Streaker Ramblings 3 – Weston SC - 17th April 2010

A ‘local’ event for Bett and I this weekend, a mere 58 miles away, and it started off with bright sunshine, clear blue skies and just a zephyr of breeze. The meeting – a joint event with Supernovas, Lightnings and Streakers - was a late start, planned for 12 noon.
The Streaker event was proposed by Ian Morgan (sailmaker for Rooster sailing), a Weston club member, so I expected to have at least another Streaker to sail against and he said there were a couple of other Streakers at Weston. Just down the road there are a several other Streakers at Bosham and now one at Mengham Rythe, plus interest was shown by the Whitfields from Tamworth and Ian Bradley from Ouse.A.S.C , so I expected a goodly fleet.
As it turned out there were precisely two Streakers, myself and Gary Hogan from Haversham – he hails from Milton Keynes - Ian Morgan had decided to sail a Supernova!

A nice force 3 sea breeze eventually set in with a flat sea, the only waves created by the fast rescue boats and we sailed off for the starting area, to the north of the club up Southampton Water, for a trapezoidal course. First fleet away were the Supernovas (about 15 boats) and then the two Streakers with the Lightnings (six boats) following up in the rear. The plan was for three back to back races of approximately 45 minutes each – 3 or 4 laps.

In race one I was soon into the lead boat position, and pointing slightly higher than Gary, gradually began to pull away and hold my lead to the finish. The five minute start sequences ensured that there was no mixing of the fleets and the course size also helped maintain this situation for all three races.

For race 2 (and 3) the RO decided to start the Streakers and Lightnings at the same time. I got quite a good start and was soon in the lead of the mixed fleet whilst Gary got a bit stuffed at first. The breeze filled in a trifle higher for this race and I was able to plane for a few yards on the two reaching legs. Again I finished in front whilst Gary was stuck behind a pair of Lightnings.
In race 3 it was the previous race leading Lightning who was first off the line with myself close on his heels and it was not until the beat in lap two that I bested him and began to pull away and draw out into a goodly lead. Gary had to be satisfied with two Lightnings ahead of him at the finish.
At the ‘Prize giving’ I was obliged to appologise for the decided lack of support by the Streakers – for which I was truly embarrassed - but was assured that Weston would be willing to give us another event next year in spite of this poor attendance.

Results:-

1st. Alan Simmons (Lancing S C), 2nd Gary Hogan (Haversham).

Regretably I did not see Gary before I left for home and therefore take this opportunity to thank him for making the not inconsiderable effort to make it to Weston. To the rest of you, who indicated you might come, you missed an excellent/ideal set of racing conditions. I must blow my own trumpet by saying that I was sailing quite well for a change and would have welcomed far more competition. I just hope that the Nationals and then next Southern Paddle event will show a bit better support.
Alan.S 1700

Streaker Ramblings – Tamworth 10th April 2010

Another early start – 6.00am – from Hove and back up the same route as last week, well nearly. This time it was only 186 miles (each way) but it was a pleasant drive with not too much Commercial traffic and just the one comfort stop. The sun was out, the skies were blue but the breeze was not present. On arrival at Tamworth there was a small group of youngsters out trying to train but they all ended up paddling their boats back ashore after a few minutes, there was just nothing blowing.

By the time the racing of the joint Laser and Streaker fleets were due to start there was but a tiny whisper but as that kept changing direction through 180 degrees the starts were postponed. Finally both fleets got away on the original course with local sailer Paul Burgoine (Tamworth) taking the lead and Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) following with Debbie Degge (Bartley SC)behind him. At one point all the rest of the 12 strong fleet came together at the ‘Church’ mark with quite a bit of ‘light’ banging, barging. and calling which resulted in Matt Whitfield (Tamworth) pulling out ahead of the rest into 5th place behind John Burgoine (Tamworth). I also managed to extricate myself and finished 6th in that race.

Race two, after a lunch break started in not much more breeze than the first however Ian.B managed to find enough to put him into a commanding lead by the first mark. Deddie.D was in close attendance but Paul.B had to make do with 3rd spot. John .B was consistant in 4th position and Matt.W was again 5th. This time I dropped down a place to 7th.

Race 3, after another short shore break, started in similar conditions to the first two except that the direction had change by at least 90 degrees so we were off to ‘Church’ on the first leg. Debbie.D got there first but was swiftly overtaken by Paul.B. These two opened up a goodly lead from the pack and were not challenged. Ian.B, John.B, myself and Matt.W were all in a tight group until the leg before the final beat. Ian and John had a bit of a luffing match and I followed their direction – the wrong one of course – only to see Matt go the right way and take 3rd positon. Ian managed to hold off John but I could not seem to find the right shifts – of which there were many and significant one throughout the day – so ended up 6th once more.

The overall winner was Paul Burgoine with Ian Bradley second and Debbie Degge third. Matt Whifield took 4th spot on equal points, but with a better last race finshing postion, with John Burgione and I ended up in my usual mid fleet position at 6th.

Ian Whitfield (Tamworth) did not find the conditions at all to his liking and failed to keep up with his son Matt in any of the three races finshing 9th overall. Likewise Ann Burgoine had to settle for 8th place behind the rest of her family.

For details – the official event report – go to http://www.intersail.co.uk/news/?article=151200 (Yachts and Yachting) or the Streaker web site.

I knew I would be in trouble after two weekends sitting crouched in the boat for nearly 3 hours (Tamworth) and 2 hours (Greensforge) even after a b…… good blow back at Lancing. Sure enough the muscles at the top, front, of my legs caused me agony on Monday morning. I had to come down the stairs, from our loft bedroom, sideways to ease the pain.

At Lancing , sailing in the ‘Medium’ fleet against Lasers – full rig, Radials and 4.7s – the legs got stretched in the top end force 4 of the first race on Sunday. I did manage to gain a second spot with only one Laser ahead of me but in the second race I managed to get stuck in irons seconds before the start leaving me to be last to get going and then subsequently capsized after a gybe mid way through the race, only to finish 5th out of the 9 starters, in which the wind got up to about force 6 by the finish. All that still did not prevent the leg pain, refered to above, the next day.

Next Saturday it is off to Weston, on Southampton water, a new Southern area venue. I wonder what the wind will be this time – please can I have a nice force 3!

Alan.S 1700

2010 Season Streaker Open Meetings - Greensforge April 3rd.

The Streaker Southern Area Open Meeting Season began with a trip to Greensforge, north of Birmingham which required getting up at 5am, leaving home at 6am and finally arriving at the club after a 3.3/4 hour drive – including a couple of comfort stops.
Calf Heath reservoir is a small lake with trees on three sides and the breezes are either light and fickle or strong and gusty. Sunday was the former and regrettably the fleet was conspicuous by its lack of numbers, there being only five boats, two from the club and three visitors.
For the first race there was a little breeze (force 1-2) and Ian Bradley (Ouse A S C) led off the line to the first mark near the clubhouse and slowly began to pull away from the rest. It was here that the second boat, helmed by Peter Baker (Greensforge) firstly tried to round it on the wrong side – taking Alan Simmons (Lancing) with him – and then hit it. Alan untangled himself, rounded correctly and set off in pursuit of Ian.
The breeze eased off and became very fickle in strength and direction which saw Gary Hogan (Haversham) catch and pass Alan although not for long before the positions were reversed again.
Sam Frost-Huskinson (Greensforge- youth sailor) was having his first sail in a Streaker but not enjoying the conditions and sadly bringing up the rear.
Ian.B was the runaway winner of race 1 and started race two, after the lunch break, in front place again. Alan.S found a breezeless hole at the start and was left floundering, he did manage to get into third spot but far too far behind Gary.H to make any impression and as the breeze died away to almost nothing was lapped by Ian. B.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the RO decided to shorten the course and call all ashore. Regretably the breeze then disappeared completely and it was concluded that no further racing was possible.
Having had a short rain shower on the way up, via the M23,M25,M40, M42 and M6, it seemed to rain all the way back home although the sun had shone throughout the sailing bit.

Results:-
1st.Ian Bradley, 2nd. Gary Hogan, 3rd. Alan Simmons, 4th, Peter Baker, 5th Sam Frost-Huskisson.

There is a full (official) report on the Greensforge web site ( http://www.greensforge.org/)  including Pictures and some video clips, no pics here - Bett forgot to take her Camera!
Alan.S 1700