Streaker Ramblings - NSSC Sailing Week - 11 - 15/08/2014

Newhaven and Seaford Sailing club hold an annual Sailing Week, usually the first week in August – but this year the second week – with a program of morning races for cadets (the Miller Cup) and ‘fun’ races usually complicated courses set by the ‘sadistic’ morning ROs. The afternoons was programmed to be two races per day – Monday to Thursday and a final race on Friday – assuming that the weather held good.

Saturday, Alan Simmons went down to Lancing SC, to pick up his Streaker in order to attend the event - before Hurricane Bertha (tail end of) came through the south coast. On Monday at 9.00am sharp he went down to Bishopstone/Seaford to see what was likely to be happening.

Force five (plus) winds from the south west meant a heavy surf was landing on the beach making launching (and subsequent recovery) looking not impossible but highly uninviting. The RO for the day decided that ‘decanting’ to Piddinghoe Pond was a sensible solution. No one took their boats as there is a good supply of Toppers, Pecos, Fevas and Optimists available from the club sailing school. There are even some Sports 14s which could be used. The Cadets were given first choice whilst the adults were able to use the remainder – mostly Toppers.

Although there was no shore break on the pond it was very breezy – force 5 and over with enormous gusts every few seconds (it seemed) and Alan decided not to participate but stay ashore and snap a few photos but he had forgotten to take his camera and so had to use his Mobile phone – not good quality results!.

In the first race some ten hardy (or foolish) souls took to the water, four of them Oppies. With a single start for all boats it was Rupert Smith in a Topper who was first away and pulled out a commanding lead from which he was never challenged. Matt Springall in Topper 15 was next away but shortly endured a series of capsizes. Tiger Cox took third place in the race but Nia Hall, sailing with the reduced sail area Topper, pulled right through to finish in second place with Matt fourth, Rowan Hudson (Oppie) fifth and Simon Hudson sixth. Tim Cox (Topper 14) had a few dips and came home seventh with Bill Hudson eighth. In ninth place was Jamie Smith and tenth place went to Lucy McCaig– both sailing Oppies.

The afternoon race was again won by Rupert with Nia second once more and Matt managing to hold on to third place. There were yet more spectacular capsizes as although the breeze appeared to have eased a little nobody told it to do so and the gusts came through with much the same ferocity. Fourth place was taken by Ed Hall (Topper) ahead of Tiger, once more ahead of dad Tim – who’s bottom of pond surveys continued unabated.  Chris Turner (Topper) failed to finish when the mast on his Topper snapped clean off, at the lower rivet holes, and was towed back ashore.

Although a second race in the afternoon was planned by Laurence Venus (PM RO for the week) there were no takers.

Tuesday dawned with Alan off to Seaford once more, more in hope than anger, but the shore break and wind strength were no better than on Monday so all went off to Piddinghoe once more. On arrival Alan again decided against going afloat but fifteen boats did take to the water although five eventually did not finish the race. Rupert did not attend and thus it was left to Matt to take up the running with Nia hard on his tail and finishing alongside on tied points. Tim took third place tied on points with Ellan McCraig in an Oppy. Also tied on points were Lucy and Zoe McCaig (Topper).

After lunch, this time with fifteen boats, the fleet was led by Tim with Chris T  second and Matt third. Steve Duncan was signed on in a Topper but did not start whilst Jamie sailing a Skipper did not finish and Manuel Panzera (Topper) was disqualified – sailed the wrong course? Nia took a fourth place with Alice Smith (reduced rig Topper) came fifrth. Race two started soon afterwards with Alice leading the fleet but staying just ahead of Nia. Just behind had been Matt and Tim who were battling it out at close quarters until, on the broad reach/run across the west (clubhouse) side of the pond, both had simultaneous and spectacular capsizes.

Although both eventually recovered Matt failed to finish the race and Tim took third place. Rupert who had been trailing this pair finally came home  in fourth place with Chris behind him and Steve in sixth position, having led the fleet in the earlier stages until he got stuck ‘in Irons’,  a not unfamiliar condition in a Topper in strong breezes, with Manual seventh.

The forecast for Wednesday had been for a reduction in wind strength but arrival by Alan at Seaford showed no obvious substantive drop and the shore break had not abated either so it was off to the pond at Piddinghoe once more. This time the fleet consisted of eighteen boats and it was Matt who took the lead and held it to the finish. Alan tried his hand at a Topper for this race and with capsizes galore, about him, found his way into second place in the second lap having passed Tiger, Tim and Alice on the way. On the next run/reach along the west side however he succumbed to a capsize himself allowing these three to re-pass him and could not thereafter catch them up only managing a fifth place ahead of Rupert. Nia had her worst placing of the series to date only managing a seventh place. Bill Wates took out a Topper for this race and finished  just behind her in eighth position.Several new faces were seen in this race, Penny Springall (Topper) was ninth, Ellan Gullimore (Taz) was twelfth, Ruben (Oppy) fourteenth, Simon Suter (Pico) fifteenth and James Wright (Topper) sixteenth.

 

This morning series being wrapped, up the overall winner was Matt with Nia second, Tiger third, Tim fourth and Rupert fifth.

The plan had been to hold a River race, boats being sailed across to the north east corner and then manhandled over the bank to catch the tide at it slackest at about 2.00pm. Rupert had gone off with crew for himself and the other NSSC safety boat. High tide was however too high to permit the safety boats to get under the swing bridge and thus it was decided to hold the two races on the pond as on previous days.

Once again the wind, during the lunch break, appeared to have reduced a little - but it had not – still in the top end of force five and with much stronger gusts. Seventeen boats went onto the water only for six to fail to complete the course. Matt took the lead which he held to the finish with Rupert next home and Tiger in third place, Alice was fourth and Chris fifth. Nia was sixth with Ed Hall (Topper) seventh and Zoe eighth. Yet again it was a day of spills and thrills with few, if any, not taking a dip.

For the next race Laurence had the mark in the north east corner moved closer to the Fisherman’s bay but unfortunately it was dropped atop the old reed Islands which are now under water and soon after the start, Matt who was leading, discovered one and nearly capsized. With a host of sound signals Laurence signified a new start. In the meanwhile Alan had decided to have another go at racing, but almost immediately after the four minute gun (first start) had gone ‘into irons’ and by the time he had started sailing again everybody else was going along the top reach/run. By the time he got to the north east corner, the safety boat was calling out to ‘raise the daggerboard completely, because of the sunken islands. There were at least three boats in or nearly in the bank/reeds in the corner and Alan, whilst trying to gybe, nearly ended up there too. Having heard all the sound signals once he was on the correct tack he decided that it was too breezy for his liking and headed ashore.

At the second start Matt shot out in front once more with Alice hot on his heels and with Tim close up behind her. Nia finshed in fourth place with Tiger behind her and Ed behind him. Rupert finished in seventh with Zoe in 9^th.

This concluded the afternoon series and resulted in an overall (series) win for Matt, with Alice second, Rupert third, Tim fourth and Nia fifth. It also concluded racing on the pond for the week.

The first three days of the week, all sailed at Piddinghoe, had been a very hard slog with the second safety boat well and truly needed to help boats with masts stuck in the mud, ashore on the far east bank or with breakages. There was hardly a moment when they were not stretched but there was relief ashore with the galley offering Pizzas, Bacon Rolls, Tea and Coffee for which all were very grateful.

Thursday it was back to Seaford for Alan and although the wind was less there was still a marked shore break as the wind direction was still straight onto the beach. Alan felt it wiser to stay ashore and only three Cadets went afloat for the Miller cup series first race that morning – Alice driving a Laser Radial with both Nia and Bea Cameron in laser 4.7s. Although Alice led for most of the race it was Nia who won on handicap. A second - CAdet afternoon race - was not held as the tide was rising and the shore break was not improving.

The adult morning ‘fun’ race was held with five starters, and it was Tim sailing a Laser Radial who went on to win from Nia in her Laser 4.7 with Bea in third, Matt (Laser full rig) fourth and Alice (Laser Radial) fifth.

