13/04/2024
Bough Beech Open Bough Beech Sailing Club

HD Sails Southern Paddle Series

by Veronica Falat

The Streaker open meeting at Bough Beech SC on April 13^th attracted a fleet of 19 boats for some exciting, action-packed racing as part of the 2024 HD Sails Streaker Southern Paddle series. The conditions were quite challenging with some strong gusts and a lot of shifts but the race team was very slick and all 4 races were run with the minimum of fuss. This was a joint event with Finns and D-Zeros and the club should be congratulated on providing a really good day’s sailing.

The first race began with Simon Cory from Downs SC making an excellent start at the pin end of the line, with Dave Adams from Broadstairs SC just above him. Adams tacked off but Cory stayed on starboard a bit further until he could take advantage of a port lift and lead the fleet. Eventually, after 3 laps of the trapezoidal course, Cory took the win with Adams 2^nd and James Dawes 3^rd.

The 2^nd race saw Lee Goodey, sailing his brand new boat for the first time, start at the pin while both Cory and Adams were pushed over the line and had to gybe round and re-start. Adams managed to overtake Goodey on the first beat and led at the windward mark. Goodey then re-took the lead on the run and stayed ahead until the final gybe when he capsized and Adams took the win. Goodey recovered quickly enough to finish 2^nd with Simon Gillow in 3^rd place.

After a break for lunch, race 3 saw Adams and Cory again at the pin end of the start line. This time Cory attempted a port tack start but Adams called starboard on him and forced him to accelerate over the line a moment too early. Cory had to restart while Adams could get away and into the rhythm of the shifts. In fact Adams led for the whole race while Cory was in the chasing pack where places were changing many times each lap. Dawes took 2^nd place, Gillow was 3^rd again and Cory had to count a 5^th.

By the start of race 4, Adams was assured of overall victory, with 2 wins and a 2^nd. However, he was happy to race again and it turned out to be the closest finish of the day. Cory got the best start and led the fleet for the whole race but Dawes caught him up on the final run and was just inches behind him. However, at the last mark, Adams got water on Dawes and so sneaked into 2^nd place which he held to the finish.

Dave Adams’ consistency in the gusty, shifty conditions was really remarkable. Lots of other boats had moments near the front of the fleet but suffered mishaps such as missing vital shifts, especially near the windward mark where the wind was switching direction with vigour! It was tough sailing but a lot of fun!