Streakerramblings -Freeman Iceberg Race 4 - 27th November 2011

A grey sky, wall to wall, a very strong breeze and rain coming down in sheets. That was just on the journey down to Piddinghoe this Sunday. On arrival Alan.S was in two minds as whether or not to sail in the westerly wind but decided to rig anyway. Huge gusts were coming across the water and the wind was howling in the rigging of boats on the bankside – suggesting at least force 5 to 6.
There was a fair amount of interest with finally eleven boats getting onto the pond, with one boat left on the bank, its helm unsure of the sense of going afloat ( having seen Alan.S in his Streaker, one of the first afloat, capsize and have to await the safety boat to free his mast from the mud) finally deciding against venturing out.
Kay, the RO set a course with an initial short beat up the long (west) side of the pond, turning in front of the clubhouse and followed by a close reach along the northern bank. Turning there led off on a broad reach back to the start mark and after another gybe another reach across to the east bank and thence behind the island on a run to the Southern corner and finally the main beat up the west side.

At the off there was a good bit of shouting as Paul Ryan (Laser, Hardway SC) coming up fast below Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC) forced him up towards the pin mark. A little to leeward Rupert Smith (NSSC) sailing a Laser full Rig this week - instead of the Mirror he has used for the previous races – came off the line with good speed with Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC) tucked in close behind. Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) was close to the pin but just astern of Paul.R and right down to leeward Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200, NSSC) started off on port tack.
By the end of lap one the order was Paul.R followed by Rupert.S with Jonty.F in third spot. Next up was Michael.V with Alan.S in 5th spot – these two remained in the same relative postion throughout the race with the gap between them opening and closing constantly. Tom Taylor (Megabyte, NSSC) was labouring in sixth on the water having been nowhere near the line at the start – probably not hearing the guns due to the wind and not seeing the visual signals, somewhat hidden in the reeds. In seventh place was Darren.F, then came Jack Turner and James Bovington (Laser II, NSSC) with D.Ford and girl crew in the Magno (NSSC) bringing up the tail.

Nathan Bloss (NSSC) sailing a Laser Radial suffered a broken Kicking strap in the first lap, after an early capsize, leading to a skying boom which eventually came off and he ended up on the east bank until towed home. Josh Smith sailing a Topper with the reduced rig found the breeze still too much for him and also capsized in lap one and then retired to the bank.
A battle royal was happening in the front of the fleet with Rupert.S passing Jonty.F in lap 2, losing the place back in lap 3. By lap 4 Jonty.F had also overtaken Paul.R as has Rupert.S. The top order then stayed Jonty, Rupert and Paul to the finish.

A bit further back down the fleet Jack.T had a capsize in lap 4 and retired whilst Tom.T suffered a dip in lap 5 but recovered and although he passed Alan.S before the finish he was still a lap behind.
Whilst the skies cleared and the sun shone out the breeze dropped slowly throughout the racing until it fizzled out almost entirely once everyone was ashore and packed up.
Once the handicaps had been calculated Alan.S had overtaken Michael.V but made no impression on the three front running Lasers.

Results (Unofficial, Unapproved) :-
1st. Jonty Freeman, 2nd Rupert Smith, 3rd. Paul Ryan, 4th.Alan Simmons, 5th.Michael Veale, 6th. Darren Field, 7th. Tom Taylor, 8th, D.Ford, 9th (Retired), Jack Turner, Josh Smith and Nathan Bloss.
Alan.S 1700