Sunday 19 May 2013

Streaker Ramblings - Newhave & Seaford SC - 18th May 2013


Just a short trip, 25 minutes, down the road to Bishopstone, west of Seaford town, to the NSSC main base. Those of you who regularly read this blog will be aware of the NSSC’s inland water at Piddinghoe - for today’s meeting it was not necessary to go here but to sail on the sea instead. Bright skies, with a good bit of cloud and when we arrived the breeze was South Westerly at about a mid force 3 with a nice flat sea and no breakers.
Disappointingly only five boats turned up, including the lone club helm Laurence Venus – those of you who failed to arrive missed a fabulous sail in glorious conditions. Hopefully Seaford will hold the meeting again next year.

The RO, Rupert Smith established on a two masted yacht anchored in the bay, set an Olympic triangle/sausage course with a gate half way up the beat. Laurence.V was first across the line at the start of race 1 but with Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC) a little to windward and Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) a touch even further to windward. Gary Hogan (Emberton Park SC) and Nick Carter (Burgfield SC) were a little behind. By the end of the first beat Laurence.V rounded the windward mark just ahead of Veronica.F with Alan.S behind this pair. Veronica and Laurence continued to battle it out throughout the race, each in turn taking the lead, Veronica up wind and Laurence downwind but both finally pulling away from Alan. The gap to Gary also increased during the race and he stayed well ahead of Nick. At the finish line it was Laurence just a length or so ahead of Veronica.

After a lunch break ashore race 2 was started over the same basic course, with just minor Mark adjustments to suit the slightly swinging breeze. Once again it was Laurence first over the line but with Veronica to windward and Alanfurther to windward and close up under the committee boat. Alan, having just cleared the committee boat, tacked off to the west towards Newhaven harbour. This seemed to work well as he rounded the windward mark in the lead which he held until mid way through the second lap when he tacked a bit too early for the windward mark and was passed by both Veronica and Laurence who were able to sail freer. Laurence and Veronica then engaged in their own private battle again but it was Veronica who crossed the line in the lead after three laps. Yet again Gary came home in fourth place ahead of Nick.

The third and final race started, over the same course, shortly after Nick finished race 2. Yet again Laurence was furthest from the committee boat with Alan just inside Veronica. She pulled ahead of Alan up the first beat as did Laurence and the two rounded the windward mark in the lead just a length or so apart. This time Laurence was unable to make up sufficient ground to pass her down wind and she eventually pulled out clear ahead by about 20 seconds. Alan was unable to catch either but was only about half a minute behind Laurence. For the third time Gary failed to make up on the front three but stayed ahead of Nick

After the three races Veronica was the clear winner with two first places whilst Laurence had a first and second place after the discard. Alan had three thirds, Gary three fourths and Nick three fifiths.

The breeze did rise very slightly during the day, to a low force 4, and the sea built up wavelets to 18” TO 2 feet in height. The sun did come out to play during the day in a bright blue sky but every now and then the clouds came in. A beautifull, none too energetic sail, was enjoyed by all – pity there was not a bit more competition.


Name

Boat No

Club

Race1

Race 2

Race 3

Overall

Veronica Falat

1654

W &OB YC

(2)

1

1

1

Laurence Venus

1706

NSSC

1

2

(2)

2

Alan Simmons

1700

LSC

3

3

(3)

3

Gary Hogan

1757

EPSC

4

4

(4)

4

Nick Carter

1828

BSC

5

5

(5)

5

 

Alan.S 1700

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Streaker Ramblings - Chipstead - 5th May 2013

Yet again I missed this meeting - Bett and I were on a short break coach holiday, 'up north' at Lindisfarne and Alnwick - thus the report below is written by Veronica Falat who did participate.
Chipstead SC hosted the second event of the P&B sponsored 2013 Streaker Southern Paddle series on Sunday 5th May and provided a very warm welcome to the 8 visiting boats that came to race against the club’s only Streaker sailor. It was a joint event with the Graduate class, the 17 Grads starting 5 minutes ahead of the Streakers but in the light and fitful breeze the two fleets were generally racing as one large group. In the first race Ian Bradley and Gerry Ledger were the early leaders but eventually Ian got clear away and disappeared in amongst the Grads while Gerry was left to fight off the challenges of Steve Garrett and Veronica Falat who both overtook him on the last lap. For much of the race these boats were well clear of the rest of the fleet but as the breeze varied in speed and direction, everyone closed up before the finish and Ian Mansfield moved into 4th spot.
  Race 2 was held after lunch but the conditions were as before – warm and sunny but the breeze still very patchy. Again Ian Bradley took the lead early on and never looked like being caught. Steve Garrett was second for a long while but Veronica squeezed past on the last beat and they finished in that order, with Gerry 4th.
A general recall for the Graduates at the start of race 3 meant that the Streakers had the bonus of sailing in clearer air. Ian Bradley had now already won the meeting and had swapped boats with Amanda Randall who was sailing in her first Streaker event; the chance of having her boat race-tuned by the open meeting winner was not one she was going to turn down! Steve and Veronica were the front runners in the race and again Gerry was well placed in the early stages. Veronica took the win with Steve second and Ian Mansfield 3rd, ahead of local sailor Alex Reindorp.
The light variable conditions had provided tricky racing conditions but the club ran the event extremely well. This was the first Streaker open there and hopefully it won’t be the last!  

 


 

Sail No

Helm

Club

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

Total Points

Nett Points

1

1817

Ian Bradley

Ouse Amateur SC

1

1

(6)

8

2

2

1654

Veronica Falat

Waveney & Oulton Broad YC

(3)

2

1

6

3

3

1807

Steve Garrett

Bough Beech SC

2

(3)

2

7

4

4

1723

Ian Mansfield

Alton Water SC

4

(6)

3

13

7

5

1819

Alex Reindorp

Chipstead SC

(6)

5

4

15

9

6

1780

Gerry Ledger

Up River SC

(5)

4

5

14

9

7

1757

Gary Hogan

Emberton Park SC

7

(8)

7

22

14

8

1828

Nick Carter

Burghfield SC

(8)

7

8

23

15

9

1439

Amanda Randall

Wilsonian SC

(9)

9

9

27

18