Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Race 17 - 26.12.2013

The sun was just about up as we left for Piddinghoe on Boxing Day morning for the final race (race 17) of the Freeman Iceberg series. Of wind there was nothing – quite surprising considering the storms and flooding last week. We took the coast road just in case there should have been any fallen trees on the road down from Kingston Village. As it happened there were no problems when we returned home via Kingston other that the odd pool of water part way across the road.

On arrival at the pond an inspection of the boat revealed that all was well except that Streaker 1700's burgee was totally shredded and needs replacement – New Year’s day job – Oh yes, the cover held a large pocket of water  ‘under Ice’.
Laurence Venus had opted to be RO for the single race of the day as he needed to work out the final series results and then still get home at a reasonable time. His original intention was to have a Committee boat start but as the breeze filled in from next to nothing the angle changed and he started from the shore. The line was well angled back from the south shore with the pin mark just south of the western edge of the Island. From there it was a windward leg to a mark off the Fisherman’s bay and a fetch back to a mark off the clubhouse. There was a gybe here and then a leg to a mark midway along the eastern bank, another gybe and a leg to the mark in the south eastern corner passing behind the Island. From there it was a short beat back to the start and finish line pin mark.
Fifteen boats took to the water with both Alice and Brendan Smith (in his first ever race)taking out a Pico each, Tiger Cox taking a Topper, Mike Rosier taking out his Laser II with his son Chris – leaving Michael Veale to sail the RS200 single handed. A little breeze, about force 2, had filled in just before the start, and got up to about force three during the race only to fall off again by the final lap.

At the start, on a somewhat biased line, it was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) who was first away with Rupert Smith (Laser Radial) next, nearer to the bank but further back from the line, and Matt Springall (Laser full rig) a touch behind Alan and further to leeward. Next in line were Jazz Sayed (Laser 4.7), Steve Duncan (Laser full rig) and Daren Field and Nathan Bloss in the Vago.

 

Alan headed for the south shore and tacked as Rupert (and Matt) did, whilst Steve tacked off closer to the pin. As Alan arrived at the Fisherman’s Bay mark Steve arrive almost simultaneously but to leeward and Alan took the inside berth. Whilst turning onto the next leg Steve was a bit over-anxious and hit Alan on the Starboard Quarter then having to do turns on the following leg which left him well back in the pecking order. The following gaggle was initially led by Rupert with Matt close behind, then Darren, Jazz, Bill Giles (Solo) and Michael.V

By the end of the first lap Alan was ahead of Matt by 11 seconds with Darren third, Michael V (having used his Gennaker of the off-wind legs) lying fourth ahead of Rupert. Jazz was 11 seconds behind him and ahead of Steve by half a minute. Lying eigth were Mike R and Son in the Laser II with Bill  next, then Zoe, Tiger, Alice, Dave Murley (with son Aiden perched on the foredeck), Brendan and lastly, at 15^th, Tim Cox (Laser Radial). He had apparently thought the start was much later and was not on the water until the fleet was half way round the first lap.

Lap two saw Alan staying ahead of Matt and inching away, Darren was third ahead of Michael and Steve back up to 5^th having passed Both Rupert and Jazz. Tim had caught up quite a lot and was up to 11^th whilst Tiger slipped back a place and Alice fell back from 11^th to 14thbut still ahead of her brother Brendan.

Lap 3 saw Alan still in top spot ahead of Matt now pursued by Michael, having slipped past Darren. Steve was still 5^th but closing the gap., whilst Rupert had gained a little on Jazz in 7^th place, .there were no changes in mid fleet but Brendan had overtaken Alice. Lap 4 saw Alan pull out to lie some 3 minutes in front of Matt with Michael dropping back behind Darren once more and Steve jumping in between them.

Lap 5 had only five boats left still sailing with Alan increasing his lead to six minutes over Matt. Michael passed both Steve and Darren in a concluding dog fight between these three. With the handicap applied Alan was the clear winner followed by Jazz and Rupert in third place. Matt was 4^th Steve 5^th and Michael 6^th.

Results :- R17

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Posn	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		58.25	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		53.10	0.05.08	2.0
3	Laser Radial	7757	NSSC	Rupert Smith		51.04	0.05.36	3.0
4	Laser	81	NSSC	Matt Sprigall		64.27	0.09.08	4.0
5	Laser	203084	NSSC	Steve Duncan		65.18	0.09.59	5.0
6	RS 200	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	64.27	0.10.52	6.0
7	Vago	808	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	65.41	0.11.32	7.0
8	Solo	3754	NSSC	Bill Giles		57.57	0.11.13	8.0
9	Topper	26340	NSSC	Tiger Cox		66.23	0.12.56	9.0
10	Laser 2	7886	NSSC	Mike Rosier	Chris Rosier	52.36	0.10.28	10.0
11	Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		58.23	0.12.55	11.0
12	Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		58.38	0.13.10	12.0
13	Pico 2	2072	NSSC	David Murley		59.29	0.18.49	13.0
14	Pico	Purple	NSSC	Brendan Smith		61.05	0.20.25	14.0
15	Pico	Red	NSSC	Alice Smith		64.50	0.24.10	15.0

 

At the prize giving the 2013 Freeman Iceberg Series winner was Alan Simmons with David Murley 2^nd, Tim Cox 3^rd and Rupert Smith 4^th. For the full results see the NSSC web site via this link :-

http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2013/wsfio2013h.htm

 

The Laser Class  winner was Steve Duncan with Tim Cox runner up and Rupert Smith third- for full results follow this link :-

http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2013/wslfi2013h.htm

The Menagerie class winner was Alan Simmons with second place going to David Murley with Michael Veale and Mike Rosier taking third spot, for the Class result table go to :-

http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2013/wsfim2013h.htm

The prize for the top Cadet went to Josh Smith who persisted by sailing a Topper

 through thick and thin in 12 of the possible 17 races.
 This year no races were lost to bad weather and there was a dead heat between strong and light breezes – something for every one.

The next race will be on New Year’s Day – at 2pm to allow for any hangovers from the previous night’s partying. Following that the Elford Numbum Series commences on Sunday 5^th January and runs until Sunday 23^rd February – watch this space for the weekly reports.

Alan.S 1700

PS. To all readers of this blog, be you Streaker sailors, sailors of other classes and even non sailors, here’s wishing you all a very Happy (and prosperous) New Year.