Streaker Ramblings - Bough Beech SC 26.03.2011

Sorry that this is a bit late coming but apart from failing to bring home the results on the day we have been off on the Trent & Mersey canal for a week’s break – even got suntanned!

There was a grey overcast sky and no breeze as we set off from Hove, on 26th March, to take the ‘country’ route up to Bough Beech for the opening Streaker Southern Area Paddle event. On arrival, for this meeting held in conjunction with a Laser event, we found seven other Streakers present – Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) finally arrived, just in the nick of time. There was just the hint of a breeze blowing from the launching area straight across the lake – east to west – with the committee boat moored on the far side. A slightly strange course was laid with an initial beat followed by a short run back towards the start - but short of it – then a further beat and two reaches.

Most of the nine strong Streaker fleet started towards the port end of the line but Alan Simmons(Lancing SC) was at the committee boat end and tacked off on the starboard side of the beat to arrive at the top mark just ahead of Frank Catt (Downs SC). Unfortunately he then headed for the wrong mark at the end of the run - the real one was partly obscured by Lasers on their way back up to the top mark - and ended up losing three places from which he never recovered. Ian Bradley ended up chasing Frank Catt and Veronica.Falat (W&OB YC) who had all slipped through Alan.S. Ian.B eventually caught and passingFrank C and Veronica.F to take first place across the line at the conclusion of two laps – this after recovering from a capsize and inversion when he got caught up in his mainsheet.

Race 2, back to back, started with Ian.B taking an early lead and pulling away from Veronica.F who was having her own tusssle with Alan.S. Frank.C meanwhile had an early case of 720 degree turns and then got caught out by the wind shifts finishing in 5th place behind Steve Garrett (BBSC). It was ian who took top spot once more.
Race 3, after a break for lunch and in little better breeze, was delayed whilst the somewhat over anxious Lasers had a general recall and they had to re-start before the Streaker fleet. Ian.B soon took the lead followed by Frank.C just ahead of Veronica.F. Matthew Whitield (Tamworth) slipped in to 4th spot with Alan.S left in 5th in the very slightly stronger breeze.

These three races constituted the Paddle races but there was to be a fourth race back to back with the third and yet again it was Ian.B who soon took and held the lead to the finish. Second and third places were hot contested between Frank.C and Veronica.F who finished in that order whilst Ian Whitfield (Tamworth) took 4th place ahead of son Matthew and Steve.G leaving Alan.S to plod home in 7th.
It had been a pleasant if somewhat trying day with very shifty conditions which left the two remaining competitiors, Jeremey Daniel(BBSC) and Gary Hogan (HavershamSC), somewhat adrift at the back of the fleet although Jeremy.D did get a 5th place in the first race of the day.

Results:-
1st. Ian Bradley, 2nd, Frank Catt, 3rd Veronica Falat, 4th Alan Simmons, 5th Matthew Whitfield, 6th Steve Garrett, 7th Ian Whitfield, 8th Jeremy Daniel, 9th Gary Hogan.

My next report/blog should have been for Tamworth on 9th of April but we did not attend, being not too far away but on the canal near Burton on Trent. You should find a report on the Streaker web site or on the Yachts and Yachting site (http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=156554)
Alan.S 1700
PS. Rooster Sailing are sponsoring the Southern Area Paddle series and a new sail is to be won in the free lottery for which a ticket is given to each competitor in each race sailed – the more races sailed the greater the chance of winning.
The next event on the Southern Calendar is Weston SC (Southampton Water) on Sunday 22nd May – watch this space.