Greensforge Streaker Open

Three of our resident Streaker sailors were joined by eleven visitors (including SCOA Honorary Secretary Ian Fletcher who had dusted the cobwebs off 1332 specially for the event) to compete at Greensforge Sailing Club’s fifth annual Streaker Open meeting at Calf Heath Reservoir, just south of Stafford. A variable north-easterly blew over the dam wall in its typical fluky fashion.

Race one saw Ian Bradley from Ouse Amateur Sailing Club and Jonny Shuster (Deben YC) break away after the usual melee at the first mark with John Burgoine from Tamworth taking up third. There was a lot of bunching of the rest of the fleet and this soon caused inevitable excitement when criss-crossing the figure of eight course, on our relatively compact kidney-shaped lake. Ian held on for first, John came up to second and Dave Shuster emerged out of the pack for third.

Race two had a tighter start line, the wind picked up and some good Greensforge gusts made for a tricky beat, and a far trickier run! This dragooned journalist’s efforts were diverted to safety boat duty, only to be told to B’ off by one capsized damsel in distress. Meanwhile other gusts sorted the men from the boys. John Burgoine came through with Ian Bradley and Jonny Shuster following.

At the start of race three John Burgoine adjudged himself over the line and came round again, but honesty clearly pays and he steadily worked his way up to third place. The lead boats formed a procession a full leg apart from each other with Ian Bradley and Jonny Shuster taking the top places.

Throughout the day there were various breakages, retirements, and capsizes, two tiller extensions failed, bits of string came off and one visitor, a Greensforge ex-member, who shall remain nameless, Graham, literally put his foot through the floor of his Streaker! Still all in all it was a warm sunny day, with a hot chilli lunch, and we hope to see you all again next year.

Results Overall: 1st Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) 3pts, 2nd John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) 3pts, 3rd Jonny Shuster (Deben SC) 5pts, 4th Dave Shuster (Deben SC) 8pts, 5th Ian Fletcher (Towy BC) 8pts, 6th Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 9pts, 7th Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) 13pts, 8th Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 14pts, 9th Roger Wallis (South Yorks SC) 16pts, 10th Peter Baker (Greensforge SC) 19pts, 11th Steve Abbott (Welton SC) 24pts, 12th M Bracknall (Greensforge SC) 25pts, 13th Graham Nelson (Ouse ASC) 25pts, 14th Colin Spence (Greensforge SC) 28pts, 15th Martin Cowell (Greensforge SC) 28pts