Tamworth Streaker Open

Although the weather was cold with a variable, shifty Force 1-3 wind throughout the day, thirteen boats, including nine visitors turned out for the first Paddle event of the 2007 season at Tamworth Sailing Club on 24th March.

In the first race last year’s Open winner Peter Coghill (Rotherham SC) was in the leading pack after rounding the windward mark for the first time. Over the next couple of laps Nick Lovell (Covenham SC/Ouse Amateur SC) overtook and went on to establish a lead with John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) and Peter Coghill following in second & third.

After the first beat of the second race, Lovell rounded the windward mark ahead, with Burgoine and Peter Tyerman (Pennine SC) chasing hard until Lovell broke away and developed a commanding lead that he held to the finish with Burgoine, Tyerman and Coghill in 2nd, 3rd & 4th respectively.

Click image to enlarge

In the third and final race, having rounded the windward mark Burgoine, Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC), Tyerman and Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) were the first four boats, with Lovell leading the chasing pack after he’d been forced to do penalty turns due to a port and starboard incident. Burgoine and Whitfield exchanged the lead several times throughout the race until on the penultimate lap, a fast recovering Lovell got past them on the beat with Burgoine and Whitfield following him home as he scored a third successive bullet.

Results Overall: 1st Nick Lovell (CovenhamSC) 2pts, 2nd John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) 4pts, 3rd Pete Tyerman (Pennine SC) 7pts, 4th Peter Cogill (Rotherham VSC) 7pts, 5th Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 8pts, 6th Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) 10pts, 7th Graham Nelson (Ouse ASC) 11pts, 8th Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 13pts, 9th Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) 16pts, 10th Andrew Francis (Girton SC) 17pts, 11th Roger Wallis (South Yorkshire SC) 21pts, 12th Brian Rennie (Girton SC) 26pts, 13th Gwyn Williams (Tamworth SC) 27pts.

Alton Water Streaker Open

With minimal wind, but a hot sunny day forecast, it looked to be an interesting days sailing in prospect at this years Alton Water Southern Paddle event. After arriving with the newly made Shuster triple-stacker, along with 5 other visitors and 3 locals, everyone could see that thankfully it wasn’t going to be a complete drifter. Even though the event was unavoidably in competition with a Northern Paddle event that was taking place 150 mile to the North at Welton SC, it’s good to report that there were visitors from as far a field as Ardleigh, Deben, Broxbourne and Lancing to formulate.

Race one kicked off with Ian Mansfield (Ardleigh SC) shooting off the start line and around the first mark in pole position, closely followed by the Shuster trio (Deben YC). Up the beat father and son Shuster made use of the wind shifts to get themselves into the top two positions and then open up a gap between themselves and the pack. Roy Jones (Alton Water SC) worked his way up the fleet to secure 3rd behind Jonny Shuster following his Dad over the finish line.

The second race started similarly to the first with father Shuster following son round the first mark, before going on to overtake Jonny with the aid of some serious shifts up by the windward mark. Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) stormed up the beat to also overtake Jonny by the windward mark. Whilst Alan and Jonny battled it out on the long reach, Dave managed to put a bit more water between him and his pursuers. After narrowly passing Alan, Jonny managed to close the gap, but yet again failing to beat his father. Time out with a lunch break was needed.

Click image to enlarge

After lunch, and with freshly renewed confidence after hearing there could be 4 races, and determined to conquer his Dad, Jonny stormed into the lead and opened up a substantial advantage over the fleet and his unfortunate Dad who had a terrible start! Alan Simmons, quick as ever got ahead of the pack and into 2nd only to be overtaken by a miraculous recovery from Dave Shuster on the last lap. Cathie Shuster, the only female sailor competing, with superb consistency secured a hat-rick of 4th positions that day.

The pressure was now really on for the 4th race, only a win would secure the victory for Jonny, anything less would mean that his Dad would prevail. Another promising start from Jonny and another dire start from Dave meant things were not looking good for the old man. However, similar to the 3rd race, he worked his way through the fleet again, but was not able to catch his son who sailed over the line in first to secure the overall victory, and no pocket money for another 6 months. Alan Simmons, with equal consistency to Cathie secured another 3rd position to take bronze.

Results Overall: 1st Jonny Shuster Deben YC) 6pts, 2nd Dave Shuster (Deben YC) 6pts, 3rd Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) 15pts, 4th Cathie Shuster (Deben YC) 17pts, 5th Ian Mansfield (Ardleigh SC) 20pts, 6th Roy Jones (Alton Water SC) 22pts, 7th Geoff Town (Broxbourne SC) 29pts, 8th Paul Cooper (Alton Water SC) 34pts, 9th Gary Pilgrim (TBC) 35pts, 10th Richard Stedman (Alton Water SC) 37pts, 11th Dave Taylor (TBC) 43pts.

Hornsea SC - Northern Championships

At Hornsea’s first Streaker Open in 2006 thirty boats took part – a record turnout at the time, which was equalled a month later by the same number for the Northerns at Welton. This year thirty-two boats lined up for the first race, including ten from the home club. It was soon apparent that most of the Streaker Class’s ‘A’ team were there, including Northerns winner for the last three years Ian Jones, and ten times Streaker Nationals winner Alan Gillard.

The wind was blowing a good south-westerly force 3 to 4 as the sailors prepared their boats for the day’s racing, but by the start of Race 1 had dropped to a steady 3. The race got away cleanly with Alan Gillard streaking into an immediate and significant lead. He was followed at some distance by Ian Jones, Ian Whitfield, and Dan Rimmer and Ian Bradley, who were both sailing brand new Butler wooden boats for the first time. Ian Jones soon ran into trouble on the second beat when he sailed through the shallows, but he was kindly told of his error by the following boats, which allowed him to retrace his steps and continue, albeit in fifth place rather than second. By the end of the race Ian Jones had moved back up to second place, with Rimmer and Bradley following.

There was a course change for the second race, as the second leg of the original course, a run back along the starboard lay line of the first beat, was considered too traumatic for Hornsea Commodore and PRO Stephen Sharp, who was worried that his heart and blood pressure wouldn’t stand it. Once again it was Alan Gillard who broke away, followed initially by Ian Bradley and Hornsea sailor Stuart Hood. Ian Jones completed the first lap in fourth place, but again by the end of the race had moved up to second. Finishing order was Gillard, Jones, Bradley and John Tate. Stuart Hood dropped to fifth, and another notable finish came from Hornsea sailor Tony Ridley, who, though only sailing for four years, and in a Streaker for less than a year, finished in eighth place.

Click image to enlarge

Although Alan Gillard had now won the Championship, he went out for Race 3. Having been OCS at the start, he subsequently retired, leaving Ian Jones to dazzle the rest of us with his skills. He led the race from start to finish. John Tate showed good form to finish second, with the ever-consistent Ian Bradley grinning his delighted way around the course in third place in his shiny new craft. Dave Metcalfe, who had accidentally won the previous week’s Open at Welton, at last showed some form when, after sailing most of the race in fourth place, was just pipped on the line by Nick Lovell to finish in fifth.

The club gave engraved glassware as prizes down to fifth place, and also gave away a  free entry to this year’s National Championships in a draw done by the winner, Alan Gillard. New Streaker sailor and Hornsea Sailing Club member Brian Joyce had his name drawn from the Commodore’s woollen cap, so we shall expect to see him brave the waves of Filey in June.

The club thanks all the visitors for coming and also for their gentlemanly conduct on and off the water.

Results Overall: 1st Alan Gillard (Sheffield Viking SC) 2 pts, 2nd Ian Jones (Dovestone SC) 3pts, 3rd John Tate (Scaling Dam SC) 6 pts, 4th Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur SC) 6pts, 5th Nick Lovell (Ouse Amateur SC) 9 pts, 6th Dan Rimmer (Hykeham SC) 11 pts, 7th Stuart Hood (Hornsea SC) 12 pts, 8th Dave Smith (Welton SC) 15 pts, 9th Dave Metcalfe (Hornsea SC) 18 pts, 10th John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) 19 pts, 11th Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 19 pts, 12th Peter Cogill (Rotherham SC) 20 pts, 13th Jonathan Chappel (Ripon SC) 21 pts, 14th Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 21 pts, 15th Tony Ridley (Hornsea SC) 24 pts, 16th Peter Tyerman (Pennine SC) 24 pts, 17th Mark Hill (Welton SC) 24 pts, 18th Graham Nelson (Ouse Amateur SC) 26 pts, 19th Dave Butler (Welton SC) 29 pts, 20th Ray Brooks (Hornsea SC) 34 pts, 21st Chris Wright (Ripon SC) 34 pts, 22nd Mike Mooney (Hornsea SC) 37 pts, 23rd Ernie Linguard (Hornsea SC) 39 pts, 24th Roger Wallac (South Yorkshire SC) 44 pts, 25th Ian McIntyre (Hornsea SC) 45 pts, 26th Steve Abbott (Welton SC) 46 pts, 27th Brian Joyce (Hornsea SC) 49 pts, 28th Hannah Hood (Hornsea SC) 50 pts, 29th Alan Beck (Hornsea SC) 50 pts, 30th Leanne Thirkelson (Welton SC) 58 pts, 31st Stan Lubner (North Lincs SC) 61 pts, 32nd Tony Legg (Hornsea SC) 66 pts.

