We used Autoroute Express to plan the journey from Hove to Bough beech and still managed to take a wrong fork and end up going almost in circles for the last few miles. It was grey and fully overcast with a light breeze, of just over force 1, blowing down the length of the reservoir from the north. This was a Joint open meeting with the Laser Class who had 26 entries whilst there were, eventually, 12 Streakers.
The Streakers started 5 minutes after the Lasers had set out on a first lap of a figure of eight course followed by a second lap of a sausage. 
Those starting at the Pin end, which was considerably biased, had the advantage and it was Ian Bradley (Ouse Ameteur SC) who went straight into the lead. Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) snuck into second place closely followed by Veronica Fallat (Waveney and Oulton Broad SC) with Jerry Ledger (Up River YC) in his new ‘built from Scratch/Plans’ Wooden Boat. As it happens a bit further down the fleet in the first lap was yet another new ‘built from Scratch/Plans’ boat belonging to Chris Smith (Island Barn SC). Although Ian.B managed to pull out a good lead, Alan.S and Veronica. F were nip and tuck throughout the race. By the end of lap three, the finish, Ian Mansfield (Alton Water SC) had climbed to 4th position behind these three displacing Jerry Ledger. Steve Garrett (Bough Beech SC) did not have a good 1st race languishing in 9th position having started close to the committee boat. He was to improve considerably in all the subsequent races. Behind him were Debbie Maynard (Bough Beech Sc) and Janice Smith (also from Bough Beech).Race 2, back to back – almost - saw another port biased lines and also Veronica.F and Ian.B off out in front with Veronica pulling out a substantial lead of close on a minute and which she held to the finish. Sandra Hill (Bough Beech SC) claimed 3rd spot after the first lap with Alan.S holding on to 4th with Steve.G behind him and Ian.M behind Steve. By the end of lap 2 Ian.M had picked up 3rd place with Steve.G in 4th. Sandra.H was 5th and Alan.S had dropped back to 6th. A late starter in the meeting, R Smith (Papercourt SC) joined in race 2 but could only make it to 7th place, ahead of the two girls and did not sail again.
After lunch and a bit of a warm up with food and drink it was off in a bit more breeze, force 3 even the odd occasional force 4 puff.
Race 3 for the Streakers started with a fleet reduced to 8 boats and yet again it was Ian.B who was first away followed closely by Veronica.F. Not far behind was Ian.M and behind him Jerry.L with Steve.G tucked in behind. Alan.S did not have a good race and at the end of lap one was in 8th position and he went on to lose even that place to Sandra. H in the next lap and then was overtaken by Jeremy Daniel (Bough Beech SC) in the final lap. At the front end Veronica.F passed Ian.B in lap 2 only to lose out to him again in lap3. At the finish of this race (and the three to count for the Southern Paddle) Ian B was just 10 seconds ahead of Veronica.F with Ian.M in third place.
The final race (No 4) of the open meeting was more or less back to back with race 3 and started with yet one less Streaker, now down to 7 boats. After the first lap Veronica.F was leading Ian.B with Ian.M in third spot and Steve.G just behind in 4th. Alan.S did not improve much in the fresher breeze and stayed trapped in 6th place with only Jerry.L behind and Chris.S ahead.
The first pair of races were run in light breezes, up to force 2 whilst those after lunch had a good bit more puff. One of the broad reaches from the north end to close to the dam wall was planeing all the way and almost out of control for some.
Helm
|
Club
|
Sail No
|
Race 1
|
Race 2
|
Race 3
|
Paddle Points
|
Paddle Posn
|
Race 4
|
Open Points
|
Open Posn
|
Ian Bradley
|
Ouse ASC
|
1619
|
1
|
(2)
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
Veronica Fallat
|
W & OBYC
|
1654
|
(3)
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
2
|
Ian Mansfield
|
Alton Water SC
|
1723
|
(4)
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
9
|
3
|
Steve Garrett
|
BBSC
|
1084
|
(9)
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
12
|
4
|
Alan Simmons
|
Lancing SC
|
1700
|
2
|
6
|
(9)
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
14
|
5
|
Jerry Ledger
|
Up River YC
|
1780
|
5
|
(10)
|
5
|
10
|
6
|
7
|
17
|
6
|
Chris Smith
|
Island Barn SC
|
1770
|
(8)
|
8
|
6
|
14
|
9
|
5
|
19
|
7
|
Sandra Hill
|
BBSC
|
1632
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
12
|
7
|
(13)
|
20
|
8
|
Jeremy Daniel
|
BBSC
|
1603
|
6
|
9
|
7
|
13
|
8
|
(13)
|
22
|
9
|
R Smith
|
Papercourt SC
|
1758
|
(13)
|
7
|
13
|
20
|
10
|
13
|
33
|
10
|
Debbie Maynard
|
BBSC
|
1620
|
10
|
11
|
(13)
|
21
|
11
|
13
|
34
|
11
|
Janice Smith
|
BBSC
|
1478
|
11
|
12
|
(13)
|
22
|
12
|
13
|
36
|
12
|
The Southern Area Paddle series allows only the first three results to be recorded if there are more than three races (of which two would normally count towards the prize) whilst the open meeting counted three results out of the four races for the prizes.
Alan.S 1700
