Streaker Northern Championships at West Riding Sailing Club

Alan Gillard crosses the fleet at start of race 3 in the Streaker Northern Championships © Ben Falat

Ian Lees, Steve Blackburn and Veronica Falat in the Streaker Northern Championships © Ben Falat

Streaker Northern Championships at West Riding 2015 © Ben Falat

18 Streakers gathered at West Riding S.C. at Wintersett on Saturday 17th October for the final round of the Sail Register sponsored Streaker Northern Paddle Travellers Series with the event also being the Northern Championships; there was certainly plenty to sail for. Travellers came from as far away as Lowestoft, Oxfordshire and all parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire to be greeted with near perfect conditions of a North-easterly force 3-4 blowing down the length of the Wintersett Lake.

Race 1 started with Alan Gillard winning the start from the favoured pin end which gave him the lead at the windward mark followed by young Isaac Marsh in the P&B Streaker. The long run down the full length of the lake was where many place changes during the day would play out.

Alan was soon caught by James Wilson and Ian Bradley. James opened up a bit of a lead after the 2nd beat, but Wintersett is such that you can never feel safe as first Ian passed James to go on to win the race, but Alan got the shifts correct to pip James at the finish.

Race 2 again got away first time with Mike Hobin winning the pin end from Alan. Mike held on to the lead whilst Alan was passed by Ian, James and Alan Ward down the run. The changes in position continued back upwind as the shifts in wind direction and strength were found to be hard to read.

The critical action at the front of the fleet came at the 2nd windward mark where an incident between Mike and Ian lead to Ian eventually being disqualified. Unfortunately for Mike he capsized on the next run, following another incident with Ian, which led to Mike retiring.

Meanwhile the lead in this race was taken up by James who went on to claim 1st with Alan taking another 2nd and Steve Blackburn pulling through to grab a 3rd. Veronica Falat was showing some consistency by adding another 4th to the 4th she gained in race 1.

In Race 3 any one of 3 Streakers were in contention for final honours with both Ian and James having attained a 1st each and Alan sitting on two 2nd places; everything was to play for in this last race. Alan liked the pin end start and showed yet again how it is done; even so it was James around the windward mark 1st followed by Steve, Ian Lees then Alan, closely followed by Peter Cogill.

The run as usual shuffled the leaders such that Steve took the lead which he held to the finish. Alan, James and Ian Lees looked comfortable for 2nd, 3rd and 4th until the final beat, which saw a shift which capsized Ian Lees to windward, allowed James to take 2nd and Ian Bradley to pass Alan and claim 3rd, with Veronica hot on Alan's transom at the finish.

The closeness of the day's racing was such a feature of a great day, the number of place changes from the vagaries of the wind both to windward and on the run added to a day of superb sailing.

Many thanks must go to the team from West Riding Sailing Club who very efficiently organised a great day's racing, and with food included in the entry fee the Streaker sailors had an excellent day.

Overall James Wilson won the Northern Area Championship from Steve Blackburn 2nd and Ian Bradley 3rd. Alan Gillard for the 1st time ever won the class association prize after finishing 4th.

The Northern Paddle Series (see full results) was won by Steve Blackburn confirmed by winning the final race. Ian Bradley although finishing 2nd in the series was lucky enough to win a new mainsail provided by the series sponsor Sail Register. 3rd in the series was Ian Priest.

Overall Results:

Streaker Northern Championships at West Riding 2015 - photo © Ben Falat