Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Races 9 & 10 - 30/11/2014

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At 8.00 am there were blue skies and bright sunshine at Hangleton. An hour later, as we prepared to set off for Pidinghoe, thick mist filled the valley to the west. There was no noticeable breeze until we arrived at the pond where the light breeze (force 2 ish) was coming from the north west corner.

The race officer, John Cornwall, set a course around the perimeter of the water, starting close to the clubhouse in the south west corner and heading to the first mark  just off the Fisherman’s Bay. From there it was off on a reach to a mark midway along the eastern shore and thence behind the Island to a mark in the south east corner. The following leg, to the mark in the south west corner, was a close reach and then a final short windward leg to the finish mark. The racing for the day was slightly delayed, out of respect, to observe a one minute silence for Steve Duncan (a long time Piddinhoe participant) who sadly died on 23rd of November.

Altogether 19 boats came to the line with Alan Simmons  taking his brand new Aero 7 on to the water for its inaugural sail and thus a little wary at the start. First away, coming in from the pin end on starboard tack, were Darren Field and Louise  Currell (RS 200). Close to the west bank it was Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) with Laurence Venus (Streaker) even closer in. Darren quickly tacked onto port and Michael had to dip his stern whilst Laurence was able to hold his course.

The next group consisted of Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) with Tim Cox (Laser Radial) just below her and then Rupert Smith and Chris Turner (Vago) below him. Alan was about 7^th to get going on the first windward leg. As they approached the mark at the Fisherman’s Bay area Darren was in front and followed by Laurence and then Michael. Once around the mark Darren quickly hoisted his Gennaker for the next two legs to the mark south of the island and with Laurence hard on his heels.

By the end of the close reach along the south shore Michael was lying 3^rd with Tim and Rupert crossing the line tied in 4^th position, John Smith (Laser full rig) 6^th  and Alan 7^th. Josh Smith (Laser 4.7) was 8^th, Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) 9^th and Zoe 10^th. The positions of the remainder of the fleet are a bit dubious as a large group rounded en-masse.

During lap 2 there were but few place changes behind the leader Darren, second placed Laurence and Michael lying third. Alan clawed his way up to 4^th despite having problems with his kicker cleat (subsequently found to be due to the mount being factory fitted 180 degrees out of position) which became loose every time he went off wind, passing Tim, Rupert and John on the way. John also dropped back behind Rupert to lie 7^th. Graham Hardy (Laser full rig) came across the line 8^th, John Nash (Laser full rig) 9^th, whilst Zoe retained 10^th place. Behind her Julian and Bill Wates (Laser full rig) crossed the line simultaneously in 11^th followed by Dave Murley (Laser Radial) 13th, Julian Stephens and Paul Vincent (Laser Fun) 14^th, Carolyn Turner (Laser Radial) 15^th, Tiger Cox (Topper) 16th, Penny Springall (Laser 4.7) 17^th, Josh Smith (Laser 4.7) 18^th and Charlie Rigg (Pico) 19^th.

By the end of the 3^rd lap Darren still held the lead, just, ahead of Laurence and Michael and Alan tied across the line for equal 3^rd. Tim and Rupert were still 5^th and 6^th  whilst Graham gained a place to lie 7^th whilst John.S dropped back to 9^th having been overtaken by Graham and John.N. Julian.D also gained a place to10th passing Zoe on the way. Further back Carolyn  passed Julian.S but the last four retained their respective places in the previous lap.
Lap 4 saw Laurence finally triumph by catching and passing Darren whilst Alan got away from Michael to lie 3^rd. Tim and Rupert remained 5^th and 6^th respectively but John.N overtook Graham and Bill also passed Zoe into 11^th place and Penny also went up a place ahead of Tiger to lie 16^th.
Lap 5, the final lap saw no place changing in the leading 4 boats but with Laurence increasing his lead over Darren to 25 seconds at the gun and Alan some 50 seconds adrift in third pace.
With the handicaps applied the order for the first three was as they finished on the water but with Tim 4th and Tiger 5^th.

The second race of the day set off at 12 noon with Alan leaving the pin end of the line on Starboard and forcing Laurence, who started on port nearer the shore, to go about to Alan’s call. Laurence having tacked so did Alan and the pair shot off along the western shore towards the Fisherman’s Bay mark. Meanwhile Rupert had started at the pin end and was finding a reasonable breeze in the middle of the pond. Laurence however was able to hold his course closer to the wind than Alan and rounded onto the first reach with just about clear water between the two boats. As the fleet started the close reach back up the southern shore Alan and Laurence were still neck and neck with Rupert lying 3rd just ahead of Michael. Behind them, and next to round the south east mark, were Tim and John.N. As the middle bunch of the fleet crossed the line at the end of the lap they were so close that the RO and ARO were unable to take down individual times.