Greensforge Streaker Open

Three of our resident Streaker sailors were joined by eleven visitors (including SCOA Honorary Secretary  Ian Fletcher who had dusted the cobwebs off 1332 specially for the event) to compete at Greensforge Sailing Club’s fifth annual Streaker Open meeting at Calf Heath Reservoir, just south of Stafford.  A variable north-easterly blew over the dam wall in its typical fluky fashion. 

Click images to enlarge

Race one saw Ian Bradley from Ouse Amateur Sailing Club and Jonny Shuster (Deben YC) break away after the usual melee at the first mark with John Burgoine from Tamworth taking up third.  There was a lot of bunching of the rest of the fleet and this soon caused inevitable excitement when criss-crossing the figure of eight course, on our relatively compact kidney-shaped lake.  Ian held on for first, John came up to second and Dave Shuster emerged out of the pack for third.

Race two had a tighter start line, the wind picked up and some good Greensforge gusts made for a tricky beat, and a far trickier run!  This dragooned journalist’s efforts were diverted to safety boat duty, only to be told to B’ off by one capsized damsel in distress.  Meanwhile other gusts sorted the men from the boys.  John Burgoine came through with Ian Bradley and Jonny Shuster following.

At the start of race three John Burgoine adjudged himself over the line and came round again, but honesty clearly pays and he steadily worked his way up to third place.  The lead boats formed a procession a full leg apart from each other with Ian Bradley and Jonny Shuster taking the top places.

Newhaven and Seaford Streaker Open

Following excellent support at other Paddle events so far this year it is disappointing to report the forced cancellation of the NSSC Streaker open due to a lack of entrants. After a week of near gales and rough seas, and with TV forecasts of continuing bad weather (morning TV allegedly showing picures of children being air lifted off of Dartmoor), it was perhaps not so surprising that people stayed at home. However, grateful thanks still go to the club who spent time organising the event and ensured that on the day the committee and rescue boats, the bar and the canteen were all fully staffed.

Sunday 13th May dawned grey and overcast with continuous light rain and an easterly Force 3 breeze. The sea state in the English Channel was almost flat providing easy launching conditions. The open meeting had been planned as a joint event with the OK Class who managed to field four boats, although unfortunately one failed to make the start line for the first race due to a jammed centreboard. Sadly, the Streakers by contrast only managed a single entrant, Alan Simmons from Lancing SC. Reluctantly Alan, seeing no other competitors arrive, de-rigged again and headed home without even taking to the water.

South Yorkshire Streaker Open

No report or results provided

Ulley Streaker Open

Twelve boats entered the Streaker Open meeting at Ulley SC on 19th May in conditions described by the race officer as "challenging" with wind conditions varying wildly in both pressure and direction. Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) was first to the windward mark in the opening race and lead throughout the lap with Nick Lovell (Ouse ASC) in hot pursuit. Nick managed to gain advantage on the second lap and took the lead, which he held to the finish. The first two boats opened up a substantial lead throughout the race on the third boat sailed by Alan Ward(Ulley SC) who was half a boat length ahead of Jonathan Chappel (Ripon SC) on the line.

In the second race Nick Lovell and Ian Bradley raced away into the lead. A sudden gust on the leeward mark caused Ian to capsize however a quick recovery allowed him to maintain his second place. A flurry of boats followed Ian's example and took a dip on the same mark. Nick secured a clear lead to the end with Ian second and Alan Ward coming in third.

A number of boats were over the line in the third race and had to return. Ian Bradley was again first to the windward mark followed by Alan Ward and Jonathan Chappel. Again the varying wind strength took its toll on the fleet resulting in some spectacular capsizes. A rain shower brought varying fortunes and by lap six Nick had managed to steal the lead from Ian with the remainder of the fleet following them to the line.

Results Overall: 1st Nick Lovell (Ouse ASC) 2pts, 2nd Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) 4pts, 3rd Alan Ward (Ulley SC) 6pts, 4th Jonathan Chappel (Ripon SC) 7pts, 5th Pete Tyerman (Pennine SC) 10pts, 6th Peter Cogill (Rotherham SC) 13pts, 7th Dave Metcalfe (Hornsea SC) 14pts, 8th Roger Wallis (South Yorks SC) 16pts, 9th Peter Smith (Ripon SC) 18pts, 10th John Tate (Scaling SC) 18pts, 11th Ken Russon (Ulley SC) 20pts, 12th Hugh Brazier (York RISC) 26pts.

Rules for Paddle Series