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