Solid,
High, grey cloud, a cool easterly breeze was the theme as we left Hove for Piddinghoe
for the final race of this year’s Elford Numbum series. It was not exactly
inviting but a few hardy souls turned up for the race.
The
course started just off the clubhouse, between a pair of buoys, with a beat down
the west side of the pond to the turn off the Fisherman’s bay. The following
leg to a mark in the centre of the pond was a short but broad reach flowed by
another windward leg to a mark midway along the eastern shore. After this there
was a run behind the island to a mark in the southern corner of the pond before
a gybe and broad reach up the southern side to the inner mark off the
clubhouse.
Ten
boats took to the water, including Zoe McCaig (NSSC) sailing in a Pico and first
across the line at the start was Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200 – NSSC)
with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) in second position close to the
pin end mark and Roger McCall (Laser full rig – Pevensey Bay SC) a little to
leeward of Michael. Alaq Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) was just behind this
bunch, again close to the pin but soon tacked off towards the centre of the
pond to maintain clear air. Paul was first round the windward mark and stayed
out in front throughout the seven lap race. Behind Alan was Julian Dobson
(Laser full rig - NSSC) then David and Aiden Murley (Pico – NSSC) followed by
Bill Wates (Laser full rig –NSSC). In the rear three Dan Ford (Pico – NSSC) led
Zoe and Jasmin Sayed (Topper – NSSC).
By
the end of the second beat – towards the east shore from the centre of the pond
– Alan had just overtaken Michael.V and
was close on Roger’s stern. At the gybe after the leg behind the Island Alan
lost it all when he went for a swim. He also did not duck low enough and had a
goodly crack on the head from the boom, enough to raise blood..Further more the dagger-board
fell out warranting a second swim round and when he got the boat upright and
was back aboard he had lost at least two minutes in the first lap. Apart from
that his fingers were numb – with or without his gloves on – and he was unable
to hold on to the mainsheet properly. A bit further back down the course Zoe
had also managed to fall over and partially lost contact with her boat. The
safety boat having ascertained that Alan was OK sped off to her assistance.
As
far as can be ascertained from the lap sheets the next two sailors who had
problems, in lap two, were Jasmin who dropped back two minutes and Julian who
retired cold – he forgot to bring a spray top and with the wind chill found it
too cold to continue. Alan having started sailing again pulled back two places
to fifth but decided not to continue having just crossed the line at the end of
his second lap. When attempting to get back ashore he finally managed to stop
at the bank but was unable to release his main halyard – no feeling in his
fingers – but was eventually hauled ashore by Laurence Venus and Rupert Smith.
Following a hot coffee and a change of clothing he began to come back to life.
The
wind was blowing a good force four, lower end, ensuring a very lively reach up
the south side of the pond which caused Bill a problem in his fifth and final
lap and, from the lap time, he spent a few minutes inspecting his dagger-board - from the underside. This allowed Dan through
to fifth place on the water. Among the front runners Paul was out ahead by
about half a minute for most of the race and by a full minute by the finish.
Michael was able to pass Roger eventually in lap 4, these two having had quite
a duel with the gap opening up in the final lap – a dip for Roger is the likely
cause for that state of affairs.
David and Aiden sailed a blistering race, staying
in fourth place on the water from lap two to the end of lap 7. Jasmin also
sailed very well and went to 7th on the water behind Dan but in
front of Zoe.
With
the handicaps applied the winner of that final race was David and Aiden Murley in their Pico with Paul taking second spot and
the two Michael.V and Mike.R home in third. Roger.M was fourth, Dan.F was
fifth, Jasmin sixth and Zoe seventh.
As
far as the Series is concerned Paul Ryan was the overall winner with Alan
second and Michael third. Steve Duncan was fourth overall, Roger fifth and Jasmin
sixth with Dan seventh.
In
the parallel Cadets series, with results extracted from the main racing, the
overall - worthy - winner was Jasmin
Sayed with Dan Ford the runner up. These two went out in all wind conditions.
After the final series race a fun race was held whilst
the results were worked out – but being otherwise occupied Alan did not see
this event and is therefore unable to report. He believes there were no more
than four boats envolved, two Picos, a Topper and the RS200 - perhaps the winner can advise?
The weather for this early 2013 series had had
a bit of a strong wind bias - more so than in the recent past – but it does
give a fairer chance for the heavier crews. Three races were lost to adverse (or forecast adverse) weather out of the 15 programmed. A total of 32 boats entered the Numbum, although some only sailed one or two races. It could have been a little hectic had they all come on the water on the same day.
Readers of this blog may now have a few weeks
of peace as the next item on the agenda is the Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace – 2nd and 3rd March – and
a short gap to the first Streaker Open Meeting – 23rd March at
Tamworth or alternatively at Bough Beech. Sea sailing starts at Lancing on 31st March.
Alan.S 1700
For the official results go
to :- http://www.nssc.org.uk/results/2013/numbum.htm
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