Streaker Open at Hornsea Sailing Club
by Dave Metcalfe 29 Apr 2009 08:46 BST
25 April 2009
A good turnout of 28 boats for the Streaker open at Hornsea © Dave Metcalfe
A good turnout of 28 boats, 11 local and 17 visitors representing 10 different clubs, took to the water at Hornsea Mere on Saturday, 25th April. The sun shone, the wind was a light south-easterly and everybody felt great.
PRO Stephen Sharp started the first race promptly at 11.30, and with only one boat over the line early, the rest of the fleet got away cleanly. Tom Gillard, 1661, took an early lead, followed by Lawrence Wride, 1685, a newcomer to the class. Alan Gillard, 1677, Nick Lovell, 1541, and Dave Butler, 1630 followed closely behind. Tom Gillard stretched his lead and was never threatened, while behind him the chasing pack played musical chairs as places changed constantly. Wride moved through to second, with Dave Metcalfe, 1526, moving up to third for a little while. On the final beat it became clear who had staying power and who could only sustain a short sprint as Ian Bradley, 1619 and Dave Smith, 1670 moved through and Metcalfe and Butler dropped back. The finishing order was T. Gillard, Lovell, A. Gillard, Wride, Bradley and Smith.
After lunch the wind increased slightly and a new course was set. Again Tom Gillard soon showed the rest of the fleet his transom as he headed off into the wild blue yonder. This time Alan Gillard staked his claim on the second place, with Ian Bradley
beating Nick Lovell into third. Dave Butler, taking advantage of the increasing wind was fifth.
Race 3 used the same course as Race 2, which was fine at first, but the wind was swinging towards the south-west, which turned the beats into reaches, and the broad reach into a very one-sided beat. Tom Gillard led once again, followed by his father. Metcalfe and Bradley battled for third, with Metcalfe conceding after a capsize. In the end Peter Cogill, 1683, came through for third, with Bradley fourth and Wride fifth.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Club | Sail No | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Tom Gillard | Sheffield Viking | 1661 | 2 |
| 2 | Alan Gillard | Sheffield Viking | 1677 | 4 |
| 3 | Nick Lovell | Ouse Amateur | 1541 | 6 |
| 4 | Ian Bradley | Ouse Amateur | 1619 | 7 |
| 5 | Peter Cogill | Rotherham SC | 1683 | 9 |