Tuesday 22 October 2013

Streaker Ramblings – Alton Water (southern area Champs) 12th Oct 2013


We left home at about 6.30 am for the three hour drive (130 miles) up to Alton Water, a few miles south of Ipswich, for the final races (and Southern Area Championship) of the Pinnell and Bax sponsored  Streaker Southern Area Series.  After a brief ‘comfort stop’ at Lakeside we arrived at about 9.30am. It was sunny, though none  too warm, but with a decided lack of breeze. By the time the first race was due the breeze had filled in a little to about a force 2.

The course was set as a basic triangle using, nice big easy to see, orange coloured inflatable marks and a Committee boat start not far off the clubhouse. The first leg was a short beat towards the dam at the eastern end of the water.

At the start of Race 1 all seven boats of the small fleet were tight on the line but it was Alex Reindorp (Chipstead SC) who found that little bit of extra clear wind and saw him first around the windward mark. He was followed by Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC) and close on her heels Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC). These two had a constant battle in the early stages of the race until Veronica eventually began to pull ahead but such was Alex’s lead she was unable to catch him. Back in fourth place after the first lap Mark Langston (Beccles SC) was in a fight with Ian Mansfield (Alton Water SC) whilst Alan Simmons(LSC) was just holding off Nick Carter (Butghfield SC). In the second lap Mark.L managed to miss the gate on the windward leg and effectively retired raising Alan.S to 5th place and Nick.C to 6th, the four front runners, Alex.R, Veronica.F, Ian.B. and Ian.M  holding to that order.

Race two was held back to back over the same basic course, with minor mark re-positioning and again the fleet were all close to the line at the gun. This time Ian.B was first to round the windward mark followed by Mark.L then Veronica.F. By the end of the first lap Ian.B was still in front of Mark.M, Veronica.F and then Alan.S in fourth ahead of Ian.M, Alex.R and Nick.C. By the end of the second lap Mark.L was in the lead ahead of Ian.B then Ian.M, Veronica.F and Alan.S having dropped back one place whilst Alex.R and Nick.C were just behind. Lap 3 saw Ian.B back in front of Mark.L who stayed ahead of Veronica.F who in turn had passed Ian.M. Alex.R had also passed Alan.S but Nick.C still brought up the rear.

The only change in the final lap was when Alan.S passed Alex.R to get back to 5th place with Ian.B taking the gun from Mark.L, Veronica.F and Ian.M.

After a short lunch break the final race was eventually started after a lack of any breeze made the RO wonder if it would be possible at all. After a short delay, with all seven Streakers on the water a faint breeze re-established itself from the same previous direction. First lap went to Veronica.F with Ian.B close behind and Mark.L 3rd, Alex.R 4th, Nick.C 5th, Alan.S 6th and Ian.M 7th. Lap 2 saw the only change at the top where Ian. B overtook Veronica to lead the fleet. In the third lap Ian.B and Veronica.F still fought out the lead whilst Alex.R passed Mark.L and Alan.S pulled ahead of Nick.C with Ian.M still at the back. There were no further place changes in the fourth and final lap.
 

As can be seen from the overall results below Ian Bradley’s two wins earned him the title of Southern Area Champion and also winner of the Southern Paddle Series for 2013.

At the prize giving the ‘Southern Area Paddle’ was awarded to Ian Bradley with Veronica Falat as runner up,  Mark Langston in third place and Alan Simmons in fourth. Prizes were awarded to all those who qualified for the Paddle Series and for the otherwise non prize winner at the Championships.

Additionally there was a prize draw – a ticket for each race per competitor for the Series  - for a free Streaker sail from the sponsors Pinnell and Bax. The lucky winner of this year’s prize was, yours truly, Alan.Simmons

 
Results

Pos
Helm
Sail No
Club
R1
R2
R3
Pts
1
Ian Bradley
1817
Ouse Amateur SC
‑3
1
1
2
2
Alex Reindorp
1819
Chipstead SC
1
‑6
3
4
3
Veronica Falat
1654
Waveney & Oulton Broad YC
2
‑3
2
4
4
Mark Langston
1789
Beccles Amateur SC
(RET)
2
4
6
5
Ian Mansfield
1723
Alton Water SC
4
4
‑7
8
6
Alan Simmons
1700
Lancing SC
‑5
5
5
10
7
Nick Carter
1828
Burghfield SC
6
‑7
6
12

 

The photographs accompanying this blog/report are posted with the kind permission of Karen Langston.

Alan.S 1700