Streaker Ramblings - Deben YC July 16th 2011

As I advised in an earlier Blog I did not go to the Streaker Open Meeting at Deben this year - as far as I was concerned the forcast was for too strong a breeze for my liking. From the verbal reports I had I was right in my choice, certainly two of the entrants did not complete all three races.

The meeting was won by Mike Hanes (Deben YC) from Chris Woodard (Deben YC) with Pierre

Naude (Deben YC) in third spot. According to the usual procedure the 'winner' should have written a report which should have been sent to Yachts and Yachting and together with the full list of results should have been sent to the SCOA web site. It is also usual to pur a version of the report on the host club web site. Regretably none of these actions occured and the SCOA only received the results.

It is a shame as the report can be written (and Posted) in little more than an hour, the class fails to get any publicity as does the club and the other partipants fail to get recognition for their efforts. If I attend I endeavour to get hold of the relevant data - lap sheets (where completed) and overall result sheets - and endeavour to mention all envolved (where the numbers concerned are manageable) and then blog the event. Perhaps my efforts reach a wider audience than the Class web site but perhaps not more than a Y & Y  web site entry.

Results :-

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Helm	Club	Sail No	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Points	Net Points	Position
Michael Hanes	Deben YC	1655	1	1	1	3	2	1st
Pierre Naude	Ðeben YC	1620	2	3	3	8	5	3rd
Chris Woodard	Deben YC	1608	3	2	2	7	4	2nd
Amy Robinson	Blakeney SC	1686	4	5	6	15	9	5th
Dave Shuster	Deben YC	1660	5	4	5	14	9	4th
Hugh Ambery	Blakeney	1711	6	6	4	16	10	6th
Robin Parsons	Deben YC	1664	7	DNF	DNS	26	16	8th
Gary Hogan	Haversham SC	1757	8	7	7	22	14	7th
Peter Wyld	Blackwater SC	1564	DNF	DNS	8	2	18	9th

Concerning my  blog for the Bosham SC Streaker Open Meeting (July 23rd), after publishing, I was advised that the 'encroaching' keelboats were not Sunbeams but were in fact Swallows. I acknowledge my error in wrongly naming them but re-iterate my comments about their poor behaviour in charging through our start.
Alan.S 1700

 

Streaker Ramblings - Newhaven & Seaford SC - Sailing Week 1st - 5th August 2011

A newly acquired car without tow bar had left Alan.S in an awkward position but thanks to the very generous help of Jerry Hone his Streaker arrived at Newhaven and Seaford SC on Sunday evening 31^st July on time for the following week’s Racing. The full schedule would be a morning ‘fun’ race followed by two, back to back, serious afternoon race on each of day, Monday to Thursday, and only one serious race planned for the Friday

Monday morning Alan took out one of the two RFDs to help laying the marks and to stand by for rescue duty – this proved unnecessary due to the light conditions and the small number of entrants.
After lunch the racing proper started, with a Committee Boat single start in the bay and some dozen boats on a simple triangular course. Of the two Streakers present it was Alan.S (the sole visiting helm)  who pulled out ahead of Laurence Venus and Matt Springall (Laser, full rig). Rupert Smith and Chris Turner in their Fireball, Terry and Greg Jones on their Dart 18 and Jamie Lynch on his Dart 18 were the only boats (from the home club) to finish ahead of this pair on the water after a good hour’s race but it was Alan and Laurence in top spot after the handicaps were worked out.
After a short break a second very short race started in slightly more breeze. With just single lap it was Jamie.L 1st across the line, Rupert.S 2^nd, Terry Jones 3^rd, James Clapham and Jenny Clapham ( Dart 18) 4^th and Darren Field in his Vago 5^th.
Alan.S was again ahead of Laurence at the finish – but this time only just – in 6^th spot but with plenty of time in hand to beat the rest of the fleet. Laurence was pipped for 2^nd place by 2 seconds by Rupert.S. Matt.S did not sail in this race.

