Rooster Super Series
North Sails Northern Paddle Series
HD Sails Southern Paddle Series
Midland Series
by Neil Firth
Sandwiched between storms Austen and Boelo, chronologically and geographically, it was looking touch-and-go whether there would be any racing at the Streaker P&B End of Season Championship at Northampton Sailing Club. But, in the end, the sailors who made the trip were rewarded with three top quality races in some challenging but very sailable conditions.
Attendance may have been down, but the quality of the fleet certainly wasn't! National and Inland Champion Martin Penty (Beaver SC) was there, as were Pete Gray (Staunton Harold SC) and Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) who, in September, both took race wins against Martin at the breezy Inland Championships at Grafham Water SC.
All bar one of the helms are Gold Fleet, so the stage was set for some highly competitive racing to decide who would take home the Freddy Bear Trophy. The event would also determine the overall winners of the Rooster Super Series, the North Sails Northern Paddle Series, the HD Sails Southern Paddle Series and the Midland Series.
At the briefing, the forecast breeze was yet to fully materialise but, as Race Officer Ian Pinnell said, "we know it's coming"! He made it clear that his priority was to get all the races in for both fleets, the Streakers and the OKs. He would be using the U-flag from the off and the races may well be a bit shorter than scheduled to beat the storm's arrival. Ian and his team delivered on his promise, with three races completed in quick succession around the trapezoid course. There were no delays whatsoever between races... thank you Ian!
Race 1 got away promptly in 15-20 knots. The bulk of the fleet were tightly bunched towards the slightly favoured pin end, with no-one wanting to give any advantage to their rivals. Giles nailed the pin and was the furthest left up the first beat when a handy 'lefty' gave him the chance to lead at the windward mark. Giles had a bit of a cushion to Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) in second as the whole fleet blasted down the short reach, line astern behind Dave. As the fleet spread out onto the more tactical run, Pete and Martin gybed left towards the centre of the reservoir and by the end of the run they had pulled through into second and third in pursuit of Giles. These three jostled for position over the subsequent laps, with Pete managing to grab the win ahead of Giles, then Martin. Dave held his place ahead of the chasing pack to take a well-earned fourth.
Race 2 followed a similar pattern as the breeze continued to build. This time it was Giles who showed his mastery of the conditions, with great boat speed and faultless handling giving him the race win ahead of Pete then Martin. Behind these three, the ability to stay upright and in control was starting to have a bearing on the results, but James Dawes (Redditch SC) managed to stay out of trouble to take fourth.
With the super-fast turnaround between races, the top three may not have had time to do the maths, but going into the final race, Giles and Pete were equal on points, with a first and a second each. The final race would decide which of them would win the Freddy Bear Trophy. Martin was unable to make up the deficit, with two third-place results already on the scoreboard.
In race 3, Martin, Pete and James were joined by Abby Yorkston (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC) at the front, further emphasising the fine margins between everyone at the event. Giles had some ground to make up after a minor watch malfunction had put him last off the start line; he thought he'd blown his chances!
On the second beat, Pete and Martin were side by side, battling for the lead. Pete took Martin slightly past the port layline but as he tacked Pete got caught under the boom and capsized. This gave Martin the lead and allowed James, Abby and, significantly, Giles to pass. The race finished with Martin first, James second and Giles third. Abby secured her best result of the day in fourth.
So, at the end of a very competitive and exciting day's racing, Giles Therkelson-Smith becomes End of Season Champion and takes the Freddy Bear Trophy, ahead of Pete Gray in second and Martin Penty in third. Credit to local Northampton SC sailor, Rory Odell, who borrowed his mum's Streaker. On any other day with a typical turnout, he would have been well up the fleet and so fully deserved to win the Silver Fleet at his first, and hopefully not last, Streaker event.
At the prize giving, there were prizes for everyone from sponsors P&B, to recognise that just attending required some commitment! Well done to all who took part and thank you from the Streaker Class to the race management team, the organisers and volunteers at Northampton SC for a very well run event. Also, thanks to the OK fleet for sharing the event.
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