2026 Hartley Boats Streaker Inland Championship at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Pete Gray - 2nd overall in the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Two days of challenging conditions at Grafham Water SC gave the heavy weather masters a chance to shine at the Hartley Boats Streaker Inland Championship. Attrition levels throughout the fleet meant that sailors with the determination and resilience to finish the most races did best overall and it brought Silver and Bronze fleet survivors right up the rankings.

A record Streaker Inlands entry of 40 boats came to Grafham, confirming the ongoing strength of the class. Most of the fleet hotshots were there, including current National Champion Martin Penty who managed to complete the Nationals-Inlands double despite some determined challengers.

Day 1 - Two races in survival mode!

Saturday was forecast to be the windier of the two days, and so it proved, with the committee boat recording a consistent 20-25 knots gusting to over 30 knots. The cross-offshore south-westerly meant that it didn't look quite that strong from the clubhouse, although the sound of thrashing sails along the length of the beach was enough to get the adrenalin pumping!

A handful of 'sensible folk' decided the conditions were not for them, but the majority of the fleet set off from the beach, keen to give it a go. Sailing out to the committee boat which was close to the far shore, it became apparent that quite a few sailors had underestimated the true conditions. One-by-one they turned back, mostly after at least one swim, with some Gold fleet sailors amongst them!

Everyone else made it to the committee boat where Race Officer Peter Curtis had set the course; three laps of inner trapezoid. With the beat almost a kilometre in length, it was not for the faint-hearted!

Race 1 during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Nevertheless, there were over 20 boats on the start line for race 1, which got away on time and 'all clear' at the first attempt. At the top of the fleet, the main contenders were quick to show their mastery of the conditions. Pete Gray (Staunton Harold SC) and Martin Penty (Beaver SC) were together at the windward mark and opened a gap on the chasing pack. The downwind leg offered the option of laying the leeward gate in one, without a gybe, or a higher/faster mode requiring at least one gybe. Behind the leaders, Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) went for the high/fast option and nailed the first gybe but capsized when gybing a second time to avoid Phil Priestley (Yorkshire Dales SC) and Stephen Dickinson (Northampton SC), both on starboard! Martin went on to take his first bullet of the weekend, narrowly ahead of Pete in second. Phil was third and Stephen fourth.

17 boats finished the first race, including most notably Chris Godwin (Rutland SC), the only Bronze fleet sailor still standing.

Race 2 saw the same 17 boats, including Chris, ready and willing to go again. There was, however, some relief that the course had been reduced to two laps.

Giles started at the pin end and had great speed to lead at the windward mark, closely followed by Tim Harris (Up River YC). Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) was third but overcooked the bear-away at the spacer, tipping it in to windward! That put Martin up to third and chasing down the two leaders. By the final 'outer' run, Martin had Giles in his sights when both were hit by a huge gust at the final gybe mark. Giles wore round, knowing that if Martin nailed the gybe he would take the win... but Martin decided to play the long game and also wore round, allowing his protege to cross the line first!

There were eleven finishers in race 2, including two from the Silver fleet; brothers Tim and Ben Harris (Up River YC). This would put them in strong contention for fleet honours on Sunday. Chris Godwin also made it to the finish, an awesome achievement despite scoring NSC for missing an outer mark.

At this point the race officer decided to call it a day and posted his intention to hold four races on Sunday. Just as well we'd all booked in for a good two-course feed in the upstairs lounge bar!

Day 2 - Four races at full welly!

We woke on Sunday morning to a more gentle breeze and a forecast of less wind than Saturday, although it was due to build and, in reality, would become quite challenging. By the time the fleet launched it was 12-15 knots gusting to 18 knots which built over the course of the day, including gusts of up to 25 knots. The sun was out though, which always helps!

35 boats launched for race 3, with everyone making it to the start area in one piece. A two-lap inner trapezoid was signalled and the stage was set for a great day's racing.

Having completed only two races on Saturday, and with another four still to be sailed, there was not much to separate the top four. Martin Penty had a narrow 3-point lead over both Pete Gray and Phil Priestley. Giles Therkelson-Smith was counting an eleventh but could potentially discard that and get back into contention, with a bullet already in the bag.

Race 3 during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Race 3 got away cleanly, with some new faces popping up at the top of the first beat. A significant right shift began half way up the beat and continued to lift those furthest right. This carried Ian Morgan (Warsash SC) to be first at the windward mark, well clear of James Dawes (Redditch SC), Dave Borrett and Neil Firth (Banbury SC). Ian had the speed to retain his lead whilst the others were reeled in by the championship contenders in the chasing pack.

