Streaker Southern Championships at Deben Yacht Club
by Dave Shuster 24 Jun 2008 11:36 BST
22 June 2008
Near gale force winds for the Streaker Southerns at Deben © Rob Adams
The Streaker Dinghy Southern Championships were held at the Deben Yacht Club this Sunday 22nd June. The Adnams sponsored event endured a week of extreme forecasts ranging from virtually no wind to near gale force. In the end the event was held in a wild Force 6 breeze with near 40mph gusts. This fearsome forecast clearly influenced many sailors who decided to stay at home.
Despite this, the exceptionally warm and sunny weather did make the great display all the more enjoyable for both those on and off the water with some spectacular speed and skill on show. The reaches really were steaming and the water was warm and visitors from as far North as Doncaster and as far south as Lancing went home grinning.
The race officer chose a very prudent triangle course involving a relatively short upwind leg only with the gybe mark thoughtfully placed in clear flat water.
After a delayed start to the first race a Tom Gillard took the lead never to be challenged with Jonny Shuster and Ian Bradley chasing hard. Most of the chasing pack taking time out to inspect their hulls close up. This was to be the pattern for all 3 races with only the top 2 sailors avoiding time spent swimming being the only ones to appreciate the importance of not letting the kicker off too much on a run. By the end of the first race 3 boats had retired back to the clubhouse leaving the remainder to battle it out for the remaining 2 races. These continued in similar fashion as the first with unfortunate Dave O’Riordan handing a hard fought 2 places away with a mix up on the finishing line. Throughout all this display of extreme dinghy sailing Cathie Shuster serenely sailed on, almost unnoticed, to be the only female finisher.
Gear failure and some serious wipeouts did end the race for a few competitors however a superb welcome and good hospitality at the DYC clubhouse awaited the returning sailors. After a modest recovery time the prize-giving was held with goody bags provided by Adnams for all and a special first prize print for the overall winner.
Overall Results:
1st Tom Gillard (Sheffield Vikings)
2nd Jonny Shuster (Deben Yacht Club)
3rd Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur SC)
4th Mike Hanes (Deben Yacht Club)
5th Dave Shuster (Deben Yacht Club)
6th Pierre Naude (Deben Yacht Club)
7th Dave O’Riordan (Deben Yacht Club)
8th Alan Simmons (Lancing SC)
9th Oscar Ford (Deben Yacht Club)
10th & 1st Lady, Cathie Shuster (Deben Yacht Club)