Streaker Nationals at Rutland Sailing Club

58 helms contest the Streaker nationals at Rutland © www.SailPics.co.uk

58 helms contest the Streaker nationals at Rutland © www.SailPics.co.uk

The 2008 Streaker Nationals were held at Rutland water 29th-31st August. The training day on Friday made it a 3 day event for many. Racing was held on the Saturday and Sunday. All eyes were on the weather forecast for the preceding week and unusually and unfortunately what was forecast was what was delivered – very light, then nothing - nothing new there then!

Of the total 58 racers, a massive 42 competitors had pre-entered and more than half of these attended the Friday training session given by National Champion Steve Cockerill. With so little wind the session was held in the classroom and dinghy park with most time being spent unravelling the secrets of the Streaker rig. Steve persuaded us that it is not just the simple piece of extrusion as many might believe and was able to demonstrate that there are some serious tuning possibilities available.

Outstanding for this class and emphatically underlining the claim that this single hander class is going places where others can only dream of - 53% of the field was made up of sailors whose names did not appear on 2007 entry list, the great majority being newcomers to the class.

With the class measurer Alan Gillard insisting that all boats would be weighed the many sceptics watched with amazement as up to 26 boats were efficiently weighed in one hour. The only hiccup in this production line when Michael Shuster’s older hull proved too heavy for its fittings - One of them failed catastrophically just before the scales were allowed to take the full weight!

On Saturday morning a Southerly force 2 rose steadily to a force 3 which would have been idyllic except that the beat was so shifty that much of the fleet hadn’t a clue which way to go.

Race 1

With a slight starboard bias on the line and more pressure on the right of the course, it was no surprise to find the starboard end of the line highly competitive as the Streaker Fleet held themselves near the line and under control. It was Steve Cockerill who pulled the trigger the best and lead the surge out to the left. Steve took an early shift back to the right to make best of the late right shift with pressure. Adam Cockerill had made an early tactical move to the right and benefited from this increased pressure and rounded second, slightly behind Steve Cockerill. It was a closely fought race for Adam who held off the chasing pack for most of the race, despite this being his first time in a Streaker. Tom Gillard made some great gains on the downwind legs to pull back to second. Ian Jones had an amazing last lap to make the break into the top three for the first time in the race, finishing slightly in front of Matt Jenkins.

Race 2

A ten degree port bias saw a strong contingent contesting the port end of the line. Adam Cockerill won the pin with Steve Cockerill in close proximity. Despite making an early tack to the right crossing the fleet, Adam and Steve were left in the wake of those who had taken an earlier tack to the right hand side. This resulted in the fleet meeting at the windward mark. First at the mark was Ian Jones from Tom Gillard and Alan Gillard. Pressure from behind on the first run saw the leaders being caught by Steve Cockerill and Jonny Shuster. Steve Cockerill rounded the gybe mark just in front of Adam Cockerill and then took Alan Gillard and Ton Gillard to Leeward to round slightly behind Ian Jones. Ian Jones had done the box on the rest of the fleet leaving him to the left of Steve when he rounded the mark. Tom Gillard tacked to clear his wind out to the left and was loosely covered by Ian Jones on the first shift to the right. Steve ignored the first shift to the right and headed further into the stronger pressure and was rewarded with a large shift to the right with pressure which took him from a close second to a clear lead which he held to the finish from Ian Jones and Tom Gillard, Alan Gillard, Jonny Shuster and Adam Cockerill. The rest of the fleet were left lapping slowly, still trying to figure out the wind pattern.

Race 3

A massive shift to the left on the start line saw the fleet unable to cross the line on starboard. Dave Shuster and Mike Hanes and Rob Adams made a late bid for the port end had the benefit of sailing above the fleet with speed and space and led the early charge to the right. Tom Gillard made best of the start at the port end and was able to cross the fleet before the wind went dramatically right. This left Tom, Dave Shuster and Mike Hanes well ahead of the chasing pack who were suffering from being on the left side of the course with a large right shift. It took many laps for Steve Cockerill to make it back to third, taking Mike Hanes on the last lap. Dave Shuster was quick enough to hold off Steve's last lap chase with Ian Jones taking Mike Hanes on the last reach to the finish.

Steve Cockerill's last race comeback provided the crucial point required to secure the Championship for the 3rd year as Sunday's 2 races had to be cancelled due to complete absence of wind.

At the prizegiving. the most successful club was once again Sheffield Viking. First Lady helm and most improved sailor since last year went to Ruth Baker of Deben YC.

Our thanks go to the support of Noble Marine Insurance for supporting the event and Trident for providing the Virtual Skipper 5 prize. Despite the shortage of wind the Championship was one to remember both for the quality of racing, enjoyable AGM, the friendliness of competitors and the astonshing influx of new and younger competitors. RSC provided an excellent venue and skilful and well judged race management.

Overall Results: