Streaker Open at Weir Wood Sailing Club

Streakers at Weir Wood © Nigel Fordyce

For the first time a Streaker open meeting was held at Weir Wood SC on Saturday 26th September. Why the class has not been to Weir Wood before is a mystery as this is surely one of the best pieces of inland water south of London. Ok, so we only had six visiting boats and one local but it gave us a good chance to see for ourselves how good the venue is.

There was a flat calm when the fleet arrived but a breeze gradually filled in and there was only a short postponement before the first race. Alex Butler, a teenager from Hayling Island, made a cracking start and led round the first lap. On the next beat Veronica Falat took the lead and stayed ahead to the finish with Alex Butler managing to hold off Alex Reindorp to come in second. The next race again saw Veronica out in front while local sailor Gil Cumming was battling with Chris Smith for second, but by the end of two laps Alex Butler had overtaken them both to gain another second place. Alex Reindorp was right at the back having had to do penalty turns near the windward mark.

Streakers at Weir Wood - photo © Nigel Fordyce

There was then a break for lunch but conditions were much the same for the afternoon races – a shifty breeze that varied considerably in strength from moment to moment but still plenty of sunshine. In race 3 Gil Cumming led off the start line and rounded the windward mark first. Alex Butler has been looking very good but got the wrong side of a wind shift and rounded last. However, these conditions can play trick upon trick and it was Gil who lost out really badly as the wind swung again and at the end of the second beat he decided to call it a day! Meanwhile Veronica had taken the lead and Alex Butler was making his way through the fleet and finished third, behind Alex Reindorp.

In the final race Alex Butler made another very good start and led round the first lap. Alex Reindorp was second early on but dropped back while Veronica moved up to challenge for the lead. Very briefly she was ahead on the beat but Alex Butler had a narrow lead at the final windward mark and stayed ahead on the downwind legs to take the win.

So overall, Veronica finished 1st with Alex Butler 2nd and Alex Reindorp 3rd. It had been tricky sailing but the courses were excellent and the club most friendly and welcoming.

This event counted towards the South East Area Series which aims to promote Streaker sailing in the south-east of England. The final event will be at Chipstead SC on October 10th, which will also be the finale of the P&B sponsored Southern Paddle series.

Overall Results: