Hartley Boats Streaker Inland Championships 2024 at Carsington Sailing Club

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 Sailing Club. Tom Gillard took the title; perhaps not quite as easily as his 5-bullet scoreline might suggest!

Race 1 was a case in point. Young pretender Archie Burton, from Beaver SC, rocked up to his first Streaker event - in a borrowed boat - and totally bossed the first beat, leading the Staunton Harold duo of Tom Gillard and Peter Gray around the windward mark. The 'sausage-first' courses worked as intended, keeping racing tight for the first couple of laps. In fact, with the shifty 10-15 knot breeze, there were plenty of overtaking opportunities throughout the race. Nonetheless, Archie was holding the lead and would have fancied himself for a maiden bullet had his toe straps not parted company with the boat on the third lap, leaving him unable to take part in any further races that day.

Meanwhile, Martin Penty (Beaver SC) was making the most of the shifts to pick his way back into contention after a tricky first beat. By the time Archie retired, Martin had pulled ahead of Tom and Pete but, in the end, he couldn't hold on and finished just behind Tom, with Pete in third. Alan Bishop (Girton SC), the latest convert to Streakers from the Solo fleet, put down a marker with a 9th place to lead the Silver Fleet in his first Streaker race. Lianne Therkelson (Beaver SC) was the first of the Bronze Fleet in the challenging conditions.

Richard Hanby, 3rd overall - Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington - photo © Theo Holmes

Race 2 had much the same conditions, with Tom finding another gear to dominate the race and finish with a significant lead. Behind Tom, Sam McKay (Swarkestone SC) got the better of Pete and Martin in the early stages. However, Martin pulled through into second, leaving Sam in a tussle with Richard Hanby (Beaver SC) who ultimately took third. Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) was also having an excellent start to the event in his 10 year-old Streaker, with a 5th place to add to his 7th in race 1. Once again, Alan Bishop led the Silver Fleet with another 9th and Kieran Shrimpton (Portchester SC) was first in the Bronze Fleet.

Race 3, the last of day 1, saw Tom out in front with Sam and Richard on his tail, resuming their earlier tussle. Martin was also in contention early on, but got himself out of phase with the shifts, slipping back into the clutches of the chasing pack. Meanwhile, Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) played the shifts well to put himself in the leading group behind Tom. The race finished with Tom, Richard, Sam and Giles in that order. Alan Bishop was 6th in only his third ever Streaker fleet race, raising a few eyebrows about the new boy being allocated to the Silver Fleet! Chris Godwin (Rutland SC) took Bronze Fleet honours - the third different winner in three races - to ensure that at least this end of the competition was still wide open overnight!

Sam McKay leads Peter Gray - Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington - photo © Theo Holmes

Day 2 saw the Solo fleet joining us on the racecourse and a switch to triangle-first courses in an attempt to keep the two fleets apart for as long as possible. The wind conditions were similar to day one, or so it seemed! In reality the shifts were bigger and there were some significant gaps in the pressure to catch the unwary, including Tom, who got himself buried in the pack in the first race of the day and couldn't find a way back into contention.

It was Sam who was first to get in tune with the day's conditions and led race 4 at the windward mark, ahead of Giles, Pete and Dave. Martin and Archie (toe straps now fixed) were also in contention and pulled through to take second and third respectively, but they couldn't catch Sam who took a well-earned bullet. Alan led the Silver Fleet once again, but only by one place ahead of Mark Langston (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC). Leanne kept herself in contention for the Bronze Fleet title by leading the fleet over the line for the second time.

For race 5, we were back to 'business as usual', with Tom out to an early lead which he wasn't going to give up. Pete was a solid second which he held throughout the race, whilst behind him the Beaver gang were left fighting for the minor places. Tim Bell (Beaver SC) held third for a couple of laps but succumbed to the Beaver pecking order, as Giles, Richard and Martin all sneaked past, finishing in that order. Nevertheless, Tim was top of the Silver Fleet with a memorable 6th place. Kieran consolidated his lead of the Bronze Fleet with another fleet win.

Race 1 underway - Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington - photo © Theo Holmes

Going into the final race the scoreboard showed Tom clear ahead, but there were only 4 points separating Martin, Richard, Pete and Sam for the other podium places. The start line had a significant port bias which left Tom in prime position, just about laying the pin as Archie pushed it out of the way to leeward! Tom tacked to cross the fleet on port and was away. As so often happens, the remaining podium contenders were all in the mix for this final showdown. Ultimately Richard did everything he could, taking second on the line, but with Martin just behind in third it was Martin who held the overall advantage.

Winners of the generous Hartley Boats Chandlery Vouchers were:

Inland Champion: Tom Gillard, Staunton Harold SC
2nd Overall: Martin Penty, Beaver SC
3rd Overall: Richard Hanby, Beaver SC
1st Silver Fleet: Alan Bishop, Girton SC
1st Bronze Fleet: Kieran Shrimpton, Portchester SC

Our thanks go to the Race Officer and all the other volunteers and staff at Carsington SC who laid on a memorable championship. The Streaker fleet continues to thrive with a steady increase in event attendance across all three fleets, including some notable newcomers making a name for themselves at the front of the fleet (and yes, Alan Bishop, you will be in the Gold Fleet from now on)!

Next up in the Rooster Super Series is the Southern Area Championships at Bartley SC on 29 September, followed by the End of Seasons at Beaver SC on 19 Oct - bring it on!

Tom Gillard, winner - Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington - photo © Theo Holmes

Overall Results:

Tom Gillard leads Sam McKay - Hartley Boats Streaker Inlands at Carsington - photo © Theo Holmes