Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Races 15 & 16 - 21/12/2014

Overcast grey skies, a breeze from the southwest and moisture in the air as we left for Piddinghoe. The forecast, via Windguru and Windfinder for Seaford, was between 17 and 22 knots by mid-day. On arrival at the pond it  did not seem that breezy, barely a force 3 at the time and Alan decided to give the Aero another outing – on the basis that if it got too windy for his liking the bank was just a yard or too away. Wearing Father Christmas headgear  (and a red dry suit) he was one of the 12 boats to go afloat. Simon Suter, RO for the day, set a course with a start line midway along the south bank with a beat up to the mark in the south west corner. The next leg was a broad reach along the west side to a mark off the Fisherman’s Bay followed by a close reach/fetch to a mark in the middle of the pond. A gybe at this mark was followed by a short run to a mark in the middle of the east side and another gybe. From there the next leg was a close reach behind the Island to a mark in the south east corner to begin the log beat back up the south side. By the time of the start at 11.00 am the wind had begun to strengthen and the gust were coming thick and fast with consequent direction changes.

At the gun it was Darren Field and Louise Curell (RS200) close to the shore, tacking off onto starboard and ahead of Alan who had been closer to the pin end. Rupert Smith and Penny Springall (Vago) were close behind and with momentum drove over him before tacking away as did Michael Veale and Mike Crosier (RS200). Laurence Venus (Streaker) was well back from the line but crossed in its middle on starboard tack. Darren was first to round the windward mark and although Alan was on course to follow him he ran into a hollow in the wind and Rupert, Michael, Laurence and Tim Cox (Laser radial) all rounded ahead. Alan did get a nice reaching blast along the western leg to catch up the leading group but had to round on the outside unable to make up any places. With three gybes in the course there was the potential for plenty of spills - in the increasingly gusty wind – as there was on the off-wind legs but the first casualty was Terry Jones (Laser full rig) on the first windward leg, just after starting.

Although the pack had bunched at the Fisherman’s Bay mark Darren stayed out in front with Tim, having found an inside berth, following up that reach and the following run. Laurence was lying third just ahead of Michael and then Rupert.

Bill Wates (Laser full rig) and Zoe McCaig (Laser radial) had both gone ahead of Alan but both had capsized at the gybe, leaving Alan to negotiate a way round them. By the end of the first lap the order was Darren, Tim and then Rupert, Michael and then Laurence – who unfortunately had missed passing inside the ODD (as he found out after the race) – Alan was 6^th , Bill Giles (Solution – newly acquired), Tiger Cox (Topper), Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7), Bill.W and Zoe. Terry failed to make it round the lap, retiring ashore for a Bacon Buttie and Coffee.
Lap 2 was almost as fast and furious with the breeze increasing yet more but there were no place changes amongst the leading 5 boats. Alan, having just been passed by Tiger in the Topper, decided that to continue would almost certainly lead to a swim which he felt he did not need so headed for the shore to take no further part in the racing for the day. Bill.W, having recovered somewhat, Climbed up to 8^th ahead of Bill.G with Jamie in 10^th and lastly 11^th placed Zoe.
Lap 3 saw no assault on Darren’s lead and Tim stayed second but Laurence passed Michael to lie 4^th behind 3^rd placed Rupert. Tiger remained in 6^th place as Bill. G went ahead of Bill.W with Jamie and Zoe behind this pair
Lap 4 and still no changes at the front although Laurence was closing on Rupert. Bill.G had some problems finding his toe straps (not hoisted sufficiently above the floor) and dropped back to 10^th (and finishing) thus promoting Bill.W to 7^th, Jamie to 8^th and Zoe to 9^th.
Lap 5, the final lap and the order was still the same – Darren 1^st, Tim 2^nd, Rupert 3^rd,
Laurence 4^th, Michael 5^th, Tiger sixth and Bill.W 7^th. With the handicap applied and Laurence having to lose a lap the winner was Tiger 1^st, Tim 2^nd, Darren 3^rd.

The breeze seemed to ease a little before the next race was due to start and Alan was tempted to go afloat again but resisted and stayed firmly ashore and thus it was that a fleet of just 9 boats went afloat. The RO, in his infinite wisdom, decide to send the fleet round the course in the opposite direction – initiating a running start in a hugely swinging wind from the general direction of the clubhouse.

Even before the start Bill.W capsized, had his rudder fall off and was attended by the safety boat (NSSC Piddinghoe rules permit an ‘assisted’ boat to continue racing) while he re-fixed it. Almost at the same time and also on the start line Rupert decided to explore the reeds with help from a big gust and capsized almost on the line. Of the remaining seven boats only Michael was near the line at the gun and set off with Gennaker flying. Next away was Tim and eventually Darren got going. Next away was Zoe, then Tiger followed by Laurence and Jamie all a goodly distance apart and well behind the leader. Finally Bill.W and Rupert actually started.

By the last beat of the lap it was Darren leading Tim, who then lost it and ended up swimming. Michael having had a fight or too with the Genny was lying third but moved up to second. Zoe had a tenuous grip on third place and Laurence was back to fourth and steaming away. Tiger was fifth, Jamie sixth, Rupert7th, Tim 8^th and Bill.W 9^th.

Lap 2 saw Darren and Michael still 1^st and 2^nd and Laurence passing Zoe to go 3^rd with no change of order in the fleet below.

Bill.W had another capsize at the south east end of the pond and shortly after recovering managed to ram the safety boat and capsize once more
Lap 3 and no change in the top four positions but Rupert pulled back two places to go ahead of Tiger and Jamie whilst Tim and Bill remained the back markers.
Lap 4 – the final lap – Darren was leading but Laurence was closing fast although not quite fast enough to overtake. Michael came home third and Zoe fourth. Jamie passed Tiger to take 5^th and Tim and Bill.W stayed in the same relative positions as in the previous lap.
With the handicaps applied the finish order was Laurence 1^st, Tiger 2^nd, Darren 3^rd and Jamie 4^th.
Yet another week with strong winds – albeit not strong enough to cause the racing to be called off – not conditions that have prevailed in the last several years when there have been perhaps two heavy weather races. If you were sailing you certainly knew it afterwards, whether it be with a smile or as groan.

Results :-

R15

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Topper	26340	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1322	37.10	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		1122	31.40	0.00.07	2.0
3	RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Lousie Currel	1051	30.35	0.01.02	3.0
4	Vago	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Penny Springall	1064	32.25	0.02.30	4.0
5	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051	34.09	0.04.36	5.0
6	Laser 4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185	31.18	0.04.39	6.0
7	Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088	38.34	0.07.59	7.0
8	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146	32.40	0.06.54	8.0
9	Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122	36.05	0.10.51	9.0
10	Solution	398	NSSC	Bill Giles		1080	36.45	0.12.28	10.0
11	Laser	30678	NSSC	Terry Jones		1088	DNF		12.0
11	Aero 7	1150	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1065	DNF		12.0

R16

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146	23.51	0.00.00	1.0
2	Topper	26340	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1322	28.00	0.00.29	2.0
3	RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Lousie Currel	1051	23.25	0.01.33	3.0
4	Laser 4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185	27.03	0.02.23	4.0
5	Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122	25.52	0.02.31	5.0
6	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051	25.14	0.03.22	6.0
7	Vago	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Penny Springall	1064	20.15	0.03.39	7.0
8	Laser Radial	16	NSSC	Tim Cox		1122	31.46	0.08.25	8.0
9	Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088	33.41	0.11.02	9.0

 

 

Alan.S 1700