Rounding the mark for the final run, Ian was still clear ahead and went on to take the win. Behind Ian there was a tightly bunched pack of six boats; Giles, Martin, Pete, James, Dave and Tim Harris. Places changed back and forth on the run-gybe-reach to the finish but, in the end Giles snuck through to take second and Martin third. Dave dived under a couple of others on the line to take fourth.

Martin Penty 2192 and Giles Therkelson-Smith 1982 both OCS during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The race 4 startline had the leading contenders jockeying for position towards the pin end. On the gun, a second hoot signalled 'Individual Recall', although no-one went back! Stephen Dickinson, Pete and James were in the leading pack at the windward mark with Martin and Giles not far behind. Martin and Giles pulled through into the lead after the second beat and it was cat-and-mouse once again around the outer loop. Martin crossed the line first with Giles just behind. However, as they crossed the transom of the committee boat, a white board appeared... "Race 4 OCS - 2192, 1982". So, with Martin and Giles both OCS, the race win went to Pete followed by Stephen in second and James third. Tim had his best race of the weekend, taking fourth.

Leaders of race 5 during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

In race 5 Ian Morgan led at the windward mark for the second time. However, this time, the chasing pack were still in touch, including Martin, Pete and Stephen. Ian held strong throughout the race, with only Martin catching him to take the win. Ian was second and Stephen third. Pete was fourth, keeping his championship hopes alive, although he would need four boats between him and Martin in the final race to snatch the title.

Phil Priestley - 3rd overall in the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The final race got under way with Pete nailing the pin end. He then found the space to tack over onto port and cross the entire fleet, establishing a good lead at mark 1. Abby Yorkston (WOBYC), Phil Priestley, Tim, Martin and Giles were amongst the chasers, with Martin breaking away from the pack in hot pursuit of Pete.

Martin Penty ahead of Pete Gray finishing race 6 during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

These two opened a gap on the fleet and were evenly matched until the final run when, not for the first time, Martin found an edge of speed downwind to get his nose in front. Martin took the win, ahead of Pete in second. Meanwhile, in the battle for third, Tim was in contention until he had a swim at the top of the final run... the story of his weekend, we hear! That left Phil to take third ahead of Giles in fourth.

Martin Penty wins the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Overall, this means that Martin Penty is the 2026 Streaker Inland Champion, with Pete Gray second. Phil Priestley completed the podium in third.

In the Silver fleet, brothers Tim and Ben Harris both had a stellar weekend, finishing sixth and seventh overall and topping the Silver fleet podium. Katie Masterson (St Mary's Loch) took third, narrowly beating Peter Cogill (Rotherham SC / Beaver SC) by a single point. Both finished five of the six races; particularly impressive in Peter's case considering that he sails in the Grand Veteran (over 75) age group at the National Championship!

Peter Cogill, Grand Veteran during the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

The sailors making the Bronze fleet podium showed similarly impressive fortitude. Chris Godwin consolidated his heroic performance on day 1 to take first. Not far behind was 17 year-old Sam Harris (Up River YC) in second. Sam was one of five sailors who used the smaller class-approved 'Wave' sail at this event, clearly to good effect. Paul Burman-Smith was third after suffering a bent mast and a broken mainsheet system on Saturday. All fixed overnight, Paul finished three of Sunday's races in the top 20, which could have been four if he had finished the first race on the right side of the committee boat!

There were smiles all round as the fleet gathered in the bar for the prize-giving. Everyone had a tale to tell; what might have been... if only... but there was no doubt that, across all fleets, the podium winners had earned their places.

Gold, Silver and Bronze fleet prize winners in the Streaker Inlands at Grafham Water SC - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Thank you Grafham Water SC for having us! We will be back on 17-19 September 2027 for next year's Noble Marine Streaker National Championship. A little less wind please, and it will be perfect!

Next up for Streaker travellers:

• 3 Oct - Swarkestone - Midland Series
• 3 Oct - Dalgety Bay - HD Sails Scottish Series
• 10 Oct - Up River - HD Sails Southern Paddle Series
• 10 Oct - Winsford Flash - North Sails Northern Paddle Series
• 24 Oct - End of Season Championships at Northampton SC* - Rooster Super Series

Overall Results: