Sail Register Streaker Northern Paddle Open at Rotherham Sailing Club

With the promise forecast of plenty of wind and rain, 9 Streakers turned up at Harthill reservoir for the Sail Register Northern Paddle Circuit open meeting.

In far from idyllic conditions Race 1 began with a text-book start. Immediately after the start, there were several calls for room as the fleet tried to compromise taking the favorable left-hand side of the beat with not hitting the jetty. At the windward mark, 1881 Tom Gillard (Sheffield Viking & HISC), sailing his new Butler with newly developed North sail, arrived first, followed shortly afterwards by 1849 Ian Jones (Dovestone), 1626 Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur), 1769 Nick Lovell (Ouse Amateur), and 1832 Alan Gillard (Sheffield Viking) all in a very close cluster.

As the downwind legs were completed, the battle for 2nd to 5th helped Tom gain a comfortable lead. The second lap marked the start of Alan's come-back attempt, starting off with a close duel upwind with Ian Bradley that would see Alan come out better at the top mark. The third lap saw both Alan and Ian Bradley get past Nick on the downwind sections. Lap 4 saw the wind suddenly pick up ahead of the rain and the safety boat deployed as two boats capsized. The race finished without further incident with Tom Gillard the comfortable winner, with Ian Jones in 2nd and Ian Bradley coming 3rd.

After a delicious Chili for lunch and a sail successfully measured, Race 2 got underway in windier conditions, with another textbook start that saw both Ians, Tom & Nick all crossing the line together, and Alan very close behind. At the top of the beat, 2014 Inland Champion Ian Jones just pipped Tom, the reigning National Champion, to start what turned out to be an exciting battle of the brains that would last a couple of laps. Behind the leading pair, Ian Bradley rounded ahead of Nick, followed by Alan. Lap 3 saw Tom trying again to get ahead of Ian Jones, which he achieved with a tactical masterpiece on the approach to the windward mark, further down the field, Alan took a different route up the beat to the rest of the fleet, however, he failed to make it pay, and made no gains, shortly behind him. Lap three saw Tom begin to build his lead. Tom gained another bullet with Ian Jones in 2nd and Alan Gillard finishing 3rd as everyone headed in for cake and a cup of tea.

Race 3 was another display of high standard sailing with another near-perfect start, however, a weather front came over midway through the race and saw no less than 3 capsizes, causing two to retire following their early baths, and Alan capsized on the leeward mark, forcing him to do a turn and settle for 4th, with Tom finishing 1st, Ian Jones 2nd, and Nick Lovell 3rd.

With the conclusion of racing, Tom Gillard won with 2pts, with Ian Jones 2nd and, following a 3-way tie break procedure, Ian Bradley 3rd.