Welton Streaker Open

The forecast for Saturday 14th April - the date of East Yorkshire's Welton SC Streaker Open meeting – promised a wind strength of 1 mph, which didn't suggest a high attendance. Early morning fog didn't help either, but that burnt off by the first race, which saw a reassuringly excellent turn out of 21 competitors in a light, but sailable breeze.

The brave – or foolish – souls that tried the port-tack start found themselves in clear air at the front of the first beat, although the pack soon caught up. Decreasing wind strength brought out a virtuoso display of roll tacking and gybing by the more able, but in one case this was considered by the vigilant Race Officer to be sufficiently extravagant as to contravene Rule 42, and a disqualification ensued. Graham Nelson unfortunately put his foot through his old – but soon to be replaced – hull and had to retire early for duck tape repairs.

An excellent lunch (deemed “second to none”) was served by the galley crew, wearing their (male, naked) Streaker T-shirts, during which time the wind backed and increased in strength to a delightful force 2, enabling close racing for the second race – led initially by local boy Dave Smith. Dave Metcalfe from Hornsea took the lead only to lose it following a cracking 3rd beat by Streaker stalwart Mike Rimmer, but later took it back for line honours.

As can be seen from the photographs below, before the start of the third race, Mike Rimmer entertained all by capsizing (twice) whilst tied up at the jetty, but later contested the lead strongly, finishing in 2nd place. Dave Smith again led for a long time before a wrong tactical decision allowed Nick Lovell and Dave Metcalfe to slip through.

All in all, a great day in glorious sunshine, enhanced by some wonderful, good humoured close racing.
Results Overall: 1st D Metcalfe (Hornsea SC) 4pts, 2nd M Rimmer (Hykenham SC) 6pts, 3rd J Tate (Scaling Dam SC) 7pts, 4th N Lovell (Covenham SC) 8pts, 5th S Hood (Hornsea SC) 8pts, 6th D Smith (Welton SC) 8pts, 7th M Hill (Welton SC) 9pts, 8th A Ward (Ulley SC) 10pts, 9th I Bradley (Ouse Amateur SC) 15pts, 10th M Mooney (Hornsea SC) 17pts, 11th C Spencer (Welton SC) 18pts, 12th P Tyerman (Pennine SC) 19pts, 13th H Hood (Hornsea SC) 24pts, 14th R Wallis (South Yorkshire SC) 25pts, 15th A Richardson (Beaver SC) 29pts, 16th S Abbott (Welton SC) 30pts, 17th L Therkelson (Welton SC) 32pts, 18th A Brocklehurst (Welton SC) 32pts, 19th M Richardson (Bradford University SC) 34pts, 20th G Nelson (Ouse Amateur SC) 38pts, 21st H Brazier (York Railway Institute Sc) 40pts.