North Sails Southern Paddle Series
Midland Series
by Matt Whitfield
Nine visiting helms joined four home helms for the Streaker Open Meeting at Tamworth Sailing Club to kick-start the North Sails Southern Paddle Series for 2025.
In contrast to the previous two years which both featured a strong westerly breeze, the 13 competitors were greeted with light winds from the south-east, not the most favourable direction at Tamworth SC and so sure to be a tricky day.
The first race started in the strongest breeze of the day with both ends of the line tightly fought. It was to be Peter Cogill (1683), escaping the boat-park at the pin end, who would take the hole shot and make it round the first mark in the lead. This first beat would prove fairly divisive as the fleet spread fairly quickly, with Sam McKay (2176), Neil Firth (1977) and Alan Bishop (2198) in hot pursuit of Peter. It was Sam who would come out on top to claim the first bullet of the day from Alan in second and Neil third. Fast starting Peter would eventually drop to fifth behind Roger Wilson (2178).
Race two got underway after a lunch of pulled pork rolls or soup served up by the volunteers of host club, Tamworth SC, in much the same conditions. This time it was Neil who would take the lead at the windward mark, with Sam, Alan and James Dawes (1975) giving chase. Neil would hang on for the win in the dying breeze, with James second, Alan third, Sam fourth and Dave Borrett (1864) fifth, setting up a decisive final race.
Further back, local honours were closely fought between Nigel Davis (2203), Ian and Matt Whitfield (1900 & 1901), with Adrian Jennings (1450) also in the mix, interspersed with visitors Brian Smith (2175) and Chris Godwin (2160) making life for the locals more exciting. Going to the final race it was advantage Nigel from Matt, then Ian and Adrian.
And so to race three, arguably the most challenging of the day in the failing breeze, with anyone of the top four able to take the overall lead and win the day. It was to be a close fight between James, Sam, Alan and Neil, with guest appearances from Dave and Matt. Alan would eventually take the final win of the day with Sam second, James third, Dave fourth and Matt fifth.
Overall then, it was Alan who would win the day from Sam in second and Neil third. James Dawes would take fourth and the Class Association prize. Matt's fifth in the last race was enough for him to overhaul Nigel for local honours.
A big thank you from the Streaker Class to Tamworth Sailing Club and all the volunteers for managing in tricky conditions to make the first open of the year a success.
The next event on the calendar sees the HD Sails Northern Paddle series get underway at Ripon Sailing Club on Saturday 5th April, followed by the Southern Championships at Bough Beech, part of the North Sails Southern Paddle and Rooster Super Series, on Saturday 12th April.
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