Tuesday morning Alan did RIB duty again, very light breezes so no rescues.

In the afternoon Race 3 got away, from another Committee boat start on yet another triangular course. Again it was Rupert Smith in the Fireball who led the way around ahead of Terry Jones, James Clapham then Dave Edwards and Alan Oatway in their Dart 18. Next home in his Streaker was Laurence who had been battling with Matt Springall in his full rig Laser then Darren Field and with Alan.S behind this group. After handicaps were applied it was Laurence 1^st, Rupert 2^nd and Alan 3^rd.
Race 4, sailed over the same course lasted only two laps, saw Laurence finish ahead of Alan yet again with the pair behind Rupert’s Fireball, Dave Edwards, John Morrison and Michael Veale in a Stealth Cat, James and Dave Robertson in a Hobie 16, James and Jenny Clapham and with Darren Field ahead of Alan. After Handicapping Laurence was again in first place with Rupert 2nd and Alan 3^rd.

Wednesday morning started off with the lightest of breezes and the fun race as a Le Mans start – Alan opted for 2 x 360 deg turns at the gun – he even did a second set after the first lap and yet another set at the finish but still could not be beaten.

Race 5, after lunch, was over a traditional Olympic course – Triangle and Sausage  - with, as usual the faster Fireball and Cats leaping into the lead. At the end of two full laps first home was Jamie Lynch then Rupert Smith followed by Terry Jones, James Clapham. Next home having managed to fend off Matt.S was Laurence and behind these two Alan.S This time it was the Streakers one, two with Rupert in third spot on handicap.
After another short delay, Race 6 and all were off on the same course once more with Jamie Lynch well ahead then Terry Jones, James Clapham, Rupert, Matt, Laurence and then Alan. The results were calculated with top spot going to Rupert followed by Laurence, then Alan, Jamie and Matt.

The Evening Scheduled race did not look as if it would be run, no boats on the beach but eventually six more came along to join Alan. With a reaching start and an increasing breeze it looked as though it might be a bit congested at the start mark but it appears that the chop which had developed kept the small fleet well separated.

Alan got a cracking start and was immediately off onto the beat, led fortunately by the Rib, as the pillar buoy was all but invisible. The second mark seemed to be on just an extension to the first beat and was well over towards the Harbour. Then followed a short but foisty reach towards the beach ending in a gybe and then a long downwind back to a mark off the club and a final short reach to the mark at the beginning of the next lap. Tom Taylor sailing his Megabyte was a short way behind Alan for the first lap and in fact for the subsequent laps, making up a bit of ground on the offwind legs but making no gain upwind. Third place was taken byGraham Hardy in his Laser followed by Jason Tooth in his Dart sprint and Hanah & Erica Pepe in their Pico. Simon Suter in a Laser failed to finish the course.

Thursday dawned as forecast – well almost – with strong wind and an increasing surf. It did not look promising and both the wind increased (up to 27 knots) and the surf got higher so racing was abandoned for the day with the hope that a second race could be added to Friday’ program.

Friday dawned, almost calm, with plenty of sunshine and Alan was off on the Rib for the last time in the morning. After lunch two races were planned , as had been hoped for, but with shore starts this time. Even though the line was angled well back to the east the wind was very southerly and the second (outer) lane start for the Squibs and Cats gave them a substantial advantage. The course was a trapezium giving a very close reach and then a long downwind, down wave leg finishing off with a close reach along the beach. Some 23 boats entered race 7(8?) – the most all week.

Jamie lynch was soon in the lead followed by Terry Jones, Rupert Smith, David Edwards,  John Morrison and then James Robertson. In seventh place his Laser was Matt Springall who had been battling with Laurence Venus and a bit behind this pair was Alan.S. After the handicapping it was Laurence, Rupert and Alan in that order.
So to the final Race (8 or 9?) again with a shore start and over the same course.
The breeze had come up even a touch more so the Cats were off and away Dave Edwards finishing in top spot ahead of James Robertson, Terry Jones, then Rupert Smith in the Fireball.  Next home, having had yet more grief with Laurence was Matt.S with the Laser 2 sailed by Jack Turner sneaking in ahead of Alan.S.

And so another, sucessfull, Sailing week concluded. The weather was kind, sunny, warm and mainly light breezes which allowed all levels of competence to imbibe. Thursday was an unfortunate aberration but all was not lost with the inclusion of the extra race on Friday.

The results were split up into several categories, Overall, Fast Fleet, Slow Fleet, Multi Hulls, Cadets and Fun Races. For the full results follow this link to the NSSC site - http://www.nssc.org.uk/results2011.htm. but the short hand version is as below:-

Overall – 1^st Laurence Venus, 2^nd Alan Simmons, 3^rd Rupert Smith and Chris Turner.

Fast Fleet – 1^st Rupert Smith and Chris Turner, Darren Filed and Fin Gartland Jones,
                      3^rd Terry and Greg Jones ,
Slow Fleet – 1^st Laurence Venus, 2^nd Alan Simmons, 3^rd Matt Springall.
Multihulls – 1^st Terry & Greg Jones, 2^nd Jamie Lynch, 3^rd Dave Robertson.
Cadets – 1^st Nathan Bloss (Laser Radial), 2^nd Louis Gorringe & Ross Turner (Laser )
                3^rd Stuart (Topper)
Fun Races – 1st Rupert Smith & Gabriel H (Laser 2), 2nd PennySpringall &  CarolynTurner(Squib), 3rd Louis Gorringe & Ross Turner (Laser 2)

Alan. S 1700

PS To those whose names I did not mention, my apologies, with some 30 boats entering at least one race it is difficult to find enough space.
PPS. Thanks go also to Laurence.V for ferrying my boat back to Lancing Sc on Friday evening.

Streaker Ramblings - Bosham SC -23/07/2011

Bosham is a ‘local’ club for us so we did not have to leave until 7.45am, with bright blue skies, a light breeze and no hint of rain on our journey down to Chichester Harbour. Having arrived and found no access to the ‘Green’ we drove to the dinghy park and rigged the boat, then drove back down to the quay, dropped it off and took the car to the car park on the other side of the village.

By the time the briefing took place at the club house there were nine Streakers present. The courses being well down the harbour all set off by about 10.30am on a pleasant and uneventfull ½ hour sail, down past Cobnor, then Itchenor and into the Thorney channel. The committee boat moored fairly close to the East Head buoy and the first chosen course was a triangle/sausage affair heading back the way we had come down from Bosham.

The first start, on a fairly short, heavily port biased line was almost chaos as some three Solent Sunbeams – rather large keel boats – decided to charge straight through our line seconds after our gun had ‘fired’.  As it happened there were no actual collisions but apart from it being appallingly bad manners on their behalf it rather up-set our start. Thereafter it was Paul Burgoyne (Tamworth SC), who had attempted a port hand start, who went into the lead. Close behind him was his father John (Tamworth SC) and then Dave Cockerill (Emsworth SC). Tucked in behind these three was Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) then Gary Hogan (Haversham SC), John Smith (Bosham SC), Michael Camps (Bosham SC) and bring up the tail end Richard Felstead (Lymington TSC). By the finish Paul.B had pulled out a fair lead over his dad John.B  but Dave.C was close behind.
Race two, over a similar type course – adjusted for a swing in the breeze further to the west and this time 2 courses long – went off without hitch this time. Dave.C was first away and although challenged by both the Burgoynes held his lead to the finish.
Alan.S was not far back on the leaders but was overtaken on the fourth beat by Michael.C and was unable to get fourth spot back. Behind Alan it was Gary.H, then John. Richard.F improved by one place on the previous race whilst Hugh.G took over the tail end spot. In second spot in this race it was Paul.B again ahead of John.B.

A break was then taken – afloat – for lunch before the final race. Yet again the course was swung to compensate for the wind directional change – much further west this time and over towards the Emsworth channel and again two long triangles and two long sausages. This time it was John Burgoyne who won the start and chose the correct way to go up the first beat, not far behind was Paul.B and mixing it with him was Alan.S. Richard.F had begun to get the hang of things, perhaps it was down to the slight increase in wind strength but for a while he was ahead of Alan. Behind this pair Dave.C was not – initially – making waves.

In the final windward beat, close to the top mark, Dave.C squeezed past Alan.S into third place. John.B held off a late challenge from Paul to take top spot in this race. Next home was Dave.C then Alan.S then Richard.F followed by Michael.C, Gary.H (who was disqualified for failing to go through the course gate at one point) John.S and finally Hugh.G.
At the end of the racing there was a zippy ½ hour sail back to Bosham – good job somebody knew the way as Alan would have sailed on up towards Dell Quay instead of turning left opposite Itchenor. A long, but very pleasant, day with some 6.1/2 hours on the water.
At the prizegiving it was Paul Burgoyne in first place ahead of dad John – who would have won had it not been that all races counted – with Dave Cockerill in third place.

Results (Unofficial):-

1^st Paul Burgoyne, 2^nd. John Burgoyne, 3^rd. Dave Cockerill, 4^th Alan Simmons, 5^th.Michael Camps, 6^th. Gary Hogan, 7^th. Richard Felstead, 8^th. John Smith, 9^th.Hugh Garety.

   

PS. Appologies for lack of photos – the sailing was way out of sight of the club and Bett declined to go afloat.

PPS. Whilst I did not in the end attend, I had intended to go to Deben, would have thus been able to get results and make a ‘blog’. However I am still awaiting info from the club – I do not even know who the prize winners were!

Streaker Ramblings - Stewartby WSC 2nd July 2011

Bright blue sunlit skies and no breeze as we set off at 7.30am on the 115 mile trip up the M23,M25 and M1 to Stewartby just south of Bedford. We arrived at 9.30am, quite good considering all the road works on the route with the usual 50 mph speed limits, luckily the variable speed limits around the M25 were not functioning.

Once rigged and after the shore-side briefing the 8 Streakers, in company with eleven Solos, took to the water. There was a bit of a delay before the Solos got away on their first start whilst the RO waited for what little breezethere was to materialise sufficiently for him to choose a direction in which to send them.

The Streakers started their sequence a minute or so after the Solos had left on the short leg to the first mark near the clubhouse and launching area. The first half of the fleet, Barney Proud (Stewartby WSP), Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad SC), Bill Strange (Stewartby) and Nigel Denchfield (Stewartby) managed to round the widward mark before the breeze died completelty whilst the second half - David New (Paxton Lakes), Alan Simmons (Lancing SC), Ian Parish (Stewartby) and Peter Billington (Stewartby) – all clustered around the mark, Alan.S being rammed (gently) and then hitting the mark and requiring to re-round it. By the end of the first lap Barney.P led Bill.S and Veronica.F with Alan.S in 7^th position. In the second lap Veronica got ahead of Barney and Bill and Alan moved up one place. By the end of the third (and last) lap the lead had changed yet again with Barney in front of Veronica and then Nigel.D. Bill.S had lost out one place and Alan.S had pulled up another to fifth. Even at the back it was all change with David.N going from 5^th to 7^th then back to 6^th however Peter.B stayed firmly in last spot at the end of each lap.

After Lunch, with a similar course and just a tiny bit more breeze, the Streakers set off again. It was Barney who once again took the lead (and managed to hold it to the finish), whilst Ian.P was close behind him, then Veronica and Nigel in fourth. Alan.S who had yet to get a reasonable start had pulled through to 5^th by the end of the first lap with Peter .B just behind him. By the end of the second lap Veronica had passed Ian and Alan was ahead of Nigel. By the beginning of the third and last running leg Alan got into 3^rd spot only to lose out to Ian again by the end of the leg. So the finish order was Barney.P 1^st , Veronica.F 2^nd, Ian.P 3^rd and Alan.S 4^th.

