14/07/2018
Island Barn open meeting Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

The long hot summer of 2018 delivered yet another baking hot sunny day to Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club. The wind unfortunately was also very light as had been forecast which no doubt reduced the number of competitors attending. The open meeting was shared with the Solo class.

Nevertheless, 5 Streakers entered the meeting and there were three very good close races. The first race started in very light conditions with a reaching start. Duncan McDonald and Graham Butler opened up a bit of a lead on the rest of the fleet. In the last lap however the fleet bunched up with Alan Simmons making a great run from well back in last place to get right into contention and there was almost a blanket finish with the whole fleet crossing the line within a few boat lengths. At the finish Mc Donald was still in the lead with Smith 2nd and Butler 3rd with Phil Haldron just holding on in the end for 4th.

In race 2 shifting wind resulted in a running start but again Butler and McDonald got away with Haldron in hot pursuit. Graham Butler held on to win this one with Duncan McDonald 2nd Alan Simmons pulled off another of his rapid advances in the last lap to this time finish 3rd.

With the wind continuing to shift to the East the Race Officer decided to run the course in reverse, switching the wing mark to be the windward mark and switching all the roundings to be starboard hand. So the start was a more normal beating start. Mc Donald and Butler again took the lead with Smith chasing. The starboard roundings as always provided some entertainment with the conflict between Port boats demanding room and boats coming in on Starboard. In the end McDonald won a comfortable victory but Butler rounding the last mark in 2nd place was not able to fetch the finishing line from the last mark and let Smith through. Haldon managed to pip Simmons for 4th.

Overall McDonald was the comfortable winner with Graham Butler taking 2nd on count back with Smith 3rd.