On Thursday afternoon the main event finally began with the first of the PM sea races. Although the wind had dropped to a top end force four and the shore break was down to about 2 foot high waves there were only three boats prepared to launch from the beach. Rupert and Chris in their Fireball, Tim and Kingsley Cox in a Fireball and Matt Springall in his full rig Laser. These three were joined by Penny Springall, Carolyn Turner and Sara Gribble in a Squib from the harbour. The course set by Laurence was basically a rectangle with the longest side parallel with the shore but with an extra mark half way along the offshore leg that had to be left to starboard. This gave a fairly short broad reach followed by a close reach out to sea.

First away were Rupert and Chris with Matt next off followed by the Squib and finally Tim and Kingsley.  After the first lap in which they did not use their spinnaker on the first reach Rupert began to pull away from the rest of the small fleet, Matt held on to second place with Tim close on his heels and the Squib bringing up the rear but with only 25 seconds between the Laser and Squib. Lap2 saw Rupert pull still further ahead, almost three minutes in front of Tim who had by then passed Matt. Lap 3 saw Rupert maintain that lead over Tim who was by then 2 minutes ahead of Matt who himself, in spite of a short dip, was 4 minutes ahead of the Squib. Rupert continued to extend his lead in Lap 4, over Tim to be 4 minutes or so in front. Lap 5 saw Rupert now with a lead of 9 minutes over second place Matt whilst Tim retired having had enough. Lap 6 saw Rupert appearing to head off to the harbour. The trapeze wire on the fireball snapped, dumping Chris in the water and leaving just Matt and the Squib racing. Matt was adjudged the winner after the handicaps had been applied. But all was not over as Matt when coming ashore was caught by a large wave, capsized on the beach and snapped his mast in spite of the efforts of those ashore who went to help him .

Friday morning dawned with bright skies, a gentle breeze from the north west and a virtually flat sea. It had been decreed that two races were to be held in the morning  (for the Cadets) and two in the afternoon, instead of the single races previously planned – to permit a discard and make it a viable series.

The Cadet fleet consisted of seven boats for their first race on a course set as a rectangle with a loop one the western land to sea leg, laid by Alan and Rupert. First away was Alice Smith in her Laser Radial with Nia Hall close behind in her Laser 4.7. After several laps Alice held her lead followed by Nia and with Tiger Cox (Laser Radial) third. Fourth place went to Fynn Hall (Topper). Fifth place was taken by Evan Gallimore (Topper), sixth to Lucy McCaig (Topper) and seventh to Charlie Riggs also in a Topper.

The Cadets then had a back to back start for their last and final race over the unaltered course. This time it was Nia who came out ahead of Alice with Tiger maintaining his third place . Fynn also took fourth place once more but Lucy came home ahead of Evan and Charlie did not race.

The Cadet trophy, the Miller Cup therefore was won by Nia Hall with Alice Smith second and Tiger Cox third.

The sole Sea ‘Fun’ Race was held over the same basic  rectangular course except that each of the two seaward/ landward legs and the seaward east/west legs were sausages. There were nine entrants and first place went to Nick and Manuel Panzera sailing a Fireball with second place taken by Graham Hardy (Laser full rig), third going to Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial). Simon Suter sailed a full rig Laser to fourth place with Dave Robertson (Hobie 16) taking fifth, James (Laser full rig) sixth, Jo (Laser full rig) seventh and Ford (Slipper) eighth. Kathy and Thomas (Miracle) failed to finish.

So to the afternoon – real - races. Laurence set a basic rectangle once more except that he included a sausage on the inshore/offshore east leg and then another triangle to the east of that. The light breeze – force 1 to 2 – and flat sea attracted 23 entrants, Alan amongst them.

At the gun Rupert and Chris in their Fireball were first away with Matt (now re-masted) in his Laser full rig next off and then Alan. Having started a little inshore these three were able to close reach to the first mark but on the following broad reach out to sea the rest of the fleet bunched up behind with the spinnaker boats, Steve and Penelope Duncan in their Fireball included, going ahead of Alan as did Alice Smith and Tiger Cox (Fireball) and the RS400 of John and Andrew Cornish. By the end of the first lap the order was Rupert in top slot, then Steve then Terry Jones (Dart 15), Matt, Alice. Ed Hall (Laser Radial), John Cornish (RS400), Alan (Streaker), Nick & Manuel Panzera (Laser 2). The breeze was by then almost up to Force 3 with Rupert a minute ahead of Steve, with Terry lying 3^rd followed by Matt, Alice John Cornish and Alan at 8^th, Nick P 9^th and Graham 9^th – these latter three boats all within 30 seconds of one another. Nia in the 4.7 was then lying 12^th.

Lap 2 had Rupert still leading from Steve by the same minute margin with Matt now lying second ahead of Terry. John in the RS400 had passed Ed to lie 6^th behind Alice but Alan was still 8^th.The Europa was up to 9^th and Zoe had stormed through the other half of the fleet to lie 10^th (from 16^th).  Evan also climbed up from 21^st to 19^th dropping David and Lucy behind him.

Into Lap 3, the final lap, Rupert extended his lead over Steve to over 3 minutes with Matt also closing in on Steve. Alice took the fourth slot passing Terry on the way with Ed also passing John C in the RS400. Alan finished in 6^th place ahead of Terry and John C.

With the handicaps applied the winner was Alan followed by Matt, then Nia. Kathy in the Miracle came fourth with Rupert dropping to 5^th and Ed 6^th.

With all the boats finished, but before Laurence began to set up for the start of the last race, a huge squall came along the beach from the north west under seriously dark black clouds. With it came rain, a great deal of it and extremely cold and painful. It only lasted a few minutes but would have laid most of the fleet flat if they had still been racing. .Before it had fully passed over Laurence had problems with the electronic Starting signals/lights which resulted in a disparate set of sound signals but  no lights. Some of those who heard the ‘racket’ thought he was abandoning the next race – because of the squall – and headed for the beach, lowering sails, in the still heavy wind. Alan was one but had no sooner got his sail down when the message came across the Tanoy that (because of the problems with the electronics) he would use flag signals and he immediately started the 5 minute sequence. Alan hastened to re-hoist his sail and get back on the water just before the one minute signal, by which time the breeze had dropped to almost nothing. Stuck near the shore he had to watch the rest of the, substantially reduced fleet, set off over the line with some thirty or so yards deficit. He caught up a trifle as the rest rounded onto the reaching leg but it was Steve and Penelope who began to pull away at the front. By the end of the lap was Steve in the lead with Matt close on his heels and Rupert behind him. Alice was fourth Terry 5^th and Alan 6^th. Nia was not far behind at 7^th then came Nick P in the Laser 2 with Dave Robertson bring up the tail in 9^th place.

Lap 2 saw Steve increase his lead over Rupert who had passed Matt whilst Alice also closed up on Matt. The remainder of the fleet stayed in their previous lap positions but with Nia falling back from Alan.

Then it was the final lap (lap 3) and Steve just managed to hold off a last minute challenge by Rupert who finished  just 2 seconds behind but with Alice retaining her 15 second gap behind  Matt. Terry was 5^th, Alan 6^th, Nia 7^th, Nick P 8^th and Dave 9^th.

With the handicaps applied it was Alan who, again, won the race by 15 seconds corrected time ahead of second placed Matt, third placed Nia and fourth placed Steve.

At the prize giving it was Alan who (unexpectedly) claimed the top spot and ‘Seaford Salver’ with Matt second overall and Nia third, Rupert 4^th and Steve 5^th.

It had been a very difficult week weather wise but at least everybody had a chance to sail each day thanks to the club facilities (and boats/gear) at the inland water at Piddinghoe. It is always easy to be wise after the event but it would have been far better if the event had been held during the traditional first week of August and not the second week as it happened – note for the NSSC Committee for next year’s programme.

For the detailed results of all the sailing go to the NSSC web site -  http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/index.php/sailing/club-series-results

Alan.S 1700