Streaker Ramblings - Chipstead - 04/05/2014

Up and away at 08.00 for the comparatively short journey to Chipstead near Sevenoaks in Kent. Dry and bright though a trifle chilly, with the only hold-up (40mph restriction) for the five or so mile stretch south of Bolney, made for arrival at Chipsted shortly after 09.00.

The Streaker Open Meeting was to be held jointly with Graduate dinghies and eventually 10 Streakers went onto the water for the first race in but the slightest of breezes from the west end of the lake. The breeze was to be very light and variable in direction all day with periods when the water was completely glassy, unruffled, and with no discernable breeze.

A committee boat start was set up for Race 1 at the extreme east end of the lake and there was just about sufficient breeze to cross the line , the Grads having started 5 minutes earlier and barely half way to the north west corner. Five or so boats managed to get away at the southern, Committee boat, end of the line and began to pick their way to the east playing the shifts, or missing them by as little as a boat length. Mike Hobin (West Oxfordshire) made it first back down the long east run to lead the first lap, followed by James Dawes (Redditch) with Veronica Falat (Waveney and Oulton Broad) 3^rd and Graham Butler Frensham Pond) 4^th.  5^th placed was Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC), 6^th Scot Bonner (Durleigh), 7^th Alex Reindorp (Chipsted), 8^th Jeremy Daniel (Bough Beech), 9^th Jon Hill (Bough) and lastly Alan Simmons (Lancing) – the only sea sailor among the pondites and missing the tide and waves. By the end of another frustrating shifty, almost windless and fluctuating lap the lead had changed with James Dawes having overtaken Mike Hobin,  as had Veronica Falat  with Ian Bradley having pulled up a place ahead of Graham Butler. Scott Bower held on to his 6^th place with Alex Reindorp also staying 7^th. John Hill overtook Jeremy Daniell and Alan Simmons dropped back even further in last place.

Race 2 starrted back at the east end of the lake but with the top two marks to be taken in reverse order. Yet again the committee boat end was favoured by the majority but it was Alex Reindorp who found a puff from the middle of the line and led the way to the windward mark only to lose out in the last few yards and allowing Scott Bonner, Graham Butler and Ian Bradley to slip through. By the end of the following long run to the east James Dawes was first to cross the line having found his way past this entire group. Second to cross was Scott Bonner, then Alex Reindorp – having pulled back a place. Graham Butler was 4^th, Mike Hobin 5^th, Ian Bradley having dropped back to 6^th, Jon Hill 7^th, Veronica Falat 8^th, Alan Simmons 9^th and Jeremy Daniell 10^th. In the second lap places changed again at the front with Scott Bonner taking the lead from James Dawes. Third home was Graham Butler with Ian Bradley next. Veronica climbed back two places to lead Mike Hobin. Alex Reindorp had also fallen back to cross in 7^th place with Jon Hill also dropping a place to 8^th and Alan Simmons 9^th and still last as Jeremy Daniell having retired.

After a very short period ashore (after Alan had finished) Race 3 was started from the clubhouse line but otherwise over the same course as previously. The Grads had barely stated the first short beat to the south west corner and what little breeze they had had disappeared. For the Streakers it was a struggle to make any headway. Several boats just made it to the windward mark with Ian Bradley at the front – a  lead he managed to hold on to until the finish. Second place at the end of the first lap was held by James Dawes – a position he also held on to throughout the race. Next came Alex Reindorp who also held the same position until the finish. Next up was Veronica Falat, then Scott Bonner with Graham Butler in 6^th spot, John Hill 7^th, Alan Simmons bring up the rear in his consistently last place as neither Jeremy Daniell nor Mike Hobin had started. At the end of the second, and final, lap the three front runners were as above with 4^th place taken by Graham Butler who overtook Veronica and Scott (having failed to cross the finish line).  6^th Place went to Jon Hill ahead of last placed Alan Simmons.

The meeting was won by James Dawes with a first and second place, with Ian Bradley second (a first and fourth placing) and Scott Bonner in third position (one first and a sixth).

It had been a very testing meeting with the breezes rarely touching force 2 and mostly barely force 1, very shifty in direction and very shifty in delivery. Luck that one was in the right place when the puff or shift came played a large part in success or failure but, so we were told, not unusual for this location.

Overall Results:-

Sail No	Name	Club	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Points	Postion
1851	James Dawes	Redditch	1	2	(2)	3	1
1626	Ian Bradley	Ouse ASC	4	(4)	1	5	2
185	Scott Bonner	Durleigh	6	1	DNF	7	3
1654	Veronica Falat	Waveny & O B	2	5	(5)	7	4
1760	Graham Butler	Frensham Pond	(5)	3	4	7	5
1814	Mike Hobin	West Oxfordshire	3	6	(DNS)	9	6
1819	Alex Reindorp	Chipstead	7	(7)	3	10	7
1632	Jon Hill	Bough Beech	8	(8)	6	14	8
1700	Alan Simmons	Lancing	(10)	9	7	16	9
1603	Jeremy Daniell	Bough Beech	9	RTD	DNS	20	10

 

Alan.S 1700