Freeman Iceberg Race 5 - 5th December 2010

The external thermometer – in the car – was hovering between1 and 2 degrees C on the journey to Piddinghoe. The sky was grey and overcast with just a hint of the sun trying to break through. The pond was free of ice and a tiny breeze (4 to 5 knots) was blowing from the north eastern corner, along the top bank. By the end of the race and the packing up of the boats the sun did show itself briefly.

This has been the predominant wind direction for all the races to date so it was no surprise to have to sail a similar course. Leg one was a beat along the northern side to a bright (day-glow) pink mark. From thence it was a broad reach to a yellow mark northeast of the island and then a run to the other side of the island to a mark in the south east corner. After a short reach, to a mark north west of the island, it was a second beat to a turning mark near the middle of the pond, followed by a broad reach across to the southern side and finally a sharp north turn back to the start/finish line.

A little breeze had come up in time for the start – the low end of force 3 – and it was Laurence Venus (Steaker – NSSC), sporting his new P & B sail, who was first across the line at the start. Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) was close behind Laurence and Steve Duncan (Laser full rig – NSSC) on their heels. Michael Veale (RS 200 – NSSC) was just to leeward of these three and Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) found himself shoved even further down the line to avoid the leading bunch.

Paul.R and then Steve.D tacked off onto port to find the breeze in the middle of the pond whilst Laurence.V stayed near the north bank and by the time the windward mark was reached it was Paul.R a couple of boat lengths up on Steve.D with Laurence just behind him and Alan.S another length astern.
Tom Taylor (Megabyte – NSSC) sailing in his first race of this year’s Freeman Iceberg series had been a bit shy of the rest at the start but slowly but shurely began to pull up and was closing on Alan.S by the end of the lap. It was not however until the middle of lap 3 before he got ahead.

Paul.R held the lead throughout the race by an average of no more than 15 seconds during the first 5 laps and that only increased to 30 seconds in the next four – each lap lasting on average 7 minutes.
Laurence.V was in a continual struggle with Steve.D, passing him in lap 3, losing out in lap 4, getting ahead once more in lap 5 and then losing out yet again in lap6 whilst staying behind then to the finish at the end of lap 9.
Michael.V (crewed by Mike Rosier – NSSC) although using their asymmetric spinnaker were unable to hold off a challenge from David Hitchens (Laser full rig - NSSC) and David got through them in lap 5. At the finish the order was 1st. Paul.R, 2nd. Steve.D, 3rd.Laurence.V and 4th Tom.T. The light, but shifty, breeze – which faded a bit towards the end - gave little chance for the faster boats to sail to their handicaps whilst the two Streakers revelled in the conditions and took overall first and second places.
Frozen fingers and feet were the order of the day but a nice steaming hot cup of coffe helped a little.
Results (Unofficial-Provisional) :-
1st. Laurence.V, 2nd. Alan.S, 3rd .Paul.R, 4th. Steve.D, 5th. Tom.T, 6th. David.H. 7th. Michael.V
Alan.S still leads the series, just, but next week has a rescue boat duty (hope today’s little problems with the engine are a thing of the past) – Laurence.V has one too the following week so there is still a battle to be joined.
Alan.S 1700.