Streakerramblings -Elford Numbum Race 2 - 15th January 2012

A nice bright shiny morning, Pale blue, almost cloudless skies and a hint of breeze from the south east – not had that even in the Freeman Iceberg series.

Kay (RO) set the course,  starting near the main flagpole with a beat (almost make it in one) down to the southeat corner followed by a short run behind the island. The next leg was a broad reach back to the start mark, a gybe and a close reach back to a mark halfway along the eastern side. Another gybe and then after turning a mark in the far north corner it was a close reach/loose beat back past the club before off down the southern side again.
The breeze was up to a good force 4 by the time all ten boats got on the water but thankfully it was not quite as gusty as usual. The line was a bit shorter than it has been of late but four boats were right there at the gun with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC) getting the jump on Matt Springhall (Laser full rig, NSSC) to windward and Alex Mills Barton (Laser full rig,NSSC) to leeward with Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) even a bit further to leeward.

Close at hand to these four were Roger McAll (Laser full rig,Pevensey Bay SC) and Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC)

 All and those following made it safely down the first leg, around the gybe at the bottom and along the short run. On broad reach Alex.M B planed past Paul.R taking a lead  which he held to the finish – at the end of the 10^th lap he was 4 minutes ahead of Paul.R. There was a scrap throughout the race between Paul.R and Matt.S –at the end of lap7 they were just 4 seconds apart after 45 minutes racing.

At the end of the first beat in lap two Roger.Mc managed to capsize at the gybe mark just ahead of Alan.S  Alan seeing the event happen just before he himself had to gybe enquired if Roger was OK only to be told ‘No I need assistance’. Alan broke off and managed to get hold of the Laser’s mast and up right the boat but Roger could not hold it and it capsized again this time putting the mast head in the mud. Alan had nothing to get hold of but awaited the arrival of the Safety boat from the north end of the pond whilst Roger stood on the plate. When said safety boat arrived Alan continued his race but by that time in 10^th place on the water.

At the end of lap 2 Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC) had moved into 4^th place behind Matt.S. Darren. F was still ahead of Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC) with Chris and Carolyn Turner (LaserII, NSCC) tucked in behind them. Bringing up the rear were Chas Humpries and Bill Wates – both in Laser full rigs from the home club – with Alan.S by then behind them.

In lap 3 Bill Wates got a bit lost on the course and had to undo the situation dropping him behind Alan.S.  In lap 7 Matt.S managed to hit the ‘original’ start mark and then in lap 8 to miss it completely. Since the mark was part of the course, according to the RO, he was disqualified. Also in lap 7 Chris and Carolyn.T suffered a block coming loose on the boom and had to retire.

As Alan.S was on his way down the south side of the pond on his 10^th lap he spotted Paul.R returning from the bottom mark with his sail looking rather sad and as he got closer observed Paul’s top mast section to fold gently forwards – he looked rather like an ‘Anhinga’ – a bird some like our Heron but which lives in the Florida everglades and hunts by folding its wings forwards over it head and body rather like an umbrella.

At some point in the race, the writer is not quite sure when, Bill.W capsized and punched the top of his mast into the mud. He said would not have had a good sail on the pond if he had finished the race with a clean sail.

On calculating the results the RO awarded Alan.S  redress for his part in Roger Mc’s Laser ‘rescue’ in the form of a deduction of some 3 minutes. Nowhere near enough to catch Alex but sufficient to give him a second place.

Results (Unofficial, Unchecked):-

1^st. Alex Mills-Barton, 2^nd. Alan Simmons, 3^rd. Darren Field, 4^th.Michael Veale, 5^th. Steve Duncan, 6^th. Chas Humphries, 7^th. Bill Wates.

After conclusion of the Race the Freeman Iceberg Trophy was presented by John Freeman to his son Jonty. Due to mix up and computer failure the trophy had been incorrectly presented to Eddie Thorburn. When the results of the last Iceberg race had been entered in the Sailwave program and whilst the two competitors had equal points Jonty had a better placing in the final race of that series.

Alan.S 1700