Streaker Inlands at West Riding SC

by Alan Gillard on 3 Jun 2012 The 2012 Streaker Inland National Championship was held as part of the West Riding Sailing Club 75th Diamond Jubilee Regatta. A slightly smaller fleet than last year, 22 boats, reduced by members going to weddings and holidays, gathered on the lawn at Wintersett. The weather could not have been better with wall to wall sunshine and a cooling force 3-4 easterly wind which, gusted and changed in direction through-out the weekend.

Race 1, two races were sailed on the Saturday, the first of which was led by Ian Jones from Dovestone SC. Ian had a good lead already after the first beat, followed by Dave Smith from Welton and Tom Gillard from Sheffield Viking sailing the new Pinnell and Bax / Butler Boats Streaker. Within a lap Tom, was challenging Ian for the lead and subsequently over took Ian before the end of lap two. This sort of set the scene for the rest of the weekend as Tom established a lead which he held to the finish.

Tom Whitehead from Welton, Alan Gillard from Sheffield Viking and Ben Ratcliffe from Scammonden Water had been making their way through the fleet. These three joined Dave Smith battling for third place. The upwind legs were always unpredictable as the wind varied considerably in direction, as such places changed regularly. Eventually third was taken by Alan, followed by Tom Whitehead, Ben came fifth, with Dave sixth.

Race 2 and a number of boats found themselves late for the start, these included Alan Gillard, Dave Smith and Wendy Jones. Tom Gillard made it with seconds to spare, and although finding himself at the wrong end of the line made a good enough start to play a few wind shifts which saw him establish a lead that he extended throughout the race to the finish. Behind Tom Whitehead established himself in second.

Ian Jones who had not had such a good first lap, chased Tom through-out the race, behind these two Alan Gillard was always making ground and places which saw him come around the final mark in fourth place. Down the run to the finish Alan sneaked down to leeward of Ian, and with a Laser 2000 keeping the two Streakers’ apart, Alan crossed the line just ahead of Ian, to take third behind Tom Whitehead.

Race 3 on Sunday morning, the North easterly wind was playing tricks, but as it freshened it swung to the East. Even so it was the Gillard’s who rounded the windward mark first and second. Could dad possibly challenge young son? No not really as Tom disappeared into the distance leaving Alan to watch what was happening behind. Tom Whitehead, Dave Smith and Ian Jones, continued the battle, which was eventually won by Ian taking third followed by Tom Whitehead fourth and Dave taking fifth.

Race 4 and by now if your limbs were not aching from the sitting out your face, legs and arms were burning from the sun. More factor 30 applied and the fleet head out for another race. This time though it was Alan Gillard who won the start and lead at the windward mark, closely followed by Tom Whitehead. Tom Gillard had done a 720 on the first beat, but still managed to round third.

Needless to say Tom over took Alan and Tom Whitehead all too quickly and won the race and the championship with a race to spare. Ian Jones came through also to establish himself in second place. That was until on the final beat Alan and Ben Ratcliffe found themselves a lift which changed the order, Alan pulling through Ian to take second, whilst Ben overhauled Tom Whitehead to take fourth.

The final race and although overall honours had been decided the placing were still up for grabs. The Gillard’s were again first and second at the first mark, and whilst Tom disappeared into the distance again, Alan was drawn into the battle for second, which it looked as if Tom Whitehead would attain. That was until the final lap; Tom Whitehead almost capsized at the end of the long reach allowing Ian and Alan to half the lead Tom Whitehead had.

Fatigue was starting to set in; for Tom Whitehead and Alan. Then at the final windward mark Tom dropped his mainsheet, which allowed Ian Jones to take second and also take second overall, as both Alan and Ian finished on 10 points. Behind Alan was being challenged by Ben Ratcliffe, but held his composure to still get fourth.

The Streaker Class Owners Association would like to congratulate West Riding Sailing Club on their 75th Diamond Jubilee. West Riding were of course superb hosts for this championship, PRO Jonathan Gledhill and his team did a fantastic job with the races, setting some good course which allowed for entertaining close racing throughout the fleet.

As usual the Streaker fleet presented all competitors with a cut glass memento of the event. Prizes were presented to the first five overall and the first three in the Silver Fleet.

First lady overall was Wendy Jones from Dovestones SC and first Youth overall was Sally Ratcliffe.

 Streaker Inlands Overall.

Streaker Class website

1st	Str1800	Tom Gillard	Sheffield Viking SC
2nd	Str1759	Ian Jones	Dovestones SC
3rd	Str1691	Alan Gillard	Sheffield Viking SC
4th	Str1773	Tom Whitehead	Welton SC
5th	Str1788	Ben Ratcliffe	Scammonden Water SC
Silver Spars Trophy (Silver Fleet)
1st	Str1774	Mike Rimmer	Grimsby & Cleethorpes YC
2nd	Str1625	Richard Long	Hollingworth Lake SC
3rd	Str1734	Rob Johnston	Blackpool & Fleetwood YC