Sunday 22 May 2011

Streaker Ramblings - Weston SC Streaker Open 22nd May 2011

In the middle of the night there were several almighty gusts of wind- nearly strong enough to knock us out of bed in our'Penthouse' suite. The morning looked a bit kinder with a fiar bit of blue sky but as we set off for the Solent I was rather doubtfull that I would go afloat today. The tops of the trees were bending almost to the ground. On arrival at the club we spotted at least one other Streaker, hitched to a rather large wagon that I did not recognise. A qiuck dash to the clubhouse - for a bit of light relief - found quite a few bodies there already.
Saturday had been the first of what was to be a two day event for Lasers, Supernovas, Lightnings and Europes - as we were to learn later they all managed three races in a nice top end force 3.
So there was yours truely, Gary Hogan from Haversham SC  and Helen Audsley from Hill Head SC and like the rest assembled no one was that keen to sail. The reports were for gust up to 30 knots and the steadier breeze of 17/18 knots. Using my hand held device I registerd up to 15 knots at the sea end of the slipway adjacent to the clubhouse. Shortly after 12 noon the race officer, have taken a straw poll, decided that there would be no sailing and that other than waiting for the Saturday's racing prizes, we could all go home.
There were quite a few yachts going up and down Southampton water
 - including this tall ship - quite a large proportion under foresail only. On reaching Lancing  SC - to repark the boat - we learned that there had been no sailing either in the Laser Open planned for the day.
Hopefully we shall have more suitable weather for the next meet on the Calandar at Ouse ASC.
Alan.S 1700