Streaker Open at Greensforge Sailing Club

Four visitors, father and son team Ian and Matthew Whitfield from Tamworth, Ian Bradley from Ouse Amateur SC, and our regular long distance traveller Alan Simmonds from Lancing SC joined four of our club members in this our fourth annual Streaker Open meeting at Calf Heath Reservoir, Gailey. Conditions were light, then variable, then more light and more variable, though the vertical drizzle did become less vertical, and eventually fade away.

After a close start, Race One saw five boats break loose, then local knowledge of our kidney-shaped reservoir helped Bernard Gartside and John Wagstaff tussle it out with the Ians Whitfield and Bradley. Mark number five with its fickle wind shadows caught out the usual number of folks, especially visitors, though our lot ought to know better!

Race Two was a transit start on a long line, with the port-hand gamblers led by John Wagstaff. The light wind changed such that any beat disappeared and positions down the fleet altered with every lap. John brought it home from Ian Bradley, Bernard and Ian Whitfield.

Race three was a good beat to No. 1 where it got very busy…and rather noisy! Six laps criss-crossing a square course meant staying wide awake. The first three positions looked settled until Mr Gartside stole up on Mr Wagstaff to take third.

With two of three to count, the rule book had to come out to settle the overall result which showed that our visitor from Kings Lynn, Ian Bradley won out, John Wagstaff next and Bernard Gartside third.

So all-in-all some very close racing, in patience-testing conditions. Established on the circuit now, we’d like to extend a welcome to more participants; so see you next year?

Overall Results:

1st Ian Bradley, 833 (Ouse Amateur SC)
2nd John Wagstaff, 1251 (Greensforge SC)
3rd Bernard Gartside, 1587 (Greensforge SC)