Streaker Open Meeting at Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club
by Veronica Falat 18 Sep 2014 12:17 BST
13 September 2014
Mengeham Rythe SC hosted an open meeting for Streakers, alongside their open for Solos, on Saturday 13th September. It was disappointing that only 5 Streakers took part, despite it counting towards the Southern Paddle travellers series, but the racing was still great fun.
The race officer had happily announced that the force 3 wind looked set to stay out of the north east all day – but life is never that straightforward and there were enough major shifts to keep everyone on their toes!
In the first race, Graham Butler made a good move on the first beat by playing the right hand side to get into the stronger tide. However, he slightly overcooked this allowing Veronica Falat to close up at the mark. The reaching legs were very broad and Veronica managed to creep ahead by the gybe mark, with Penny Dormer also gaining on Graham. After three laps, Veronica was far enough ahead to keep a cover on the others and so take the win, with Graham second.
The starboard-hand course had to be reset before Race 2 as the wind was veering. The Solos set off OK but when the Streakers started, the breeze shifted further and we had a great first beat – except we were heading to the gybe mark not the windward mark, and we only realised our mistake when we met the Solo fleet coming the other way! A really close battle developed between Veronica and Graham and at the finish there was only a boat's length between them, with Veronica just ahead. Alan Simmons finished 3rd.
Race 3 was even more competitive. Veronica looked like she had nailed the start but soon found that Frank Fern had done well by heading left and then Graham caught up by going right! Gradually Veronica and Graham pulled ahead but there was never more than a few metres between these two and the lead changed many times until right at the end Veronica managed to round the last mark ahead and then beat Graham to the line by the narrowest of margins. This time it was Frank's turn to take 3rd.
Thank you very much to MRSC for a great day's racing on the lovely Chichester Harbour and for the tea and sandwiches afterwards.
There are now only two more open meetings in the 2014 Streaker Southern Paddle Series, sponsored by Pinnell & Bax. The next is at Ouse Amateur SC at Kings Lynn on September 28th.
Overall Results:
| Pos. | Sail No | Name | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 1654 | Veronica Falat | Waveney & Oulton Broad YC | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 1760 | Graham Butler | Frensham Pond SC | ‑2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 1705 | Frank Fern | MRSC | 4 | ‑5 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 1666 | Penny Dormer | MRSC | 3 | ‑4 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | 1700 | Alan Simmons | Lancing SC | ‑5 | 3 | 5 | 8 |