Streaker Open at Chipstead Sailing Club

Streakers at Chipstead © Karen Langston

Streakers at Chipstead © Karen Langston

Eight visiting boats made the trip to Chipstead for their Streaker open on Sunday 19th June as part of the Southern Paddle and South Eastern area series.

Competitors were met with a bright day and a pleasant Westerly breeze running down the lake which allowed a committee boat start to be set at the lake's East end for all three races. In race one, most of the fleet opted to start at the committee boat end, but it was local sailor Alex Reindorp, starting from the middle of the line in clear air, that took a short-lived lead up the first beat. He was quickly caught by Veronica Falat, Alex Butler and Doug Horner and dropped back into the chasing pack. Veronica held the lead for the first lap but was chased and finally passed by Alex B on lap two. There was some close racing in the chasing group as Mark Langston, Doug and Alex R fought for the third place spot in an increasingly gusty wind and some shifty conditions. Doug finally pulled ahead to take third, Mark forth, and Alex R only just holding off a challenge from Ian Mansfield on the final beat to take fifth place. Chris Smith took seventh spot with nothing to separate Nick Billingsley and Martin Smith who crossed the line in joint eighth place.

After lunch there was a slight change of course to place the leeward mark in clearer air and with the wind building, Veronica, Alex B and Doug contested the lead up the first beat. Doug finally pulled ahead with Alex B second, Veronica third, and Ian forth, which were positions they held for the remainder of the race. In the chasing pack a similarly close battle to race one was taking place between Chris, Mark and Alex R with positions changing on every lap. In the end Alex R crossed the line fifth, Mark Sixth, and Chris seventh.

Streakers at Chipstead - photo © Karen Langston

Race three was run back to back. The wind had eased to a more steady force 2-3 which set up a slight starboard bias on the line and the usual jostling in lee of the committee boat for the start. Veronica, Alex B, Chris S and Alex R contested a closely fought windward leg with Veronica rounding the mark first, followed by Alex B then Alex R. Veronica and Alex B then pulled ahead to battle it out amongst themselves at the head of the fleet. By lap two Alex B had pulled slightly ahead, but Veronica was always close behind and regained the lead on the final downwind leg when Alex B was caught briefly in the wind shadow of some trees at the water's edge. After a good recovery, he managed to round the leeward mark slightly ahead and held on to the lead to the finish. Further back in the fleet, Alex R in third place managed to get away from Chris on the first lap and it was Doug who sailed through the chasing pack to finish forth. Mark held on to fifth place for most of the race with Chris S slipping to seventh behind Ian. Things toward the back of the fleet were no less exciting with Martin and Nick having a fine contest for eighth and ninth spot. Nick crossed the line in eighth, followed closely by Martin.

Some tired and happy, Streaker sailors left Chipstead SC in the evening and the Class Association would like to warmly thank all those involved at Chipstead for their excellent hosting of the event.

Overall Results: