Streaker North Sails Southern Paddle Series at Banbury Sailing Club

Streaker North Sails Southern Paddle Series at Banbury © Sue Firth

In a show of extreme optimism despite the 3-5 knots forecast, Streakers competing in the North Sails Southern Paddle Series turned up at Banbury Sailing Club on Sunday 16 April. Maybe they'd heard about Becky's cottage pie and came just for that?

Sure enough, we arrived to find the anticipated "mill pond" and the race officer, Graeme Castle, hoisting AP to hold us ashore. No-one could have imagined that we would soon be racing in a steady 5-6 knots, building to as much as 10 knots by the end of a full programme of three competitive races!

For race one, Graeme set the course in the northern half of the reservoir to make the most of the emerging southerly. Chris Smith (Island Barn) had clearly been paying attention at the Class Training the previous day, popping up first at the windward mark. However, it was our renowned wind whisperer, Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad), who made the most of the patchy breeze to sneak through into first place on the run, never to be caught! James Dawes (Redditch) also found his stride early in the race, securing second place by a comfortable margin. Things were a lot tighter in the chasing pack with numerous place changes throughout the three laps. Local Banbury member, Neil Firth, fought back from a poor first beat to eventually finish third, ahead of Dave Borrett (Beaver) in fourth. Ian Whitfield (Tamworth) was in the mix early on until his son, Matt Whitfield (Tamworth), got through leaving them fifth and sixth at the finish. Close racing could be found throughout the fleet with Wendy Alexander (Rutland), competing in her first open meeting, challenging the early race leader, Chris, but narrowly missing out on the line.

Streaker North Sails Southern Paddle Series at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

Race two started back-to-back as planned (the cottage pie wouldn't come to any harm as we had barely lost 30 mins to the earlier postponement). We got away promptly, after the ever-efficient mark layers had rotated the axis of the course to suit the veering breeze. After a closely fought first beat, Veronica, James and Neil emerged at the front and battled intensely, trading port-starboard crosses and inside overlaps for the whole race. However, it was Neil who ultimately stole the win, ahead of Veronica and then James. Michael Alexander (Rutland) was the best of the chasers, finishing fourth, ahead of Chris in fifth.

Over lunch (did I mention Becky's excellent cottage pie?) it was apparent that there were three contenders for the overall win, Veronica on 3 points, Neil on 4 and James on 5. A win for any of them in the final race would secure the top prize. And so, suitably replete, we headed out for the decider.

Graeme had been surveying the conditions over lunch and decided that the building breeze would allow us to use the whole of the reservoir, visiting all the cans bar one. With three separate beats and a long run there were plenty of tactical opportunities to keep us on our toes. Neil secured an early lead at the first windward mark but was never safe, as Veronica was constantly threatening to find a way past. However, Neil just about hung on to take the win, with Veronica a few seconds behind. James fought back to take third after a challenging first beat and a tight battle with Dave, who finished fourth.

And so, after the final scores were in, Neil Firth had managed to secure the event win and first choice of the delicious home-made teatime cakes. Veronica Falat was a close second with James Dawes also on the podium and still very much in contention for the Southern Paddle series after his three bullets at Tamworth. Dave Borrett took the Class burgee for fourth.

Streaker North Sails Southern Paddle Series at Banbury Prize winners (l-r) V Falat 2nd, J Dawes 3rd, N Firth 1st, D Borrett 4th - photo © Sue Firth

Our thanks to the weather gods for some wind and to all the volunteers at Banbury Sailing Club who contributed to a well run and memorable event.

The Streaker road show moves on to Bough Beech next weekend, then back up north to Beaver...

• 22 April - Rooster Super Series Southern Area Championships - Bough Beech SC
• 29 April - P&B Northern Paddle Series - Beaver SC

Overall Results: