AM:Sailboat Trophy 6

The morning started off dry and bright with light airs, but by the time the noon race 
commenced the wind had freshened to a breeze.  12 boats set off to the West mark on a 
whole line start, giving sailors ample choice on their position along the line.  All 4 Lasers of 
James Pollard, Penny Abbott, Sue Murray and Jane Anderson had really good starts along 
with the 2 Duncalf Toppers.  As a result they all bunched up at the first mark with Jane 
leading the fleet round to Middle mark and James hot on her heels.  The winds were quite 
gusty at times which made it difficult for helms to keep their boats absolutely upright and a 
lot of ship's bottoms were on display at times!  At the end of the first lap Jane and James had 
pulled out a fair lead, with Penny and Roger Heasman in his Streaker fighting it out between 
them as they rounded Dam Green mark.  There was a slight hitch on the final Zebra mark of 
the lap when both of them missed it completely and had to go back which allowed Vicki 
Duncalf in her Topper to sneak in ahead of them.  James finally managed to overhaul Jane at 
West mark on the 2nd lap, but couldn't shake her off completely.  Further back in the race 
saw Alan Comber and John Weller in their Enterprise reversing at West, and Geoff Floyd's 
Solo in irons for a while between Zebra and West as the skies started to darken and the 
gusts increased.  
On the final lap Cilla Gilbert, with Bob Sampson as crew and mentor, in the Bosun met up 
with Alan and John in a Port/Starboard situation at West (the windward mark) with Alan 
having to give way as he was on port tack, and Cilla deftly rounding the mark in front.  In the 
now considerable tricky sailing conditions, and the sky now looking black the fleet finished 
with James taking line honours, and all retired to the clubhouse for lunch as the rain came 
down!
 
Results:

1. Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
2. James Pollard (Laser)
3. Sue Murray (Laser Radial)
4. Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
5. John Duncalf (Topper)
6. Cilla Gilbert and Bob Sampson(Bosun)
7. Penny Abbott (Laser)
8. Roger Heasman (Streaker)
9. John Dabbs (Gull)
10. John Savage (Solo)
11. Alan Comber & John Weller (Enterprise)
12. Geoff Floyd (Solo)
 
Thanks to Brian Pollard for OOD duties and writing this report.
 
PM: Pursuit Race 3
 
This is a timed start chase race where the slower boats start first on a staggered time 
schedule (according to boat speed and helm performance) and the faster boats end up 
starting at the back!  John Duncalf started first at 2.15pm followed by the rest of the fleet all 
at different times, Graham Joyce in his Laser having to start last at 2.35pm as he hasn't 
earned his spurs yet on the handicap front.  The chase was on and John D had finished one 
lap and was commencing his 2nd before the last 3 boats had even started, so there was a lot 
of work to do.  The 3 Lasers of Penny, Linda and James made fast ground downwind 
overhauling the Bosun of Brian and Cilla.  John Duncalf was making great progress on his 2nd lap 
whilst at the back of the fleet Graham Joyce was just about to overtake Geoff Floyd (Solo) 
when he went for a swim in a nasty gust and ended up at the back again.  This allowed Vicki 
Duncalf to nip through once again in her quest to catch John up.  As the race progressed the 
gusty conditions allowed for some excellent planning allowing boats to overtake with ease if 
they managed their plane well, and it seemed John's lead was unstoppable. In the last 15 
minutes of the race the whole fleet started to bunch up (with the idea that after the 
calculated 68 minute duration all boats should finish together) but John was under no threat 
as he serenely cruised up the lake again to take the final hooter.
 
Results:  

1. 	John Duncalf (Topper)
2. 	James Pollard (Laser)
3. 	Roger Heasman (Solo)
4. 	Jane Anderson (Laser Radial)
5. 	Penny Abbott (Laser)
6. 	Vicki Duncalf (Topper)
7. 	John Savage (Solo)
8. 	Bob Sampson (Laser)
9. 	Linda Spiller (Laser Radial)
10. John Dabbs (Gull)
11. Brian Pollard and Cilla Gilbert (Bosun)
12. John Weller and Alan Comber (Enterprise)
13. Geoff Floyd (Solo).  

Sadly Graham Joyce, despite him recovering from his capsize and sailing on in 
his Laser, was disqualified for going the wrong side of Home 1 mark.
 
Many thanks to Paul Whybrow for OOD duties and for writing this report.