Streakerramblings -Freeman Iceberg Race 7 - 18th December2011

What a change, blue almost cloudless skies this morning on our way to Piddinghoe with just a hint of breeze. On arrival it was still bright and sunny but with a deep frost on the boat cover and a cool breeze from the west, perhaps a force 3.
Fourteen boats entered this race and all were on the water for the start. By then the breeze had dropped to a force 1 to 2 and it stayed thus throughout – the sun stayed out too.
The course was an old familiar, start near the flagpole and a short beat to the corner near the clubhouse followed by a reach along the north side. Thereafter it was a close reach back towards the flag pole and a gybe round the former start mark and off to the east side and another gybe. The final two legs were a reach behind the island and then a long beat up the west side to the clubhouse but inside the start line limit mark.

At the gun there were a couple of boats, Laurence Venus (Streaker, NSSC) and Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC) close to the bank and off on a port tack flyer whilst the rest of the fleet were coming up the line on starboard. At the pin end Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) tried to get in by the limit mark but was prevented by Michael Veale and Andy Walker (RS 200, NSSC). Alan had just enough speed however to tack away on port and then return on starboard at the mark to turn in third place.

By the time Laurence.V had reached the north east gybe mark Alan was 2nd and Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) third with Darren 4th. Laurence immediately began to draw away on the reach whilst Ed overtook Alan before the end of the leg. At the end of lap one the order was Laurence.V, Ed. T, Alan.S, Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC) and then Rupert Smith (Laser full rig, NSSC). The following group were led by Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC) then Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC), Darren.F and Bill Wates (Laser full rig, NSSC).


In the second lap Steve.D blitzed his way past Rupert.S, Jonty.F and Alan.S. Paul.S using a borrowed bottom mast section (after last week’s breakage) also climbed up past Rupert and Alan to be fourth on the water and Ed.T scraped past Laurence.V to take the lead by ten seconds. By the end of lap 4 the top order was established as Ed.T, Laurence.V, Paul.R, Steve.D, Rupert.S Jonty.F, Alan.S and then Darren.F.
Slightly further back Graham Hardy (Laser full rig, NSSC) and Bill. W were having their own private battle with Chas Humphries (Laser full rig, NSSC) and Michael – who found their boat somewhat sticky in the light wind. Bringing up the tail were Mike Rosier with crew Chris Rosier (Topper Magno, NSSC) ahead of Alice Smith (Topper, NSSC). In the light breeze Alice was suffering from lack of momentum and unable to repeat her performance as last week.
Ed.T was first across the line ahead of Laurence.V, but well behind on handicap although holding an adequate margin on Alan.S who came home in third spot.
This week Dan Ford volunteered to crew the safety boat – hence his apparent absence from the race.

Results (Unofficial, Unconfirmed) :-
1st. Laurence Venus, 2nd. Ed Thorburn, 3rd. Alan Simmons, 4th Paul Ryan, 5th.Darren Field, 6th. Jonty Freeman, 7th. Rupert Smith, 8th. Graham Hardy, 9th. Chas Humphries, 10th. Bill Wates, 11th. Steve Duncan, 12th. Mike Rosier, 13th. Michael Veale, 14th. Alice Smith.

Alan.S 1700
PS. I repeat my message from last week - for those of my readers who missed it - I wish you all the seaons greetings for a Happy Christmas and Prosperous,Eventfull and Interesting New Year in 2012.
PPS. The next - and final - Race of the 2011 Freeman Iceberg will take place on Boxing day , Monday 26th December and hopefully I will be there to take part and/or report.