Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone Sailing Club

Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone Sailing Club - Overall

by Neil Firth 18 Jul 19:40 NZST 12-14 July 2024

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!

The Noble Marine Streaker National Championship attracted a record entry of 65 boats, all warmly welcomed by Stone Sailing Club who put on a fabulous event, both on and off the water. Race Officer, Neil Fulcher, gave us a full series of seven races over three days, with the sausage-triangle courses ensuring tight racing and plenty of overtaking opportunities, up and downwind.

As previously reported, the five races across days 1 and 2 had left Tom Gillard (Sheffield Viking SC / Staunton Harold SC) with a strong lead over Martin Penty (Beaver SC) in second and Richard Hanby (Beaver SC) in third. Alex Butler (Hayling Island SC), fourth overall, was the leading youth and Lee Goodey (Broadstairs SC) was leading the silver fleet in fifth overall.

Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Two races were scheduled for the deciding final day, with sunshine and a gentle 8 - 10 knots of breeze; just right after the tribulations of Saturday night's Hartley Boats BINGO and Stone SC Games Night.

Race 6 got away cleanly at the second attempt, with a little encouragement from the now familiar U flag. James Sinclair (East Lothian YC) managed to avoid the worst of the outgoing tide to lead at the windward mark, with Tom close behind. These two stretched their lead, with James holding Tom at bay for two long beats against the tide, but in the end, even with the course shortened from the usual three laps to two, Tom found a way past to take the win.

James Sinclair, second in race 6 in the Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Meanwhile Lee was continuing to defy his silver fleet status, holding third for much of the race until pushed back to fourth by Martin, who managed to recover from a poor first beat. This was still enough for Lee to secure the silver fleet trophy with a race to spare.

At this point Tom had also done enough to secure the national title with a race to spare. In fact, all three podium places were already decided. Nonetheless, Tom, Martin and Richard all stayed out to make the most of the fantastic racing.

Race 7 might have been a 'victory parade' for these three, as they led the fleet around the first lap. However, Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) had other ideas, saving his best race until last. He broke up the leading trio, finishing third ahead of Martin and also giving him the edge over Alex in the overall standings for first youth. Meanwhile, Tom won the race to tidy up his scorecard, leaving him to count six bullets.

Giles Therkelson-Smith, first youth in the Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Going into the final day, Rachael Gray was odds on favourite for First Lady. However, a broken halyard in race 6 gave her two non-scoring races and left the door open for Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC) who was very surprised to learn that she had retained her title.

Stone 2024 was also a fantastic Nationals for all the silver and bronze fleet sailors, with the vast majority completing all seven races. This was an achievement in itself as the wind and short chop proved challenging at times, particularly on the longer second day, when there were plenty of capsizes across all three fleets.

In a new innovation for the class, sailors were issued with mast stickers, supported by Allen Brothers, to show their allocated fleet; yellow for gold, blue for silver and red for bronze. The stickers enabled everyone to easily identify the boats around them which was much appreciated... unless you were in the gold fleet and having a bad race!

Alan Bennett, winner of the bronze fleet in the Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Alan Bennett (Staunton Harold) had the opposite problem, with his red bronze fleet sticker regularly amongst the supposedly faster blue stickers... with the odd gold fleet laggard for company! At 77, Alan was the oldest competitor at the event, making his bronze fleet victory especially notable.

As we reported in our preview, Beaver SC was always going to be a strong contender for the Altogether Shield; the team trophy for the three best-placed boats from the same club. It was possible that Staunton Harold could have given them a run for their money but in the end, with three boats in the top four, Beaver were just too strong.

So, in conclusion, Stone 2024 was a hugely successful and memorable Nationals for the Streaker Class. Stone SC were the perfect hosts and it was clear that they enjoyed putting on a show for us. The Streaker is gaining in popularity across a broad demographic, with male and female Nationals entrants, aged 14 to 77, first timers and old hands, all supporting each other in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

14 year-old Gregory Walker in the Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Next year's Noble Marine Streaker National Championship will be at Rutland Sailing Club on 11-13 July 2025, when the class will be celebrating their 50th anniversary and aiming to go one bigger and one better; if that's even possible!

