Streakerramblings - Seafarers SC - 19th Aug 2012

Checking with the Seafarers web site first thing Sunday morning revealed a start time of 10.00am on their main programme page so a very hasty start was made.

Having left the M27 at junction 11 we headed for Stubbington and arrived on Marine Drive heading towards Lee on Solent – we missed the tiny lane leading back north west to the club which we spotted on turning round.

It was a bright morning but slightly overcast and hiding the heat wave soon to appear. Likewise there was the merest hint of a breeze coming from the northern tip of the Isle of Wight. The start was not due until 11.00am however so all the rush was a bit pointless.

The meeting – seven Streakers - was held jointly with a fleet of Solos (about a fifteen)  and that fleet was first off in the light breeze which had developed but barely ruffled the surface of the Solent. At the Streaker start it was Paul Whyld (Seafarers SC) who was first away from the committee boat end. Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) was close behind but it was Paul.W who began with more speed and soon pulled into the lead . Close behind this pair was Howard Frear (Sutton Bingham SC) who soon overtook Alan.S. By half way down the first offwind leg – virtually a run – Rob Swatton (Seafarers SC)  was challenging Alan.S and Helen Lewis (Hill Head SC) was also close at hand with Bill Cunningham (Seafarers SC) and Chris Green (Seafarers SC) at sixth and seventh a little way behind. Howard.F was unable to catch Paul.W  whilst  Alan.S managed to hold off Rob.S. The breeze had died to almost nothing and the RO shortened the course to just a single triangle with everyone then high tailing it back to the beach for lunch and the hope of a sea breeze. The sun by then was scorching down.

After lunch the fleets headed to sea once more in just another fitfull breeze, which having shifted somewhat made the Pin end of the line the ideal place to start. Alan.S had decided that was where he wanted to be and off he scooted, Paul.W however, whilst closer to the committee boat, had greater speed and soon disappeared into the distance. Howard .F was a bit lower down the line than this pair but he found the speed, with the current, to pull out ahead of Alan too. Meanwhile Helen.L was hot on Alan’s heels but failed to catch him on the first lap. By then Paul.W was way out in front with Howard.F in second spot. On the next windward leg Helen.L  peeled off ¾ of the way up the beat, to lee bow the tide and succeeded in passing Alan.S. The RO again shortened the course as the wind died again but the remaining three Streakers never made it to the finish.

After a good bit of hanging about, half of the Solos also went ashore and did not sail again – the RO started the two ‘fleets’ together over a much shorter course. This was just as well as the breeze died almost immediately and it was almost impossble to fight the tide to reach the windward mark. Only Howard.F, Helen.L and Alan.S in the Streakers attempted this race and they finished in that order - contrary to the official report -  Alan having started at completely the wrong end of the line and gone up the wrong side of the beat whilst Helen.L was first to round the ‘windward mark’ and held off Howard to take first spot at the finish of the one lap race.

Overall honours went to local helm Paul Whyld but Helen Lewis took second place ahead of Howard Frear – having equal points - but the higher finishing position in the final race with Alan Simmons out of the prizes in fourth spot.

Results :-
1^st. Paul Whyld, 2^nd. Helen Lewis, 3^rd. Howard Frear, 4^th.Alan.Simmons, 5^th. Rob Swatton, 6^th. Bill Cunningham, 7^th. Chris Green.

Alan.S 1700