Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 3 & 4 - 11/01/2015

Clear blue skies, dry and sunny as we left for Piddinghoe on Sunday Morning. There was breeze blowing from the south west but not as much as the forecast had indicated – 16 to 20 knots. On arrival there was a good force 4 with stronger gusts and Alan was glad that he had previously decided to opt for safety boat duty. Together with Simon Suter a few marks needed to be re-laid to suit Graham Hardy’s (RO) course which was  ‘round the outside’, simple course with the start line midway along the south side of the pond.

With sixteen boats on the water the line was not over generous and all came in on starboard heading towards the shore.

First away, at the pin end was John Smith (Laser Radial) quickly tacking onto port at the pin end. Next away was Matt Springall (Laser full rig) in mid line also turning onto port and just to windward of Darren Field and Louise Currell (RS 200) who had to quickly tack as Roger McCall (Laser full rig) came into collision with them. At the shore end, was Jazz Sayed (Laser 4.7) with a quick tack on to port just sufficiently clear of Roger to get full speed. Nearer still to the bank John Nash (Laser full rig) also had clear air (and water).Matt, Jazz and John.N were closely bunched as these three, ahead of the rest of the fleet approached the windward mark just off the Clubhouse with the frequent strong gusts (force 5 to 6) creating difficulties for them all. Having gained the inside berth it was Matt who rounded first leading Jazz off along the broad reach towards the mark at the Fisherman’s Bay. Very quickly it was Jazz who stormed into the lead and John.N also passed Matt with Roger following him. Next up at the Fisherman’s Bay mark was Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) with Laurence Venus (Streaker – Wave sail) just behind her. In the following group it was Darren followed by Rupert Smith and Chris Turner in the Vago and then Dave Murley (Laser Radial), quickly passed by Darren. The gybe at this mark led to more than a few spills. By the end of the lap Jazz was just 6 seconds ahead of Matt with John.S a further 7 seconds behind. Roger was next in fourth place with Darren behind and Laurence lying 6^th.

Lap 2 saw John.N passing both Jazz and Matt (who had a brief spill) and Darren overtaking Roger. Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) pulled up from 8^th to lie 6^th ahead of Laurence and Rupert climbed up ahead of Zoe. John Smith (Laser Radial) went up a place to cross on joint time with Dave in 10^th place. Next to cross was Bill Wates (Laser full rig) having passed Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7) and Josh Smith (Laser 4.7) Carolyn Turner (Laser Radial) was 15^th with Stuart Ford (Mirror) bringing up the tail 16^th
 

Lap 3 saw the leader John.N capsizing just before the end of the lap when he got caught up in his mainsheet and allowing Matt, Jazz and Darren to pass him. Zoe was also on a roll passing Roger, Michael, Laurence and Rupert on the way. Carolyn decided to make for shore having had enough strong wind sailing for the day. Spills and thrills continued to occur with regularity.

Lap 4 and the front three were Matt, Jazz and Darren with Rupert climbing up the field to lie 4^th with Roger making it back to 5^th and Michael 6^th. John.N had more troubles dropping down to 7^th and Laurence moving back up to 8^th. Zoe also dropped down the order with at least one capsize crossing the line in 10^th behind John.S The last four places went to Dave, Bill, Jamie and Josh, Stuart having finished his race at the end of the third lap. Darren retired when the outhaul came undone and the boom also fell off, on the water repair proving too much in the strong and gusty winds.

Lap 5, the final lap, and the fleet was reduced to 11 boats with Jamie and Josh finishing at the end of lap 4. Matt led the fleet from Jazz but nowhere far enough ahead to beat her on Handicap. Roger crossed the finish lying 3^rd, having passed 4^th placed Rupert and with Michael, John.N, Laurence, John.S, