Streaker Open at Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club
by Alan Simmons 20 May 2013 17:13 BST
18 May 2013
Streakers in the sunshine at Newhaven & Seaford © Elizabeth Simmons
Bright skies, with a good bit of cloud and a South Westerly breeze at about a mid force 3 with a nice flat sea and no breakers greeted the competitors for the event. The Race Officer, Rupert Smith, established on a two masted yacht anchored in the bay, set an Olympic triangle/sausage course with a gate half way up the beat.
At the start of Race 1 it was Laurence Venus first across the line with Veronica Falat a little to windward and Alan Simmons a touch even further to windward. Gary Hogan and Nick Carter were a little behind. By the end of the first beat Laurence Venus rounded the windward mark just ahead of Veronica Falat with Alan Simmons behind this pair. Veronica and Laurence continued to battle it out throughout the race, each in turn taking the lead, Veronica up wind and Laurence downwind but both finally pulling away from Alan. The gap to Gary also increased during the race and he stayed well ahead of Nick. At the finish line it was Laurence just a length or so ahead of Veronica.
After a lunch break ashore Race 2 was started over the same basic course, with just minor Mark adjustments to suit the slightly swinging and marginally strengthening breeze. Once again it was Laurence first over the line with Veronica to windward of him and Alan further to windward still. Alan, having just cleared the committee boat, tacked off to the west towards Newhaven harbour. This seemed to work well as he rounded the windward mark in the lead which he held until mid way through the second lap when he tacked a bit too early for the windward mark and was passed by both Veronica and Laurence who were able to sail freer. Laurence and Veronica then engaged in their own private battle again but it was Veronica who crossed the line in the lead after three laps. Yet again Gary came home in fourth place ahead of Nick.
The third and final race started, back to back, over the same course, Yet again Laurence was furthest from the committee boat with Veronica to windward of him and Alan close up to windward of her. She pulled ahead of Alan up the first beat, as did Laurence, and she rounded the windward mark in the lead just a length or so in front of Laurence. This time Laurence was unable to make up sufficient ground to pass her down wind and she eventually pulled out clear ahead by about 20 seconds. Alan was unable to catch either but was only about half a minute behind Laurence. For the third time Gary failed to make up on the front three but stayed ahead of Nick.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Sail No | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 |
|---|
| 1 | Veronica Falat | 1654 | W &OB YC | ‑2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Laurence Venus | 1706 | NSSC | 1 | 2 | ‑2 |
| 3 | Alan Simmons | 1700 | LSC | 3 | 3 | ‑3 |
| 4 | Gary Hogan | 1757 | EPSC | 4 | 4 | ‑4 |
| 5 | Nick Carter | 1828 | BSC | 5 | 5 | ‑5 |