Solo & Streaker Open Meeting - 13th September

As people turned up for the Solo and Streaker Open they found an open meeting in full swing already. This was the Leeds and Bradford Model Boat Club having a One Metre Class Open with about 20 boats taking part. Luckily with a brisk Northerly wind both events could take place on the Tarn without interference.

After the briefing the bigger boats joined the smaller boats out on the water with the fleets keeping a respectable distance apart. For the racing under the burgee of Yeadon Sailing Club the Solo fleet started first and Bill Wilson with Andrew Fieldhouse in pursuit soon established a good lead. The excitement was at the back of the fleet with Peter Appleby and Michael Wilde constantly changing places, with Michael getting ahead at the finish.

The Streakers on the second start chased the Solo fleet around the Tarn, Pete Tyerman, the lead Streaker, got quickly clear but the rest of the Streakers had a close tussle for the first few laps. Chris Wright eventually broke clear and closed the gap on Tyerman leaving Denis Beard to bring the rest of the fleet in.

After lunch the on shore supporters got excited at the start of the second when Club Secretary Peter Appleby led the Solo Fleet for a number of legs for the first lap, but then on the next shifty beat the previous order was resumed.

For the second race for the Streakers Pete Tyerman and Chris Wright contested the lead for the first 2 laps with Clive Wood, the late comer after sitting out the first race, getting away from the mid fleet bunch. By the end Pete Tyerman got away from Chris Wright, in the end, to lead by a safe distance.

Over the tea break the wind appeared to ease but as the sailors launched for the third race the wind returned.

In the Solos there was a tit for tat race between Andrew Fieldhouse and Michael Wilde, with Andrew Fieldhouse establishing a lead only to lose it for a while after trying to park on buoy number 7. Bill Wilson was way out in first place but called it a day before the end of the race. By the end of the race Andrew had re-established his lead over the others and finished first


In the Streakers Clive Wood, took an early lead with Chris Wright keeping close behind in whilst Pete Tyerman was stuck behind in the main bunch. With the winds freshening it started to catch people unaware and the occasional capsize was seen. However, at the halfway point Pete Tyerman had got over his early set backs and took over the pursuit of Clive. Pete was eventually successful and took first place on the last lap.


At the end of the day everybody had a good sail in decent conditions. At the Prizegiving the winner of the Streakers, Pete Tyerman, on behalf of both fleets thanked the OOD and the Club for running an excellent Open Meeting

The final results were ;
Solo Fleet
1st 4529 Bill Wilson Yeadon
2nd 4041 Andrew Fieldhouse Yeadon

3rd 3774 Peter Appleby Yeadon
4th 4224 Michael Wilde Berwick

Streaker Fleet
1st 1586 Pete Tyerman Pennine
2nd 1374 Chris Wright Ripon
3rd 1527 Clive Wood Yeadon
4th 1563 Denis Beard Yeadon
5th 1482 Tim Hatterley Yeadon
6th 1597 Rob Crossland Yeadon

7th 1236 Pete Smith Ripon