Streaker Ramblings - Burghfield Streaker Open - 22.04.2017

Overcast with just a hint of sun and no breeze as we left Hove for Burghfield SC at Theale off the M4 near Reading. On the way there was a bit of drizzle in the air but it did not last long. This was a combined event with Solos, Comets and Streakers with the latter having a fleet of 15 boats. With a very light breeze the RO set a complex course with the start at the far end of the lake from the clubhouse – as shown below.

Having watched the Solo starts it was obvious that it paid to cross the line close to the pin end mark..It was Veronica Falat ( Waveney & Oulton Broad) who chose that position with Mark Langston (Beccles) just to leeward and Alex Reindorp (Chipstead) about third in line. The first leg in the light breeze did quite a bit of sorting out with Alex and Howard Frear (Sutton Bingham)  pulling through in the lead. Veronica tried to squeeze through a gap that was not there and struck James Davies (Redditch) causing him to capsize and requiring her to do a 720 degree turn.

In mid fleet there were a few battles going on with Rupert Smith (Newhaven & Seaford) leading a group just ahead of Doug Horner (Swanage) , Alan Simmons (Lancing) and  Mark Langston.

By the end of the race the Brenda Hoult (Hayling Island) had taken the lead with Howard Frear in second place, Alex Reindorp third, Veronica fourth and Duncan McDonald (Newhaven & Seaford) a canny fifth. Paul Grace (Chipstead) was 6th , Alan Simmons 7^th, Rupert Smith 8^th, Doug Horner 9^th, Mark Langston 10^th, James Davies 11^th, Chris Smith (Island Barn) 12^th, Chris Abella (West Oxford) 13^th, Peter Withrington (Burghfield) 14^th and Ken Hydon (Burghfield) 15^th.

 

 

Race two was sailed, Back to Back, over the same course and again the port hand end of the line was favoured with Alex Reindorp first away with Mark Langston a trifle behind but to windward Chris Abella third across the line and Brenda Hoult fourth. Starting nearer to the committee boat end Howard to weather of Alan and with Rupert further below him were stuffed when a boat above them would not head up.

It was Veronica Falat who rounded the windward mark in the lead and set off on the run back to mark 6 with Alex not far astern and Brenda a touch behind him. The Fickle breeze cause chaos with three Comets climbing through the mid fleet Streakers – having started 5 minutes later – and the front runners catching up with the Solo’s tail-enders.

 At the end of the race the order was Veronica 1^st, Howard 2^nd, Duncan 3^rd, Alex 4^th and Dough 5^th. Chris Abella did not finish this race and did not sail again after the lunch break.

After lunch the Committee boat was repositioned to suit the shift in the main direction of the breeze and the Z mark was also moved and the whole course changed as indicated below.

The Solos, starting first, had a general recall and had to go to the back of the queque. Yet again however  the port hand end was favoured although no one tried a port tack start and nearly all those at that end soon tacked onto Starboard for the first part of the windward leg to mark Z.

From the available photos it appears as though Brenda was first to start – except that she is recorded as DNC for race 3 - with Ken Hydon, well to leeward, next and Mark Livingston 3^rd away with Rupert Smith close behind. At mark Z Veronica was first to round followed by James Davies then Brenda, Rupert and Mark.

The breeze continued to cause upsets as Alex at one point led a trio with Duncan alongside and Howard just astern. Likewise Rupert led a foursome with Veronica behind , Brenda below him and Peter Withrington yet further below him. At the finish Veronica was first home followed by Howard in second place then Alex third, Paul Grace fourth and Mark Langston fifth.

For the fourth and final race of the day a new course was set with Committee boat and Mark Z adjusted. This time it was a rectangular rounding with no cross-overs or loop backs.

There are no photos of this race so there is no information on the first starters or any part of the race, only the finishing order with Duncan taking line honours, Brenda second place, Rupert third, Veronica fourth and James Davies fifth.

With the overall results posted the winner of the event was Veronica with 6 points, Brenda was second with 9 points and Duncan third also with 9 points, Alex was fourth, 10 points and Howard fifth, 11 points

Results:-

A long day’s sailing in light and fickle breezes, enough to try any ones patience and meaning that no one was completely consistent in all four races – a good sharing out of placings. Yours truly found the strength of the breeze more to my liking and I did beat Rupert I two of the four races.

The next open in the South east is at Downs SC – 21.05.2017 - and after that at Island Barn on 08.07.2017.

Alan.S 1700