AM: Ladies, Gents, Junior & Gosling Cups 7

Steve Axford, the day's race officer, took what evidence he could from tree tops and the 
weather forecast and set up a start towards the Dam expecting a southerly wind. In the event, 
what wind there was turned out to be from somewhere between north and west with the result 
that the boats drifted towards the line, all bunched up, with the rear of the fleet blanketing the 
front. This was the second attempt at a start, the first having been aborted because some 
helms had not enough motive power to get the right side of the start line! First over the line 
was probably Vicki Duncalf in her Topper, or maybe the Pollard family Tasar, but it was 
Nathan Pollard, using a full sail like the other two Laser sailors in the day's races, who got to 
the first buoy (Dam Green) first, followed by Sue Murray (Laser) and Adam Hilton (Solo). 
Jane Anderson, in a Topper for the day, got a bit over-enthusiastic trying to eke the last bit of 
force out of a little gust and capsized, allowing Vicki Duncalf to overtake. As the fleet 
dawdled towards Inlet the big fully-battened sail of the Solo took Adam Hilton past the two 
Lasers and into the lead. At the end of different legs of the race different sailors had problems 
getting round buoys when the wind wouldn't help them. Vicki Duncalf suffered at Inlet and 
the Sue Murray/Nathan Pollard battle got put on hold at Dam Green at the start of the second 
lap allowing Bob Sampson (Laser) and Jane Anderson to catch up and the Solo to extend its 
lead. Jane then threw away her gain by going the wrong side of Home 1 and having to come 
back round. Thankfully for the sake of the fleet's sanity, the wind filled in (slightly!) for the 
second lap but by then the Solo's lead was unassailable. Sue Murray won the three-way Laser 
race and the handicap's corrected times brought Jane Anderson's Topper to one second 
behind the winner!

Results:

1.       Adam Hilton (Solo)
2.       Jane Anderson (Topper)
3.       Robin Spiller (Streaker)
4.       Sue Murray (Laser)
5.       Geoff Floyd (Solo)
6.       Nathan Pollard (Laser)
7.       Bob Sampson (Laser)
8.       Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (RS200)
9.       Brian and James Pollard (Tasar)
      Vicki Duncalf (Topper) rtd
 
PM: Spare 5


With a new course and a startline facing into the wind there were no problems at the start, 
with Nathan Pollard probably the first in a close bunch. It was Bob Sampson however who 
had got himself a good lead by the second mark. He was followed by the other two Lasers and 
the Solos of Paul Whybrow and Adam Hilton who spent the race in very close company. Next 
came the Pollard Tasar (James at the helm this time) just heading Geof Floyd's Solo. Then 
came the RS200 but, at West, it appeared to stop and courteously let Jane Anderson past, 
maybe the number of gybes in the course was not helping matters. The race continued for four 
laps with unusually few changes of place while Bob Sampson led the Lasers and a procession 
behind them.
 
Results:

1.       Bob Sampson (Laser)
2.       Sue Murray (Laser)
3.       Paul Whybrow (Solo)
4.       Adam Hilton (Solo)
5.       Nathan Pollard (Laser)
6.       James and Brian Pollard (Tasar)
7.       Roger Heasman and Sally Wills (RS200)
Jane Anderson (Topper), Geoff Floyd (Solo) rtd

Grateful thanks were given to Steve Axford for officiating and to Mandy Pollard for photos.