Streaker Northern Paddle Meeting at Hykeham Sailing Club

Streaker Northern Paddle Meeting at Hykeham © Andy Bayliss

Streaker Northern Paddle Meeting at Hykeham © Andy Bayliss

On Saturday 8th June the Streaker fleet visited Hykeham SC for round 7 of the Streaker Northern Paddle Series sponsored by Sail Register. The forecast was for wall to wall sunshine, but this failed to materialise, even so the fleet still enjoyed a light to moderate NE breeze that strengthened as the day progressed.

15 visiting Streakers from as far away as Milton Keynes in the South and Tees & Hartlepool in the North joined the 2 local boats, making for a competitive fleet.

Race Officer Steve Sallis and his team had set a beat slightly diagonal across the lake. In Race 1 it soon became apparent that there were some large wind-shifts to contend with.

John Hollis rounded 1st closely followed by a group containing Ian Bradley, Alan Gillard, Mike Rimmer and Dave Smith. John held his lead till the second beat, where initially it looked that Alan was to secure the lead, but Mike Rimmer held his nerve holding the right side of the beat to round fractionally in front of Alan at the windward mark 2nd time around. Mike had dropped to 4th round the leeward mark after the down-wind legs.

Even so Mike achieved the feat again holding out hard to the right side of the course to eventually pop round the windward mark for a 2nd time leading the fleet. Alan was still holding on to 2nd in front of Ian Bradley. Mikes judgement ran out by the last lap, which saw Peter Tyreman and Ian Lees making good use of the shifts to join the small group near the front. At the finish; Alan won from Ian 2nd, Peter Tyreman 3rd, John Hollis 4th, with Ian Lees and Mike Rimmer 5th & 6th.

After Lunch the wind had strengthened slightly, 2 races were sailed back to back. The wind though was still shifting by up to 45 degrees in direction, those that got their name on the shift made big gains. Sure enough Mike was at it again in race 2, holding the right side. This time around mark 1 Mike was followed by Alan, Ian Bradley, Paul Jago and Peter Kitchen.

Alan established a small lead followed by Ian Bradley until, Alan in his attempt to gybe back into wind made a complete mess of it and finished up doing turns for Ian Bradley in a port starboard incident. Ian then sailed off, it would seem not to be challenged, but there was the large shift just when least expected. This time though it was Peter Kitchen taking full advantage to win race 2 from Ian Bradley and 3rd Paul Yago. John Hollis had another consistent race finishing 4th.

All to play for in Race 3 with Alan looking to redeem himself, Ian Bradley with 2 seconds and Peter Kitchen a welcome newcomer to the fleet in with a chance to secure an overall win. The two local boats were 1st and 2nd at the windward mark, Robin Jones and Paul Yago. They had played the Mike Rimmer shift on the right side of the course to establish a good lead at the windward mark. The fleet behind these saw Ian Bradley, Alan and John Hollis playing catch up.

The 2nd beat saw plenty of changes with Alan pulling through the 2 leaders followed by Ian. Alan had decided that slightly right on the beat was the side to take, but the shift never came and Ian took the lead on the penultimate lap. Ian's lead did not last as Alan established an overlap to gain water on the 2nd gybe mark, and then decided that rather than get the right shift wrong again he would cover Ian to the finish, Ian Lees secured 3rd just ahead of the consistent John Hollis.

It had been a close days Streaker sailing, with Alan claiming 1st overall from Ian Bradley, but the next 4 places all finished on 8 points. Prizes from the host club extended to the 1st 6 places and as is now customary at Streaker Paddle meetings the SCOA provide 2 extra prizes which were awarded this time to Peter Tyreman (Polo Shirt) and Mike Rimmer (The Streaker Class Burgee).

Overall Results: