Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 S600 LEADERBOARD

Streaker HD Sails Southern Paddle Series Open at Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club

by Veronica Falat 18 Jun 17:12 UTC 15 June 2024

8 local boats were joined by 6 visitors for the Streaker open meeting at Waveney & Oulton Broad Y.C. on Saturday 15th June. This event counts towards the HD Sails Southern Paddle series.

True to the forecast, there was a gusty breeze in the morning for the first 2 races which meant plenty of shifts on the upwind legs and some good planing opportunities downwind.

In race 1, Pete Matthews had a narrow lead at the first mark and then proceeded to pull away from everyone else, leaving them to scrap for 2nd place. The racing in the chasing bunch was very tight with lots of place-changing but, at the finish, it was Veronica Falat just ahead of 16-year old Nathan Clark in his first Streaker open, with Ian Bradley, Brian Smith and Mark Langston only a few metres behind.

The start of race 2 saw a big shift momentarily favour the boats at the clubhouse end of the startline while several of those who had done well in race 1 were lost at the other end! At the first mark Chris Foster, Nathan Clark and Jamie Dobson were well placed.

Veronica Falat went low on the reach and pulled through to 3rd, while Ian Bradley was also recovering from a poor start. Nathan took the lead on the reach back down the broad and then had the misfortune of finding the Waveney Princess, the big commercial passenger vessel that takes visitors on sight-seeing trips, blocking his route to the leeward mark. Luckily his lead was big enough to allow time to gybe and take avoiding action. However, this put the chasing pack right on his tail.

On the next beat Nathan and Ian Bradley pulled ahead and they had a really tight battle for the rest of the race. Ian took the lead on the final lap only to be overtaken on the final fetch to the finish line. Brian Smith took 3rd place with Veronica 4th. Meanwhile, having done so well in race 1, Pete Matthews suffered the indignity of capsizing and didn’t finish the race.

There was then a lunch break (food supplied mostly by Pete Matthews from his allotment!) during which we could see the sky darkening and the wind was picking up. Most boats had been left moored on the club pontoons and when sails were hoisted it was obvious that it was getting seriously windy. Several boats decided not to bother with race 3 but 7 or 8 got to the startline and off they set.

The first two legs of the course were coped with OK, with Chris Foster taking the lead but it was when the fleet got to the far end of the broad that the squall came through. The broad was soon littered with upturned boats, not just Streakers but others hoping for club racing, and driving rain reduced visibility to not very far!

Race officer Ben Falat abandoned the race and the safety boats were busy checking everyone was OK. Fortunately we all were, but rather muddy from getting our masts stuck in the bottom of Oulton Broad! Eventually conditions improved and everyone got back to the slipway. It was then nice and sunny while we tidied up and packed away, before a heavy rain shower came in.

So, overall, with just 2 of the scheduled 3 races sailed, Nathan Clark was the winner, 2 points ahead of Ian Bradley and Veronica Falat. Nathan is more commonly seen sailing his Topper or ILCA 4 but borrows a Streaker for club racing at WOBYC whenever he gets the chance and his practice certainly paid off on a day when good boat handling was called for.

The next event in the HD Sails Southern Paddle Streaker Series will be at Staunton Harold on July 6th, which also counts towards the North Sails Northern Paddle.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmClubR1R2Pts
1st1965BarnabyNathan ClarkWOBYC314
2nd2121Phantom PharmacistIan BradleyOuse Amateur SC426
3rd1972PickleVeronica FalatWOBYC246
4th2175 Brian SmithBowmoor SC538
5th2135RenegadeMark LangstonWOBYC / Beccles ASC6511
6th1943Little EgretChris FosterRollesby Broad SC7613
7th2100DabchickJonathan BlankleyWOBYC / Beccles ASC8715
8th2147Blue BalouPete MatthewsWOBYC1DNF16
9th2127PinguKyle BeamishWOBYC9817
10th1588HenryJamie DobsonWOBYC10919
11th1817BinkyPaul Burman‑SmithOuse Amateur SC131023
12th2160 Chris GodwinRutland SC121123
13th1911Only EttyCharmaine RylandOuse Amateur SC111223
14th1013StarkersPhilip DelfWOBYCDNSDNF30

Related Articles

Streaker End of Season Championships at Beaver
31 boats for conclusion of the Rooster Super Series and the North Sails Northern Paddle Series A bumper 2024 Streaker season was wrapped up in style at Beaver Sailing Club with 31 boats contesting the End of Season Championships which was also the conclusion of two major series - the Rooster Super Series and the North Sails Northern Paddle Series. Posted on 25 Oct
Streaker Southern Championship at Bartley
Counting for the HD Sails Southern Paddle series and Midland series This year's Streaker Southern Championship, held at Bartley SC on Sunday 29th September, also counted as the final event in the HD Sails Southern Paddle series but the hoped for crowd of southern-based Streakers didn't materialise. Posted on 30 Sep
Scottish Streakers at Loch Tummel
A reduced turnout due to holidays and weddings clashing with the event A reduced turnout of Streakers arrived for the Loch Tummel SC Autumn Regatta on September 14th and 15th as holidays and weddings clashed with the event. It was good to get sailing as this year we have lost two events to no wind or too much wind! Posted on 21 Sep
Streaker Southern Paddle series at Burghfield
RRS A8.1 & A8.2 had been used to separate a three-way tie for first place A Chipstead SC boat clinched victory at the hotly contested HD Sails Streaker Southern Paddle Open Meeting at Burghfield Sailing Club on Saturday 14th September, but not before RRS A8.2 had been used to separate a three-way tie for first place! Posted on 17 Sep
Ripon National 12 and Singlehander Open preview
All welcome, plus it's a Vintage and Northern Series event for the N12s Ripon Sailing Club will be hosting its annual open meeting for National 12s and Single Handers on Saturday 5th October. Posted on 14 Sep
Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington
Tom Gillard took the title; perhaps not quite as easily as his 5-bullet scoreline suggests An excellent 35-boat entry, a decent breeze and a full programme of six races made for an exciting weekend at the Hartley Boats Streaker Inland Championship at Carsington SC. Tom Gillard took the title; not quite as easily as his scoreline might suggest! Posted on 13 Sep
Border Counties Midweek Sailing at Bala
A rainy visit to Llyn Tegid for the fourth event in the Tuesday series The Border Counties Midweek Sailing 2024 series visited Llyn Tegid (Bala) for the fourth event in the Tuesday series. As people started rigging their boats the rain started followed by more rain, thankfully it did stop as we set out for race 1. Posted on 19 Jul
Noble Marine Streaker Nationals at Stone overall
Tom Gillard has put his name on the trophy for the tenth time Tom Gillard came to Stone Sailing Club on a mission: to put his name on the Streaker National Champion's trophy for the tenth time... mission accomplished! Posted on 18 Jul
Noble Marine Streaker Nationals at Stone Day 2
The wind is up and the sun is out at Stone It's day two of the Noble Marine Streaker Nationals! As the fleet takes to the water, the wind is up and the sun is out. Posted on 14 Jul
Noble Marine Streaker Nationals at Stone Day 1
A record entry of 65 boats competing on the Blackwater estuary Stone SC welcomed a record entry of 65 boats to the Blackwater estuary for the Noble Marine Streaker Nationals. The bumper entry this year is not such a surprise to Streaker sailors as they looked forward to a competitive but friendly event. Posted on 13 Jul
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024