at the start	And still in tight formation at the front	Brian and James glide slowly towards the cormorant in the background (though they might have thought it was an albatross, after Coleridge....)	The Bosun fleet tiptoeing round West White

But before the end of the first lap, the lake surface is like a mirror	And various ways of getting home....	The quick way....	And the slow way....

28th August


A port-tack start on the first beat to West White; Jane Chadney nicely positioned to windward at the front	Just after the start; noticeable how the boats that are closest to the shore have less pronounced wakes than those further out, presumably a result of the wind shadow effect of the trees behind the dinghy park	Linda Spiller having a great race in her Laser, close up behind James Pollard on the way to a 4th place on handicap	Penny Abbot helming the Bosun, crewed by new members Bob and Ann Bennett, out in their first race with the club

James Pollard leaves the rest of the fleet in his wake at the start of the afternoon Cup Race	The top end of the lake filled with the 18-strong fleet:good spectator sport for the Bank Holiday visitors to Tamar	More new members, Raily, Mario and Orlando Graham, crewing under the watchful eye of Adam Hilton	The Enterprise heads a group of boats round the dogleg between the newly-replaced Inlet White buoy (many thanks, Matt) and Zebra, giving an enjoyable short reach across the windiest part of the lake

31st August Teatime Tankard


Paul Whybrow gets his Solo away clear at the start of the Teatime Tankard	Nathan Pollard's Laser just ahead of Adam Hilton's Solo, with Brian Pollard doing well to keep the Bosun in touch	Eventual winner John Dabbs heads upwind to Pinky, as the Laser and Bosun head off downwind	A duo of Solos:Paul leads Adam back towards zebra

4th September


James Pollard and Jane Anderson lead the fleet away at the start of the midday race	James Pollard, looking for the layline to the mark and still ahead of the competition, before his Laser suffered serious (probably terminal) hull failure, leading to a dismasting - and he ended up being towed back by the safety boat - very bad luck, James	Rachael Pomeroy leading this trio in her Topper, with the the larger-sailed Bosuns of Brian Pollard and Roger Heasman taking her wind on the run as they cruise up behind	For the afternoon race, Linda Spiller gets away first, with Jane Anderson to windward

Clearly quite a stiff breeze at times as the fleet reaches towards Inlet White; the red-hulled Bosun of Toby Tobias and John Dabbs, for example, has both helm and crew hiking out hard	Jane Anderson already well clear of the rest of the fleet in her Laser Radial, as she heads towards her second victory of the day	The Toppers of Nathan Pollard and Elliot Pomeroy alongside the Solo of Geoff Floyd	Synchronised gybing as Penny Abbot and Linda Spiller round Dam Green together

7th September Teatime Tankard


The fleet beating towards the first mark at Dam Red	Excellent close-up of Cilla Gilbert and Bob Sampson in the Bosun, Adeney Pooler's Graduate in the background	John Dabbs and Geoff Floyd cutting through the chop in Adam's Bosun	The fleet disappearing into the distance towards Far, with a flock of seagulls swirling in the background to complete the picture

Penny Abbot heading towards to a well-deserved victory	Robin Spiller and Nathan Pollard on the tactical beat back from West Red	Bob Sampson and Nathan Pollard both having to hike out hard across the windiest part of the lake	Roger pointing the way forward to Brian Pollard and Sally Wills

11th September


A general view from the Dam of the start of the midday race, James Pollard probably just first away	And an excellent close-up of the fleet gybing round Dam Green	The fleet heading away, very much in a stop-start mode, as the gusts came and went with almost no warning; Toby Tobias was being Captain Courageous in the first race, bravely taking on the conditions single-handed in a full-sailed Bosun	Everything looking surprisingly benign here in the sunshine, as Adam Hilton's Solo and Penny Abbot's Laser Radial beat back down the lake

Start of the afternoon race, with Jane Anderson first across the line in her Laser 4.7	Sufficient wind in the gust to have the Topper up on its side and dragging the boom through the water, though the lack of white caps on the water suggest that the overall windspeed wasn't necessarily that high - but despite it all, Nathan went on to win on handicap	And then the vicious gusts would die just as soon as they came..... Here a hiking Steve Axford has had the wind vanish from under him, necessitating a rapid scramble back inboard for even the most experienced sailor	The two Bosuns slogging it out on the beat: Toby, now with Rachael Pomeroy as crew, ahead of John Buckett and Brian Pollard in the white-hulled boat

18th September


Always an interesting first few seconds when there's a split on whether to go for a port or starboard tack start, though the light winds for the midday race meant that helms had longer to respond to calls of 'Starboard'	Looking for the wind - and the best line - to the the first mark	Really good to see two rarely-raced boats out on the water: Elliot Pomeroy and crew Rachael are out in Wayfarer 4004 (formerly raced at Tamar by Roger Ford and Val Shillito), whilst Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert head downwind in the Kestrel	Nathan and John in close company in their Toppers

Relatively rare to see four Lasers in such tight competition at Tamar in the later stages of a race: here Bob Sampson (who went on to win) leads this quartet, whilst Sue Murray (in the red-hulled boat) came in an excellent second	Start of the afternoon race, with James Pollard showing at the head of the fleet	Interesting shot of the opening beat to West White: although camera angles can be deceiving, it looks as though Jane Anderson and Bob Sampson, tighter in to the Cornwall bank, have got a higher line to the mark than the boats further out in the lake	Jane Anderson getting her Laser onto the plane in the afternoon, on her way to victory in the second race

25th September


Jane Anderson gets away first on a blustery day	Swirling gulls, perhaps driven inland by rough weather at sea, provide a backdrop as the leaders head into the stronger winds in West	The whole fleet (already reduced by a couple of retirements) in shot on the reach back from Pinky; Jane Chadney, bravely out in the lone Laser 4.7, leads the fleet	Jane planing back across the middle of the lake

More spray than hull visible as eventual winner, Nathan Pollard, keeps his Topper from submarining	Not just spray but solid green water looks to be coming aboard as the Bosun of Brian Pollard and John Dabbs bludgeons its way through the chop	Nathan makes a deft recovery from a wobble near the start line	Elliot Pomeroy, with Rachael and Jack as crew, all sitting on the side to keep the 'Mona and Mike Ford' nicely balanced on the beat

2nd October


The fleet looks for wind after the start of the midday race - and mainly fails to find any - but some impressive reflections in the water and nice cloudscapes, instead	Just enough breeze to get the boats gliding sedately along - but still quite a change from last week, though...	Eventual winner Jane Anderson coming up behind the Bosun of Cilla Gilbert and Brian Pollard	Studies in concentration: both Nathan Pollard and Adam Hilton look totally focussed in the light winds

Judging by the surface of the water, there's breeze in front of them and also behind them by the Cornwall bank, but Adeney Pooler and Linda Spiller are having to negotiate the flat patch in between	A tad more breeze for the start of the Icicle Series in the afternoon, but the weather clearly belying the series name, as the the RS200 leads away the fleet on a bright, sunny day	John Dabbs doing well to have his Gull up with the Laser	White sails contrasting with the shade of the wooded bank behind, with Elliot needing his sunglasses in the low-angle autumnal sunshine

9th October


Using Start Line 2, much of the fleet looks to be seriously line-shy, but Jane Anderson is quickly away in the foreground, though Nathan Pollard in the RS200 has gone for a start well to windward	Nathan Pollard and Jane Chadney get the RS200 round the tricky approach to Dam Green, with Jane Anderson just behind in her Laser Radial and Linda Spiller on the outside in the full-rig Laser	A line of helms waiting for the inside boat to decide when to tack - a difficult decision, as the wind seemed to be especially fluky for those approaching Dam Green on port tack	The front of the fleet on the dogleg from Zebra to Inlet White: Paul Anderson and Penny Abbott at the back of this quintet

John Dabbs, eventual winner of the morning race, to windward of Geoff Floyd in the Solo and Cilla Gilbert helming the Bosun on the reach to Pinkie; sufficient wind on this part of the course to get the tell-tales flying	Positions reversed in the afternoon race: Jane Anderson slightly to windward of the RS200 this time, with Paul Whybrow just behind in the red-hulled Solo	Look out, we're behind you....! The RS200, with pink gennaker still flying as it approaches Dam Green, closes up behind Jane	A nice illustration of how the wind direction bent across the lake on Sunday.....; John Dabbs in the Gull on port tack beating across towards Zebra in the foreground, whilst in the background, the boats are also hard on the beat (albeit on starboard) as they make for Pinkie

16th October


A lake of deep Mediterranean blue, deceptively smooth in the foreground, as the midday race in the Frostbite series gets underway	Roger Heasman's Streaker Wave leads a group round the sometimes tense gybe at Dam Green; note the dark water denoting an onrushing gust in the foreground	A broad reach for this quartet of boats heading down towards the top of the lake	Almost the whole fleet in shot, heading for Pinkie

Excellent close-up of Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in the Bosun	Again, the calm before the storm, at the start of the afternoon race - Bob Sampson just leading away from the red-hulled Bosun helmed by Adam Hilton	Bearing away for Dam Red, just after the start	Bob Sampson's full-rig Laser with only a short lead over the Laser 4.7 of Jane Anderson

30th October


Nathan Pollard and Jane Chadney in the RS200 leading the fleet away to the first mark	An impressively large number of boats on the water for a late-October race	Still close racing at the front of the fleet as the race unfolds: the Lasers of Jane Anderson, Sue Murray and Bob Sampson are all tight on the heels of the RS200	The whole fleet takes the same line on a port tack start for the afternoon race, led by Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert in the Bosun

Paul Whybrow's Solo bears away, with a string of dinghies about to follow in his wake	The sails of a sextet of boats make an excellent composition for the photographer as they run downwind towards Zebra, with the brightly-coloured Topper sails standing out in the hazy October light	Despite the forecast light winds, Bob Sampson is having to hike out hard in the Laser as he beats towards the Dam	The heron turns a blind eye but Elliot and Rachael Pomeroy are going well in the club Wayfarer

6th November


Steve Axford leads the fleet away at the start of the aptly-named Frostbite race on a bitterly cold day	Close competition between the Bosuns: Adam Hilton and John Dabbs just ahead of the blue-hulled Bosun helmed by Brian Pollard and with two crew: Cilla Gilbert and Jane Chadney	Round Dam Green and starting on the beat	And just when you think it can't get much colder, along comes a hail storm! (Though it seems to have flattened the wind temporarily)

Fabulous picture of Steve Axford planing at speed	Under a threatening sky, six brave helms and crews get away for the start of the afternoon's Icicle race	Whitecaps in evidence as Steve Axford and Sue Murray beat up the lake	And then, shortly afterwards, the sun is out and the wind seems to have dropped...

13th November


Some patchy sunshine and a good turnout (14 boats) as the fleet starts the final midday race into a northerly breeze	Fighting for elbow room as a cluster of boats try to find both water and wind to round Inlet, where the hillside has blanketed the northerly breeze	A picture of concentration as Jane Anderson rounds Dam Green on her way to victory in the Frostbite race	And Penny Abbott at the same mark...

Sue Murray tight behind Graham Joyce as they start to harden up	And similarly tight racing in the Toppers, with Elliott Pomeroy hard on the heels of Nathan Pollard	A smaller fleet at the start of the afternoon race; Roger Heasman appears to be several boat lengths ahead but it transpired that he had been over the line at the gun and was subsequently recalled to do a re-start	Ghosting downwind in winds that became lighter as the afternoon progressed; Adam Hilton's Solo is clearly going extremely well at this point, as he is keeping pace with Jane Anderson's Laser Radial - and indeed he went on to win the race on handicap

Boxing Day


Good to see a turnout of six boats on the water for a Boxing Day race, when often there are far more spectators than competitors	James Pollard threads his way between the Laser and Topper as he goes for a port tack start	Bob Sampson (complete with festive hat) glides downwind in the gentle breeze	Convivial post-race chat back in the relative warmth of the Angling and Watersports Centre

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