02/04/2022
Burghfield open meeting Burghfield Sailing Club

Conditions are often described as ‘tricky’ at inland open meetings and the Burghfield open was seriously tricky! The breeze was mostly out of the north-east in the morning’s 2 races but it was shifty and very patchy. The Streaker fleet was small (only 7 boats) but the racing was very competitive. In race 1 Colin Staite had a narrow lead over Duncan McDonald, Veronica Falat and Pete Matthews at the first mark and this group stayed tightly bunched for most of the race but gradually Duncan pulled clear and took the win with Veronica 2^nd and Colin 3^rd.

Race 2 was sailed over the same course but by now the breeze had swung left and the first beat was very port-biased. Veronica and Colin arrived at the first mark in that order but the wind died on them while Duncan, Pete and Chris Smith came speeding up and Duncan took the lead. Again the racing was extremely tight and, at the finish, Colin just pipped Duncan and Veronica on the line.

After lunch the course was changed for race 3 and the conditions were now super tricky! There were sudden gusts and frustrating lulls and at times the Streaker, Solo and Comet fleets were sharing the same mark roundings! This race ended in a win for Veronica with Duncan 2^nd and Colin 3^rd.

Dark clouds had arrived and the cold northerly wind was blowing quite strongly by now and race 4 was exciting at times – but not all the time! Periods of gusty breeze were quickly followed by calms, several times! Colin took the win and so won the open meeting; he and Duncan tied on points but Colin won on countback.

Well done to the race officer and his team for coping as well as they did with the shifty wind when setting the courses. It can’t have been easy!

The next event in the North Sails Southern Paddle series will be at Snettisham Beach on 8 May.