Streakerramblings - New Year's Day Race - Piddinghoe

Fully overcast and raining , lightly as we left home at about noon this New Year’s Day Race.

On arrival at Piddinghoe the rain was heavier and the breeze just a light force 2 ish from the South.By the time the 7 entries got on the water the breeze had come up to a good force 3 and with gusts of force 4 to 5.

The course was one used previously for the Freeman Iceberg – a very  short windward (southerly) start to a turning mark off the clubhouse then a long broad reach down the southern side of the pond.
At the eastern end there was a gybe (around a repositioned and re-anchored) mark onto a run behind the island.  Mid way along the eastern side was a mark onto a windward leg to a mark off the flagpole then turning onto a run to the north eastern corner finishing with a beat back to the start line.

At the start it was Bill Wates (Laser full rig, NSSC) who, having just recovered from a capsize, found himself right by the pin and first over the line. Alongside him but slightly to leeward was Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC). Alan had the speed however and was ahead by the turning mark and off onto the somewhat hairy broad reach. Just behind this pair were Michael Veale (RS 200, NSSC) and Mike Rosier (Laser II, NSSC) once again using the strange cut down Scorpion rig. Bringing up the rear were Dan Ford and Becca Gibson (Magno, NSSC), Julian Dobson (Laser full rig,NSSC) and Phil in an un-numbered Pico.  Also on the water and intending to join in the race was Jonty Freeman (NSSC) with a Sailboard wearing a ‘HiFly’ rig. Whether it was the wind strength or the cold water Jonty did not last more than three laps before heading ashore.

The race was a bit processional as Alan.S went into the lead from the start and stayed there throughout the race. Similarly Michael.V took second spot early in lap 1 and was not challenged to the finish- some 2 minutes behind Alan. For the first two laps Mike.R  held third place ahead of Julian.D until a block in his mainsheet system failed during lap 3. After repairs Mike got back into third spot.

There were several capsizes, Bill Wates owned up to at least three and Dan.F was seen to be doing a pond bottom survey fairly early on in his race. Likewise Julian.D was seen with somewhat raised daggerboard whist going to windward and probably had at least one knockdown ion lap 3. Michael.V  admitted that he could have been a bit closer to Alan had he had the courage to fly his spinnaker – there were three legs possible each lap- but the gusty conditions put him off.

Phil in the Pico managed to miss the start line mark at the end of lap one and again later and so had no result otherwise he would have been fairly well placed.

Results (unchecked/unofficial):-

1^st.  Alan Simmons, 2^nd. Michael Veale, 3^rd= Julian Dobson, 3^rd= Mike Rosier, 5^th. Bill Wates, 6^th. Dan Ford, 7^th. (Disq) Phill Xxxx

Alan was pleased to have made it round the course without a full capsize, he had at least two near misses, being able to view his Daggerboard full length before recovering. With the continuous heavy rain he also had great difficulty in spotting some of the marks until very close to them. It was the miserable looking conditions that led Laurence Venus to decide not to get rigged and enter the race.

The hope is that the weather conditions experienced (which obviously led to the reduced numbers) are not a foretaste of what is to come in the Elford Numbum series due to start next Sunday 8^th Jan although at the time of writing this blog the sky is clear and blue and the Sun shining strongly and just a gentle breeze blowing.
  Alan.S 1700
PS. Sorry for the marks on the pictures - rain drops!