Monday 26 March 2012

Streakerramblings-Southern Paddle Series-2012

The series started off with its first Open Meeting at Tamworth. Unfortunately due to an earlier appointment we were unable to attend and at this time have no results or report to add here- keep looking at Y & Y and/or the Streaker web site.
We had made a booking with the Railway Touring Company to join a Steam train excursion to Bath and Bristol. Although this might not seem very sailing orientated we planned to visit ‘SS Great Britain’ in Bristol docks.

The advertised departure time, from HOVE Station, was 08.16 but this was put the week before the trip due to lack of available ‘slots’ on the route until 09.16. We therefore had an hour less to visit the vessel and had to take Taxis in both directions so that we were not running everywhere. We did the ship tour, down into the dry dock, under mock water level, and all three accessible deck levels and raced back to catch the train for the return journey.

It was at this point that things began to go seriously wrong – the Locomotive (not the advertised one) that had drawn us down was nowhere to be seen. Departure time 16.35 came and went and still no traction unit. It finally arrived and we set off at 17.03.
On the return journey there was a section of very steep incline which we barely seemed to overcome but finally we pulled into Salisbury for a ‘Water’ stop and a chance to stretch our legs. After 10 to 15 minutes it was announced that the Loco had broken down and could not be repaired. The Railway Touring Company hoped to get a Diesel down to pull all home but that would not be for at least four hours.
We were therefore advised to take a main line train to Clapham Junction and then change on the Brighton line. It turned out that the first train was only made up of 3 coaches – the steamer had pulled eleven – so it was standing room only for a lot of us. We had then to catch a bus for the final leg home and arrived at about 23.30 – at least 2.1/2 hours later than expected.
The ‘funny’ thing is that, a couple of years back, we booked onto the same trip only to have it cancelled 3 times – for Rail Engineering works and Locomotive failures. They made a fourth offer but we declined as it would have been dark before we began the journey home.
I have a strange feeling that this year we should have stuck to the trip to Tamworth!.


Report of the Tamworth SC Streaker Open (c/o Alan Gillard)

11 boats sailed in the Tamworth SC Streaker Open Meeting. The early morning fog lifted on arrival and a gentle breeze from the east filled in, which kept disappearing regularly! The first race was won by Alan Gillard  (Sheffield Vikings), with Paul Burgoine (Tamworth) 2nd. Alan.G did not have it all his own way as although on the 1st lap of the course he built up quite a large lead, as can be expected at Tamworth it does not matter how far in front one gets you can easily loose out to the guy behind. Paul.B passed him on the 2nd beat having rounded the leeward mark probably 200 yards clear. Alan.G rounded close behind Paul at the windward, on the next run, Paul.B gybed to clear his wind which actually allowed Alan.G to regain the lead. Up the next beat Paul sneaked the other side of the island from Alan.G  and as usual picked up breeze. Down the next leg, which was a reach the length of the pond, Alan.G stayed low and just gained water on the gybe mark. Alan.G then held the lead to the finish. Peter Tyreman (Pennine) was 3rd, 4th Howard Frear (New Rooster 1777 – West Riding) with Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth) 5th home.


For the 2nd race the wind had shifted to a SE, a bit similar to the direction last year. Alan.G won very comfortably, having lead from the start and was never caught. 2nd 3rd and 4th places were a battle between Paul.B , John Burgoine (Tamworth) and Howard.F. Places changed all the way around the pond. In the end Paul.G managed to get 2nd whilst Howard.F 3rd held off John.B who came in  4th.


Alan.G sat out race 3, Paul.B won the race and Howard.F took 2nd with John.B in 3rd place.

RESULTS – ex the SCOA web site (edited)
Name           Race 1     Race2       Race 3      Points     O/All Posn
A Gillard          1            1               12              2               1
P Burgoine       2            2                1               3               2
P Tyerman        3           6                 5              8                5
H Frear             4            3                2              5                3
M Whitfield      5            5               4               9               6
J Burgoine        6            4                3              7               4
I Whitfield        7            7                6             13              7
A Burgoine       8            8                8             16              9
G Hogan           9            12              7             16              8
G Williams      10            9               9             18             10
R Burton          11           12             12            23             11

Howard Frear won the Streaker Association prize.

PS. The above report is an edited version of Alan Gillard’s report that he e-mailed to me in response to the initial publishing of ths blog.

Alan.S 1700