Friday 16 October 2015

Streaker Ramblings - Weir Wood - 25th September 2015


A pleasant sunny drive through the country side to Weir Wood SC for the ‘substitute’ Streaker Open meeting (after the loss of the Bewl and Crawley Mariners cancellations). Arriving in the car park there did not appear to be any visiting boats but after enquiry we found we had to drive down to the foreshore to unload and here we found  another six boats, a seventh arrived slightly later. There was not a breath of wind and a glassy sheen on the water. Whilst rigging, a breath did appear and seven or eight Oppies appeared on the water, with their Instructors in an RFD.
 
 At the10.30 am briefing the R.O. Martin Pascoe said that he hoped to start the first race (of four) at about 11.00 am (as programmed) as he could see a bit of breeze building. It did eventually come up but rarely exceeded force 3 all day. The course set was a traditional Triangle/Sausage with the windward mark set towards the north east corner of the dam. With the committee boat well to the west the first race did not get underway on time, probably nearer to 11.30.

At the gun for race 1 it was Alex Butler (Hayling Island SC ) who was first to cross the line with Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) to leeward and Gil Cumming (Weir Wood SC) at little behind. The breeze was fickle up the first beat but those who went to the right hand side found a trifle more and Alex pulled out a goodly lead ahead of Gil and then Alex Reindorp (Chipstead) with Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad) in fourth position. Alan was in 5th place with Chris Smith (Island Barn) sixth and Peter Witherington  (Burgfield) seventh. The off-wind legs were quite sluggish but Veronica pulled up to lie second.  Lap sheets only record each full ‘circuit’ – both triangle and sausage, but Alec held on for the first ‘lap’ result ahead of Veronica and third placed Alex with Gil in fourth place, Alan fifth, Peter sixth  and Chris seventh. In the second ‘lap’ Veronica passed Alec but he held off Alex, Gil maintained his  fourth place but both Peter and Chris passed Alan.

Race 2 held back to back saw Alec once more making a good start but Veronica, Gil and Alex in close contention. The first’ lap’ ended with Veronica in the lead, Gil second, Chris third and Alec fourth. In the second lap Veronica was the winner from Alec  with  Chris fourth and Alan fifth.  Sixth place went to Peter with Alex seventh.

After lunch the RO shifted the marks a bit as the wind had turned and increased a little and it was Gil who led the fleet in race 3 with Chris second and Veronica third at the end of the first ’lap’.  In’ lap’ 2 Veronica came to the fore with Chris still lying second and Alex just behind, and ahead of Alec. Peter went ahead of Alan and Gil retired. In the third and final ‘lap’ Veronica held onto the lead  with Alex behind her and Alec taking third spot  as Chris slipped back to fourth and Peter  and Alan stayed in the same relative positions.

The fourth and final race of the event was also held back to back (with race 3) with now just six boats. Alec led from the start with Alex behind and Peter behind him. Veronica had to be content with fourth place at the end of the first ‘lap’ with Chris fifth and Alan last. It was critical to get the last mini windward leg correct, from the leeward mark to the line, this was the undoing in several cases. ‘Lap’ 2 and Alec held onto his lead with Veronica gaining second place ahead of Chris and then Alan, Alex having dropped back to fifth and Peter to sixth. The final ‘lap’ saw Alec still in the lead to cross the line in pole position with Veronica second, Alex having recovered to cross third, passing Chris on the way and with Peter also passing Alan.

The overall winner of the meeting was Veronica with Alec second, Alex third, Chris fourth, Peter fifth and Alan seventh. Gil having only completed two races, retired in the third and not starting the fourth was placed sixth.

It was a good day’s racing with very fickle breezes, one or two of the gusts in the afternoon were just about enough to get the boats on the plane. It was mostly sunny but when the clouds went across the sun the temperatures dropped considerably. Thanks go to Gil Cumming who organised the series and persuaded Weir Wood to hold the meeting after the two earlier cancellations. This is a Venue that the Streakers (well, those present) would like to visit again.

Alan.S 1700

PS. This report is long delayed due in no small part to my ‘buckling’ leg problem, which has led to several visits to the doctor and a hospital specialist. I have not been able to sail since this meeting as I have been barely able to walk up and down the beach at Lancing SC. There are slight signs of improvement but further test are (not eagerly) awaited.