Streaker Ramblings – Freeman Iceberg Races 3 & 4 – 10.11.2013

Sunday 10th November dawned with beautifull deep blue skies, not a cloud to be seen, but with vapour trails from aircraft to (and beyond) the continent and back. On leaving Hove there was but a light breeze but upon arrival at Piddinghoe this had become a solid breeze from the north at about top end force 4 with gusts well into force 5. It was not exactly hot but there was no evidence of frost as had been forecast.

Chris Turner, RO for the day, set a course from an oblique line to a mark mid way along the south side of the pond with a beat to a mark off the Fisheman’s bay (in the north corner) followed by a broad reach along the west side to a mark off the clubhouse. From there there was a very close reach to a mark midway along the east side, a run behind the island and finally a close reach back to the start line.

 

Some eighteen boats hit the water for the first race (No 3 of the series) and a tight bunch closed with the line for the start. Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC, the sole non NSSC member to date) had missed the first gun but picked up the four minute signal and was right on the line – if not just over – at the off signal. This turned out to be general recall, whether there were too many boats over or if the start signal was a tad late is not clear but all had to return and begin over. Somehow, between the two starts, Chas Humphrey managed to capsize.

 

At the second start Rupert Smith (Laser Radial) was first away with Terry Jones (Laser full rig) tight on the pin end mark and Alan.S third away, just to weather of Ed Thorburn (Finn). The next small group consisted of Tim Cox (Laser Radial) then Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) with Darren Filed and Louise Currel (Vago) seventh to cross. First to round the windward mark was Ed.T followed by Rupert.S and the two Michaels with Darren.F close behind. Alan.S was fifth but decided to skirt the pack and sank low on the reach to sneak through the mark off the clubhouse in second place.

By the time they got to the ‘gybe’ at the east bank Rupert had reclaimed second spot and Tim was just behind Alan. By the end of the first lap Ed was clear out in front with Rupert behind. Alan was still in third place with Michael.V and Tim.C tied across the line. Behind the front group Steve Duncan (Laser full rig) was ahead of Darren, who in turn was in front of Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) tied with John Smith (Laser full rig) and Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial). The next pair, in 11th and 12th place, were Bill Wates and Graham Hardy (both in full rig Lasers). Chas Humphries (Laser full rig) was next up ahead of David Murley (Pico) , Terry Jones, Josh Smith (Topper) , Hannah Reed (Pico) and lastly Phil Buckingham (Pico).

Lap 2 saw Ed increase the distance between himself and Rupert whilst Alan stayed in third of Tim who had overtaken Michael.V. Steve was still 6th in front of Darren but Zoe was ahead of Julian with Bill behind him. John.S came adrift with a capsize which dropped him down from 9th to 11th whilst Chas went from 13th to 15th in the process letting Dave and Terry get ahead, the rear three places did not change.

In lap three, on the leg across the east side behind the island, Alan had a disastrous attempt at the gybe part way along the leg. As a result he suffered a ‘dry’ capsize letting both Michael.V and Tim get past him – two places he was unable to recover. Julian recovered a place passing Zoe, as did Bill, but John.S dropped from 11th to 14th due to some more swimming and Chas climbed up to 13th from 15th. There were no changes in the rear threesome. In lap 4 the front 12 boats stayed in the same relative positions but there was a problem at the gybe mark near the east bank when a Pico came to a halt touching the mark and Terry decided to go alongside him send all others around the outside of this huddle. Laps 5, 6 and 7 saw no further place changes among the leaders althought there was some further separation. At the finish Ed was first aqcross thew line with Rupert behind by just under 2 minutes, with Tim a minute and a half behind him and Alan about the same again behind Tim. Handicaps applied put Rupert ahead of Ed with Tim next and Alan in 4th place.

 

Race two was run over the same course, with the wind easing mid race before returning at full strength by the later laps. The fleet was down to 13 boats, two Lasers and the slow boats (other than David.M) not taking part. This time the leaders grouped around the pin end mark and as a result Alan and Michael.V were edged out and had to gybe round. Darren was first away with Rupert to leeward and Ed to leeward of Rupert. Tim was a little behind and further towards the shore but travelling fast and he got clear of the rest, bar Ed to make second place at the windward mark. Alan took the same line on the reach across the western side to pick up several places and turn the mark off the clubhouse just behind Rupert and Chas but ahead of Darren who had pushed him out at the start. By the end of the lap the order was Ed in1st place thenTim. Rupert, Chas and Alan. Steve was in 6th place ahead of Darren, Zoe, Bill and Michael.V. John.S was 11th in front of Dave and Terry. Lap 2 saw Ed and Tim pull out further ahead whilst Alan closed with and passed Chas to almost catch Rupert. Steve was still 6th behind Chas and bill behind them. Zoe and Darren crossed the line tied for 8th place with the last three places unchanged.

Lap 3 saw Alan on the same course along the western side catching and overtaking Rupert to go third but a long way adrift of Tim and Ed way out in front. Behind Rupert, Chas stayed ahead of Steve with Bill next up in 7th place. This time Zoe and Michael.V were tied across the line with both of them having overtaken Darren. John, Dave and Terry remained in that order.

In lap 4 Rupert regained third place on the water from Alan with Chas behind him. Bill finished the lap in front of Steve with Michael next up in front of Darren and john behind him ahead of Zoe (who seems likely to have taken a dip). Dave and Terry remained in the same relative positions.

Lap 5 saw no place changes among the front four but Steve pulled back from 7th to5th nan Michael climbed up to 6th with Darren also making ground to 7th and Zoe up from 11th to 8th. Bill had problems dropping from 6th to 12th as did Chas dropping from 5th to 10th. Terry also spent some time on underwater surveys.

 

In the final 6th lap Michael came home 5th in front of Steve with the front four unchanged and Darren bringing up the rear in 7th place. This time after the handicaps had been applied Tim was the winner ahead of Ed with Alan in 3rd place ahead of Rupert.

Overall Results.:-

 






Race 3  

Rank		Class	Sail No	Club	Helm Name	Crew Name	Elapsed	Points
1		Laser Radial	7757	NSSC	Rupert Smith		45.41	1.0
2		Finn	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		43.52	2.0
3		Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		47.04	3.0
4		Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		48.39	4.0
5		RS 200	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	47.21	5.0
6		Laser	177577 (203084)	NSSC	Steve Duncan		48.57	6.0
7		Pico 2	2072	NSSC	David Murley		43.42	7.0
8		Vago	808	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell		8.0
9		Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig			9.0
10		Laser	176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		45.25	10.0
11		Pico	Red/White	NSSC	Paul Buckingham		49.44	11.0
12		Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		50.58	12.0
13		Laser	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		44.55	13.0
14		Topper	4	NSSC	Josh Smith		44.00	14.0
15		Laser	163443	NSSC	Graham Hardy		45.55	15.0
16		Laser	177611	NSSC	John Smith		37.55	16.0
17		Pico	4	NSSC	Hannah Rea		50.23	17.0
18		Laser	11	NSSC	Terry Jones		93.47	18.0

                                 Race 4  

Rank		Class	Sail No	Club	Helm Name	Crew Name	Elapsed	Points
1		Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		42.47	1.0
2		Finn	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		40.40	2.0
3		Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		45.00	3.0
3		Laser	122461	NSSC	David Hitchins		OOD	3.0
5		Pico 2	2072	NSSC	David Murley		43.41	4.0
6		Laser Radial	7757	NSSC	Rupert Smith		44.17	5.0
7		Laser	177577 (203084)	NSSC	Steve Duncan		46.37	6.0
8		Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		40.45	7.0
9		RS 200	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	46.26	8.0
10		Vago	808	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	47.15	9.0
11		Laser	177611	NSSC	John Smith		40.54	10.0
12		Laser	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		41.17	11.0
13		Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		47.14	12.0
14		Laser	11	NSSC	Terry Jones		48.18	13.0

 Alan.S 1700