Trophy winners:

National Champion: Thomas Gillard, Sheffield Viking SC / Staunton Harold SC
Silver Fleet: Lee Goodey, Broadstairs SC
Bronze Fleet: Alan Bennett, Staunton Harold SC
First Lady: Veronica Falat, Waveney & Oulton Broad YC
First Youth (U25): Giles Therkelson-Smith, Beaver SC
First Master: James Sinclair, East Lothian YC
First Grand Master: Martin Penty, Beaver SC
First Great Grand Master: Pete Coop, Winsford Flash
First Veteran: Steve Hanby, Beaver SC
First Grand Veteran: Alan Bennett, Staunton Harold SC
Cadzow Trophy (Concours d'Elegance): 1384 owned by Denise Judd, Downs SC
Altogether Shield: Beaver SC

Noble Marine Streaker National Championship at Stone - photo © Paul Sanwell / OPP

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Streaker nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here

Pos	Fleet	AgeGroup	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts
1	Gold	Open	2171	Thomas Gillard	Sheffield Viking	1	1	1	1	‑4	1	1	6
2	Gold	Grand Master	2192	Martin Penty	Beaver SC	‑5	2	2	3	1	3	4	15
3	Gold	Open	1995	Richard Hanby	Beaver SC	2	‑7	3	4	6	6	2	23
4	Gold	Youth	1982	Giles Therkelson‑Smith	Beaver SC	6	6	5	11	(OCS)	11	3	42
5	Silver	Grand Master	2186	Lee Goodey	Broadstairs SC	16	5	4	10	5	4	(DNF)	44
6	Gold	Youth	1889	Alex Butler	Hayling Island	4	10	8	5	2	‑28	18	47
7	Gold	Open	1641	Peter Gray		3	3	14	14	‑18	5	9	48
8	Gold	Grand Master	2151	Dave Adams	Broadstairs SC	7	9	‑15	6	12	9	5	48
9	Gold	Master	1973	James Sinclair	East Lothian YC	26	‑34	6	2	7	2	6	49
10	Gold	Master	1942	Steve Blackburn	West Lancs YC	12	11	9	15	13	‑18	11	71
11	Silver	Grand Master	2178	Roger Wilson	Rollesby Broad	13	4	12	27	3	‑33	13	72
12	Gold	Gt Grand Master	2177	Pete Coop	Winsford Flash	10	12	11	22	8	15	‑30	78
13	Gold	Master	1700	Philip Priestley	Yorkshire Dales	‑30	16	24	17	10	13	7	87
14	Gold	Veteran	2162	Steve Hanby	Beaver SC	8	8	(OCS)	13	22	8	32	91
15	Gold	Gt Grand Master	2124	Michael Alexander	Rutland SC	9	‑32	21	18	9	14	23	94
16	Gold	Open	1975	James Dawes	Redditch SC	21	‑30	17	8	21	7	24	98
17	Gold	Grand Master	2136	Nigel Pepperdine	Staunton Harold	15	14	18	7	19	‑29	27	100
18	Gold	Gt Grand Master	1551	Alan Gillard	Sheffield Viking	11	20	20	24	14	‑35	16	105
19	Gold	Grand Master	1692	Ian Gore	Up River YC	18	15	‑34	29	25	10	10	107
20	Gold	Open	2127	Adam Yorkston	Waveney & OB	19	24	25	12	15	‑30	12	107
21	Gold	Master	2137	Simon Cory	Downs SC	‑24	18	23	19	17	17	15	109
22	Gold	Veteran	1972	Veronica Falat	Waveney & OB	‑40	13	22	25	34	12	8	114
23	Silver	Open	1767	Ben Harris	Up River YC	23	23	10	23	‑30	16	19	114
24	Gold	Grand Master	1977	Neil Firth	Banbury SC	17	‑54	19	21	26	19	14	116
25	Gold	Grand Master	1864	Dave Borrett	Beaver SC	20	25	16	30	16	22	‑34	129
26	Silver	Open	1933	Rachael Gray	Staunton Harold	14	17	7	9	24	DNF	(DNC)	133
27	Silver	Youth	1785	George Coop	Winsford Flash	27	‑35	13	28	11	27	28	134
28	Gold	Open	2106	Ian Priest	Ripon SC	28	26	26	16	20	23	‑33	139
29	Gold	Gt Grand Master	2121	Ian Bradley	Ouse Amateur	29	22	31	‑32	32	25	20	159
