Streaker Ramblings - Broxbourne SC - 07.09.2104

Bright blue, clear skies – no wind – as we left home at the reasonable hour of 7.30 am for the journey to Broxbourne SC at Nazeing in the Lea Valley north of London. Apart from the roadworks at Handcross (due for completion at the end of October ?) and then another lot on the M25 the far side of the Dartford Crossing. It was a smooth ride with arrival at about 9.30 am. A very light shower was falling just before we arrived at the club but there was no more wind apparent  and the forecast was for a maximum of 6 knots – which occurred for about two minutes during the day, then at Lunch time!

This was a joint Open meeting with some dozen Lasers and as it turned out eight Streakers, three from the home club and the rest visitors.
After a postponement by the RO, for a touch of breeze to set in, the Lasers were set off five minutes before the Streakers on an ‘X’ shaped course with the windward mark towards the North West corner of the main water body – the other ‘Box’ was omitted for all races – thence south westerly to number one mark (very close reach). The next leg was a broad reach to a mark adjacent to the ‘Box’ and after a gybe a broad reach back to a mark close to the southern corner with a short windward leg to finish back at the committee boat line.

The Streakers were the second fleet away, after the Laser start and Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC), having spotted the potential at the port hand end  (and port tack) just nudged over the line ahead of Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) who in turn was just to windward and ahead of Veronica Falat (Waveney and Oulton Broad SC). The rest of the fleet started close by the committee boat and had some catching up to do by the time these three reached the windward mark. Ian began to stretch his lead ahead of Alan who in turn pulled away from Veronica. By the end of the first lap both Roger Platt (Draycote) and Bill Strange (Stewartby) had  passed Veronica. Jane Hill (Broxbourne was in 6^th place, Geoff Town (Broxbourne) was 7^th and Richard Dean (Broxbourne) was 8^th.

In lap 2 Ian retained his lead but Alan had caught up a bit and Bill was closing on him, having caught and passed Roger. Veronica still languished in fifth place. By the end of the lap Ian was still top dog and although Bill almost caught up with Alan it was the latter who took second place after getting a clear inside berth at the final mark by the clubhouse.

After the lunch break the second race was also postponed whilst the RO adjusted the marks for a similar ‘X’ type course. Not only was the little breeze up and down in strength but also in direction. At the start the port hand end was favoured once again and Ian was off like a shot. Veronica, who had changed sails to her old Dacron version from the Mylar one used for the first race, was away in front of Roger who in turn was ahead of Alan. There was little place changing in the first lap, mostly occurring at the windward and little 'Box' areas where the little breeze on the rest of the course seemed to fade away to nothing and hitting the mark was distinct possibility it taken too close. The front of the fleet was also catching up with the tail end Lasers adding more hazards!. Lap 2 was more of the same with Ian just out in front and Bill passing Alan to relegate him to 5^th. Once more it was the penultimate leg and mark rounding which allowed Alan to squeeze through thos in front of him to take a second 2^nd place finish with Bill third again Roger 4^th and Veronica 5^th. Jane, Geoff and Richard kept their relative places from the first lap at 6^th,7th and 8^th.

Race three, programmed to be back to back with race two was again postponed for about fifteen minutes. The breeze kept dying and altering its angle of ‘attack’ but finally the fleet was off with Ian again snapping into the lead from the port hand end. Veronica came home at the end of the lap in second place ahead of Bill whilst Alan found himself unable to improve from fourth with Jane not far behind. Geoff held 6^th whilst Roger stayed firmly in 7^th place  and Richard last.

In lap 2 Ian did not have it all his way however as Jane, staying well on the starboard side of the leg, got a massive lift and rounded well and truly in second place. Bill was next to round and Alan was fourth. Once more the shifty conditions did not help as Alan was also passed by Veronica who had lost ground  to fourth and sailed the last broad reach alongside him only to take the inside berth at the mark near the small ‘Box’. Finally there was another curfuffle at the last mark allowing Alan to regain a place to finish fourth.

With the discards applied (and positions in the final race applied) the overall winner was Ian Bradley with Alan Simmons second, Bill Strange third and Veronica Falat fourth. It had been a trying day for all, from the RO downwards, but it had been rain free and largely bright and sunny, the breeze however did not match up to the forecast.

Results:-

Sail	Helm	Club	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Posn
1817	Ian Bradley	Ouse ASC	1	1	(1)	1
1700	Alan Simmons	Lancing SC	2	2	(4)	2
1791	Bill Strange	Stewartby SC	3	(3)	2	3
1829	Veronica Falat	WOBYC	5	(5)	3	3
1867	Roger Pratt	Draycote SC	4	4	(6)	5
1691	Jane Hill	Broxbourne	6	(6)	5	6
1634	Geoff Town	Broxbourne	7	7	(7)	7
1607	Richard Dean	Broxbourne	8	8	(8)	8

Alan.S 1700