Just prior to the final race the wind died almost completely but the RO persisted with a change of course – a little longer than before – and obligingly the wind began to fill in. Alan still failed to get a good start but Barney, Bill  and Veronica did and that was the order for those three with Alan second to last in 6^th. In lap 2 Veronica got in front of Barney and Alan had sneaked through to be in 3^rd place. In the final lap Veronica still held off Barney’s challenge and Alan could catch neither but held on in third. Peter.B had not sailed the last race but there was still a tussle between Bill, Ian, Nigel and David which was resolved in that order.

So three races planned and in spite of the lack of breeze three races completed. The low strength and shifts made for difficult sailing necessitating constant concentration with a good deal of luck to be in the right spot at the right time thrown in. Alan was delighted to find himself in 3^rd spot overall having had a 5^th, a 4^th and then finally a 3^rd place in the racing. A good day’s sport with very tricky conditions facing the RO with which he coped admirably.

Results :-

1^st Barney Proud, 2^nd Veronica Falat, 3^rd Alan Simmons, 4^th Ian Parish, 5^th Nigel Denchfield, 6^th  Bill Strange, 7^th David New, 8^th Peter Billington - fourth ,fifth and sixth positions were all on equal points with identical discards and required intricate settlement on count back.

Alan.S 1700
PS. For the official (SCOA) race report follow the link http://www.streaker-class.org.uk

Streaker Ramblings- Pennine SC, National Championships. 25/26th June 2011

We left home at 10.30am on Friday morning 24^th June for the 258 mile trip up to Pennine SC – Winscar Reservoir, Dunsford Bridge, near Barnsley for the National Championships - sponsored again this year by Noble Marine. It was dry but largely overcast although the odd occasional glimpse of blue sky did occur on the somewhat lengthy drive and after a couple of comfort/coffee stops we arrived at 4.15pm. It was still dry after we had erected the tent close to the clubhouse and after a few beers we attended the Class AGM with about thirty other members. Nothing too contentious but we have now got a Class Secretary – Veronica Falat from Waveny and Oulton Broad SC. The local youngsters were by then out sailing in virtually no wind – my, how things would change. Throughout the night it poured with rain and leaked in on one camper so much that he had to pack up and go home without even going on the water.
For day one of the Nationals, just before a Bacon Butty breakfast, it was grey, raining solidly, blowing half a gale and chilly with it – not conducive to the writer’s preferred sailing conditions. Some 48 boats, below recent averages, had entered although not all went afloat for the first race which consisted of a basic triangle. There was a beat up to the western end of the water followed by a reach back towards the east and then a turn north thence back southwards to the start line. Both the Reach and the northerly, near Run, were very hairy with large gusts on top of the force 5 main breeze.

The line was very biased and the fleet lined up almost parallel on Starboard tack with most boats just making it across the line after the gun. Steve Cockerill (Hill Head SC) soon established a lead pursued by Ian Jones (Dovestones SC) with Alan Gillard (Sheffield Vikings SC) in third ans Ian Lees (Scammonden)in fourth slot. In the strong winds Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) could not get any speed out of his boat going to windward and finished the race in 28^th position.
Race two, after lunch, was held in similar conditions, but over a slightly adjusted course, of solid rain and a good force 5. This time, and after one general recall, Tom Gillard (Sheffield Vikings SC), the defending Champion, was on the water having just returned from the Fireball Worlds at Sligo in Ireland. He had had a good series there,  just missing out on top spot due to a count back. In the Streaker fleet race however he could not catch Steve.C and had to accept second place ahead of Ian.J in 3^rd with Alan.G in 4th.  Alan.S struggled round and, in spite of needing to do turns when in the wrong in a port and starboard situation, made up one place to 27^th
Race three, after another short spell ashore and on another variation of course, seemed likely to be more of the same – strong wind and rain – and again the top three were Tom.G, in first place this time, ahead of Steve.C and Ian Jones with Alan.G yet again in 4^th spot. In lap two the breeze died quite a bit on the upwind leg allowing Alan.S to make up quite a few places – it did not last however and as the wind rose he dropped back to 30^th at the finish.

In the evening there was a great meal provided by the girls and guys in the galley followed by a Skiffle group – the ‘Yorkshire Tea Bags’ – with a little help from one of the Streaker sailors and his guitar and of course plenty of beer. After the day’s exertions it was a relatively early night for Alan.S and Bett.S. It blew and rained all night although we did get a bit of sleep.
Sunday dawned sunny but with the wind still blowing hard, so much so that there were white horses on the water. Alan.S was not keen to even bother going afloat, after yet another Bacon Buttie breakfast. With about an hour to go to the start of the first race of the day Alan Gillard offered the use of the reduced area SCOA owned ‘Wave’ sail and Alan.S  reluctantly decided to try it out. Once changed and with the boat almost ready to go he decided to use his full rig after all.
Race four started on time on yet another configuration of course but by the time the leader had finished his first lap the RO abandoned the race. At the top of the initial beat there was a rescue boat moored almost on the mark. Alan S when he reached it was forced to go outside the moored boat taking John Hollis (Pennine SC) with him due to the mass of boats on the inside close to the mark. At the restart it was the usual group who got out up front although Steve.C had taken Tom. G out of the running in the prestart manoeuvring. By the finish Tom.G was up to 2^nd again behind Steve.C but ahead of Ian.J. and with his dad Alan.G in 4^th . Alan.S found the easing wind more to his liking, and whether or not  it was due to fewer starters, he had his best result thus far at 26^th.

Race five, the final of the champs, set off after lunch, on yet another course with an initial beat up to a mark in the south west corner of the reservoir. The wind had increased a bit yet again and whilst the usual group of four were out in front  Alan.S thought he was reasonably well up the order. On approaching the windward mark there were several wind shifts of differing ferocity and direction and Alan.S ended up in the water. He righted the boat by holding onto the centreboard as it flew over him and finally got back on board. By this time however he was truely last with even a ‘Wave’ sail ahead. With a bit of luck he managed to claw back a few places and ended up in 25^th, his best result of the weekend.

At the top of the fleet it was yet another win for Steve.C with Tom.G 2^nd and Ian.J 3^rd. Alan.G did not finish this race, fourth place going to Matt Jenkins (Sheffield Vikings)

So that was the champs over, the overall winner was Steve.C with Tom.G as runner with Ian.J third and Alan.G in 4^th positon.

At the other end of the scale Alan.S could do no better than 31^st overall – given kinder lighter winds it might have been a place or two higher. He found the sailing very hard going on the Saturday and only slightly less so on Sunday, must be age showing but overall had an enjoyable weekend with the chance to catch up with quite a few friends and acquaintances.

The prize giving was performed out of doors, in the sunshine, and as usual was quite extensive with the overall Trophy, one for the winner of each race, for the first lady, for the under 18s, the over 45, the over 55s, the over 65s, the over 75s, for the club team, for the highest place home club helm and for most attractive boat. Finally there was a free raffle draw for a Boat Cover and a Sailing Bag plus the Usual Mug commemorating the event and a bottle of Sparkling Cider for all entrants.
After that and having already packed up the boat it was off home at 4.45pm finally arriving back in Hove just before 10.00pm.

Alan.S 1700

Streaker Ramblings - Ouse A S C - 18th June 2011

6.05 am start on the 3 hour plus drive to the club at Saddle Bow just south of Kings Lynn. Grey overcast skies with a force 4‘ish breeze with just the hint of blue skies occasionally on the way up.  This was a combined Streaker and Supernova Open meeting with some nine and ten boats in their respective fleets.
  The breeze at the site was a good force 4 touching 5 and more of a westerly than anything blowing across the ‘cut’ (30 yards wide x ½ mile long) leading the RO to set a course down the full length with a couple of diversions across the water, one on the way down and the other on the return leg.
  For race one the first fleet away should have been the Supernovas, however they cocked it up with a mass premature start and had to do a new one (two as it happened) after the Streakers were on their way.
  The entire Streaker fleet was on the line together and it was Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) and then Alan Gillard (Sheffield Vikings) who first got just out in front from Veronica Falat (W & OB SC) and Alan Simmons (Lancing SC). Alan.G and Ian.B had a very close tussle for the first full lap before Alan.G finally pulled through into the lead. Nick Lovell (Ouse A S C) and Graham Nelson (Ouse ASC) both passed Alan.S  leaving Gary Hogan (Haversham SC), Roger Wallis (South Yorkshire SC) and David New (Paxton Lakes) in the end positions, Roger.W and David.N battling it out throughout the four laps.

  Alan.G crossed the line in first place - without a sound signal - and on coming ashore  discovered he had been OCS. Somewhat annoyed that he had not been informed earlier he took no further part in the event. This left Ian.B to take the honours ahead of Veronica.F and Nick.L
  Race two, after a lunch break, was run over a slightly adjusted course – the wind having made a minor shift in direction but still at the top end of a force four. Ian Bradley was first to start and pulled out fair lead from Veronica Falat With Nick Lovell in third spot. In fourth position Graham Nelson stayed ahead of Gary Hogan whilst Alan Simmons finally got past David New in lap three and Roger Wallis brought up the rear.

  After a short break race three got under way with a further small tweak to the course. Ian Bradley shot over the start line with Veronica.F and then Nick.L both in close contention. At the back both Alan.S and Graham.N  got stuck in irons in some very strong (force six?) gusts. These gusts continued down the course to the second gybe and first Ian.B then just about every one bar Veronica.F went for a swim. Alan.S lost his daggerboard and was unable to right his dinghy – until helped into the reeds by the rescue boat. Gary.H also had several capsizes and gave it best as did David New and Roger Wallis.
  Nick Lovell, having recovered from his dip, went on to pass Veronica.F and win the race. Ian.B also got sailing again but could not improve on third place whilst Graham.N took fourth and, as it happens, last place.
  Ian B was overall winner of the meeting with Nick L in second spot on equal points with Veronica.F. Nick, having won the final race, clinched the higher standing.

Results:-

 1 ^st. Ian Bradley, 2^nd. Nick Lovell, 3^rd.Veronica Falat,  4^th Graham Nelson,  5^th. GaryHogan,  6^th. Alan Simmons, 7^th.David New, 8^th. Roger Wallis, 9^th. Alan Gillard.

Streaker Ramblings - Weston SC Streaker Open 22nd May 2011

In the middle of the night there were several almighty gusts of wind- nearly strong enough to knock us out of bed in our'Penthouse' suite. The morning looked a bit kinder with a fiar bit of blue sky but as we set off for the Solent I was rather doubtfull that I would go afloat today. The tops of the trees were bending almost to the ground. On arrival at the club we spotted at least one other Streaker, hitched to a rather large wagon that I did not recognise. A qiuck dash to the clubhouse - for a bit of light relief - found quite a few bodies there already.
Saturday had been the first of what was to be a two day event for Lasers, Supernovas, Lightnings and Europes - as we were to learn later they all managed three races in a nice top end force 3.
So there was yours truely, Gary Hogan from Haversham SC  and Helen Audsley from Hill Head SC and like the rest assembled no one was that keen to sail. The reports were for gust up to 30 knots and the steadier breeze of 17/18 knots. Using my hand held device I registerd up to 15 knots at the sea end of the slipway adjacent to the clubhouse. Shortly after 12 noon the race officer, have taken a straw poll, decided that there would be no sailing and that other than waiting for the Saturday's racing prizes, we could all go home.
There were quite a few yachts going up and down Southampton water

 - including this tall ship - quite a large proportion under foresail only. On reaching Lancing  SC - to repark the boat - we learned that there had been no sailing either in the Laser Open planned for the day.
Hopefully we shall have more suitable weather for the next meet on the Calandar at Ouse ASC.
Alan.S 1700

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.