 

In the second lap Laurence began to edge out ahead of Alan, still suffering from kicker troubles, and was 30 seconds ahead at the line. Rupert had fallen back from 3^rd to 6^th having been overtaken by Michael  and Darren whilst Tim crossed the line 6^th. Graham was lying 7^th ahead of John.N, Bill, John.S and Zoe.
Lap 3 Saw Laurence un-stoppable and increasing his lead over Alan and had Darren behind him, and now ahead of Michael, and closing on him. There were no changes in position for the remainder of the fleet – 5^th placed Rupert down to last placed Charlie.
Lap 4 with Laurence in the lead, now by 2 minutes from Alan, saw Darren still ahead of Michael and Rupert with Graham and Zoe both passing Tim, Zoe having also taken out John.N and Bill on the way. At the back of the fleet Julian.D recovered from 18^th to 15^th. Leading Penny, Josh  and  Julian.S.
In lap 5 Laurence stayed well ahead of Alan, this lap by nearly two minutes, whilst Graham briefly took 3rd place ahead of Darren and Michael dropped from 4^th to 5^th behind Rupert. Zoe maintained her 7^th place but Tim dropped to 9^th astern of John.N. In the final lap, lap 6, Laurence lost 10 seconds from his lead over Alan and Darren went back into 3^rd place some 16 seconds behind Alan. Graham dropped back behind Michael, who in turn passed Rupert, to finish 6^th. Zoe stayed at 7^th as Tim dropped another place to finish 10^th behind Dave.Bill crossed the line in 11^th having lost two places since lap 3. John.S finished 12th and Julian.S at 13^th.
With the handicaps  applied Laurence was the clear winner with Alan, to his surprise and delight, in second place. Darren was placed 3^rd, Zoe 4^th and Graham 5^th.

Results  :-

R9

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146	27.53	0.00.00	1.0
2	RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Lousie Currel	1051	28.22	0.02.48	2.0
3	Aero 7	1150	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1065	29.13	0.03.18	3.0
4	Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		1122	31.15	0.03.57	4.0
5	Topper	26340	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1322	30.05	0.04.21	5.0
6	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051	30.16	0.04.42	6.0
7	Laser Radial	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122	32.25	0.05.07	7.0
8	Laser	163443	NSSC	Graham Hardy		1088	31.37	0.05.09	8.0
9	Laser	136424	NSSC	John Nash		1088	31.49	0.05.21	9.0
10	Vago	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Penny Springall	1064	31.10	0.05.17	10.0
11	Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122	33.10	0.05.52	11.0
12	Laser	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1088	32.35	0.06.07	12.0
13	Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088	32.58	0.06.30	13.0
14	Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1122	34.25	0.07.07	14.5
14	Laser Radial	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122	34.24	0.07.06	14.5
16	Laser 4.7	153670	NSSC	Penny Springal		1185	29.33	0.06.29	16.0
17	Pico	No No	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		1335	33.40	0.07.41	17.0
18	Laser 4.7	182532		Josh Smith		1185	30.29	0.07.25	18.0
19	Laser Fun	7729	NSSC	Julian Stephens	Paul Vincent	1055	29.04	0.08.32	19.0

R10

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146	36.00	0.00.00	1.0
2	Aero 7	1150	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1065	37.49	0.04.22	2.0
3	RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Lousie Currel	1051	38.05	0.05.04	3.0
4	Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122	41.15	0.06.00	4.0
5	Laser	163443	NSSC	Graham Hardy		1088	40.11	0.06.00	5.0
6	Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		1122	41.31	0.06.16	6.0
7	Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1122	41.51	0.06.36	7.0
8	Laser Radial	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122	42.14	0.06.59	8.0
9	Vago	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Penny Springall	1064	40.04	0.06.39	9.0
10	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051	39.45	0.06.44	10.0
11	Laser	136424	NSSC	John Nash		1088	41.17	0.07.06	11.0
12	Topper	26340	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1322	41.55	0.07.19	12.0
13	Laser 4.7	153670	NSSC	Penny Springal		1185	37.39	0.06.38	13.0
14	Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088	41.50	0.07.39	14.0
15	Laser Radial	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122	36.20	0.06.58	15.0
16	Laser	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1088	36.12	0.07.43	16.0
17	Laser 4.7	182532		Josh Smith		1185	39.40	0.08.39	17.0
18	Laser Fun	7729	NSSC	Julian Stephens	Paul Vincent	1055	42.28	0.09.20	18.0
19	Pico	No No	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		1335	42.00	0.14.03	19.0

Some hotly contested racing, no fewer than three sets of tied line crosses in laps 1, 2 & 3 of race 9. Lots of place changing in both races – except at the front where Laurence totally dominated.

 Alan.S 1700