Streaker Ramblings - Deben YC 23rd June, and Weston SC 24th June.

Deben YC 23^rd June

Not an unpleasant drive up to Deben YC, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, on Saturday 23^rd June. Bright sunny skies and no rain on the way up but not long after crossing the river Orwell I missed a turn and ended upon the backroads until finally we got back on the main road.

Rigging on the bank behind the Deben Clubhouse it was a bit on the breezy side, more than I was keen on. It was a late start so we finally launched at about noon with a mostly windward sail to the course area, just to the south of the island off Martlesham Creek.
The meeting was a joint open with Toppers and a dozen or more were out on the water with the six Streakers. After a bit of a delay, laying the course of  triangles and sausages format, the Streakers were first away on a short beat across the river towards the creek and then off on a long offwind leg to the south. Mike Hanes (Deben YC) led Veronica Falat (Waveney and Oulton Broad SC), Rob Adams (Deben SC) and Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) round the windward mark. By the halfway / on the reach Alan.S had caught a gust and went into the lead briefly but as this group approached the leeward mark first Mike.H, then Veronica.F and finally Rob.A got round on the inside. From there, on the second long reach, Mike.H pulled away  and established an unassailable lead and with Veronica.F well ahead of Rob.A who was likewise well ahead of Alan.S
Veronica stayed in second spot with Rob third and Alan 4^th to the finish. Not too far behind Alan.S Gary Hogan (Havesham SC) and David O'Riordan (Deben YC) were having a battle and frequently changing places but it was Gary in 5^th at the finish. Race two, over the same course, started soon after the Topper fleet had finished their race and it was Mike. H who rounded the windward mark in first position ahead of Veronica.F. Next up was Rob. A ahead of Alan.S and with Gary.H bringing up the rear. David.O did not start race 2 and headed off back up river to the club, he did not enter the final race either. Mike.H led for the remainder of race 2 and the finishing order was exactly as in race one.
The wind slowly eased from a top end force 4/ low end force5 at the start of racing until the last race started in a low force 3. Gone were the hairy reaches and the direction shifted 30 or 40 degrees to the south so that  the RO had to relay the windward mark for race three. Both Mike.H and Veronica.F were off in front once more but they had a close battle all round the course and it was Veronica who finally came out in front at the finish having taken the lead on the second or third windward leg. The others although closer together still came home in the same order with Alan.S barely a couple of lengths ahead of Gary.H
Thus it was Mike .H who was the overall winner of the event with Veronica.F second and Rob.A third.

Results (Unofficial/unchecked):-

1^st. Mike Hanes, 2^nd. Veronica Falat, 3^rd. Rob Adams, 4^th. Alan Simmons, 5^th.Gary Hogan, 6^th. David O'Riordan

PS. No photos - Bett forgot her camera but the racing area was too remote for her to reach anyway.

 Alan.S 1700

 Weston SC 24^th June.

Although the forcast for Sunday was not brilliant and it was blowing a top end force 4 to 5 on arrival Alan.S was only the second Streaker helm present . Paul Whyld from Seafarers SC, just down the Solent from Weston was already at the club but there were no other takers and as the Paddle races require at least three entrants we did not go afloat. There were only six Lightenings in their race and we stayed only long enough to witness their first start and several capsizes before heading home.

Alan.S  1700