30	Silver	Grand Master	2135	Mark Langston	Waveney & OB	25	‑40	28	26	28	24	35	166
31	Silver	Gt Grand Master	2147	Peter Matthews	Waveney & OB	34	37	‑42	35	23	21	21	171
32	Silver	Grand Master	2112	Katie Masterson	St Mary's Loch	‑45	29	36	20	39	32	17	173
33	Gold	Grand Master	2115	Jon Aldhous	Beaver SC	33	33	33	36	29	26	‑37	190
34	Silver	Grand Master	2161	Ceri Thomas	Broadstairs SC	22	36	‑46	31	31	42	29	191
35	Silver	Veteran	2175	Brian Smith	Bowmoor SC	32	28	35	‑44	41	34	22	192
36	Silver	Youth	1734	Jack Gore	Up River YC	41	31	29	37	‑46	37	25	200
37	Bronze	Grand Veteran	1783	Alan Bennett	Staunton Harold	31	38	37	‑47	43	31	26	206
38	Silver	Grand Master	1332	Chris Lewns	Minnis Bay	42	19	27	33	27	DNF	(DNC)	210
39	Silver	Grand Master	2191	Peter Blackman	Burghfield SC	38	27	‑45	43	37	38	31	214
40	Silver	Grand Master	1720	Chris Hatcher	Margate YC	37	21	47	39	42	‑48	40	226
41	Silver	Gt Grand Master	2132	Christopher Smith	Island Barn	44	41	30	38	33	‑49	42	228
42	Silver	Open	1901	Matt Whitfield	Tamworth SC	36	44	39	42	35	‑46	45	241
43	Silver	Grand Master	2109	Phil Halldron	Downs SC	48	43	32	40	36	44	‑51	243
44	Bronze	Master	1948	Jeremy Daniell	Downs SC	43	42	40	34	45	43	‑50	247
45	Bronze	Open	1965	Kyle Beamish	Waveney & OB	35	45	44	‑54	52	36	36	248
46	Silver	Open	1564	Paul Bloom	Ouse Amateur	39	‑48	41	46	38	45	39	248
47	Bronze	Youth	1930	Kieran Shrimpton	Portchester SC	46	‑51	43	51	48	20	41	249
48	Bronze	Grand Master	2141	David Banfield	Blackwater SC	51	‑55	38	41	40	40	44	254
49	Bronze	Gt Grand Master	1900	Ian Whitfield	Tamworth SC	50	39	48	45	47	‑55	49	278
50	Bronze	Youth	1689	Rosie Gore	Up River YC	‑56	56	49	50	51	41	38	285
51	Bronze	Grand Master	2158	Martin Wyman	Downs SC	49	‑59	51	49	44	53	52	298
52	Bronze	Youth	1687	Gregory Walker	Up River YC	52	‑53	52	48	50	50	47	299
53	Bronze	Youth	1588	Jamie Dobson	Waveney & OB	‑53	52	50	53	49	51	46	301
54	Bronze	Gt Grand Master	2160	Chris Godwin	Rutland SC	55	47	‑57	RDG	56	39	53	306
55	Bronze	Grand Master	2104	Lianne Therkelson	Beaver SC	DNF	49	53	52	(DNC)	47	43	307
56	Bronze	Grand Master	1817	Paul Burman‑Smith	Ouse Amateur	47	46	55	‑57	54	56	56	314
57	Bronze	Grand Master	2126	Julia Blackman	Downs SC	54	50	‑60	60	53	58	54	329
58	Bronze	Grand Master	1645	David Handley	Broadstairs SC	DNF	(DNC)	54	DSQ	55	52	48	334
59	Bronze	Open	1911	Charmaine Ryland	Ouse Amateur	57	57	56	‑59	59	54	57	340
60	Bronze	Gt Grand Master	2133	Kyriacos Kyriacou	Broadstairs SC	58	‑60	58	55	57	57	55	340
61	Bronze	Grand Master	1384	Denise Judd	Downs SC	‑59	58	59	58	58	59	58	350
62	Gold	Grand Master	2164	Colin Staite	Bartley SC	DNF	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	393
63	Bronze	Grand Master	2194	Stuart Burnett	Beaver SC	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	396
63	Bronze	Veteran	2165	Sandy Mill	Winsford Flash	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	396
63	Bronze	Grand Master	1603	Warren Mitchell	Ouse Amateur	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	396