22/04/2017
Burghfield Open Burghfield Sailing Club

15 boats took part in the Streaker open meeting at Burghfield SC on Saturday 22^nd April, a day of sunshine and fickle winds. At times the breeze was strong enough for bursts of speed upwind and down but the shifts were huge and there were plenty of opportunities to run out of wind altogether. Praise must go to the race team for providing good courses in such conditions.

In Race 1 several boats arrived together at the first windward mark in a gust of wind. Alex Reindorp and Brenda Hoult rounded safely but Veronica Falat collided with Howard Frear and James Dawes suffered the indignity of a capsize. Alex, Brenda and Howard sailed clear while penalty turns put Veronica back in 11^th place. However, as the race went on, Veronica managed to pick her way through the fleet and at the finish had climbed to 4^th while Brenda took the win with Howard just ahead of Alex.

Race 2 again saw Alex doing well early on but as the wind became even more tricky, it was Howard who was leading by the second lap. Veronica was catching up and the key moment came when Howard went one side of an island while Veronica went the other and her move paid off and she took the lead just before the course was shortened. Duncan McDonald took 3^rd place and Alex was 4^th.

After lunch the course was changed. The Solo class was due to start before the Streakers but they had a general recall and had to re-start after us. This meant we didn’t have the benefit of the Solos showing us the way round. Duncan was the early leader but wasn’t sure which buoy was which! There was plenty of close racing as the fleet bunched up and it was James Dawes who was able to keep speed on during the calm patches. However, he lost out to Veronica on one of the beats and she gained another win, while James was 2^nd and Alex 3^rd. Brenda retired from that race after a close encounter with an island!

In the final race Duncan got round the first mark with a clear lead. Brenda and Rupert Smith led the chasing pack. At the finish Brenda had closed right up on Duncan but he crossed the line first. Veronica looked to have overtaken Rupert on the final beat but he whizzed to the finish on a good gust and took 3^rd place.

Overall Veronica was the winner and Brenda, who recently won the class’s Southern Area Championship, was the runner-up. Duncan was 3^rd.

This event was the third in this year’s P&B Southern Paddle Series and James Dawes is the current leader.

The racing had been very close. Lots of boats not mentioned above had been well placed at different times in the races and while the shifts were at times frustrating, most people enjoyed some great moments of catching a lucky gust!

Burghfield was a great host club with good food at lunchtime and free tea and cakes at the prize-giving.

Burghfield Comet, Solo & Streaker Open - 22nd April 2017

Streaker Class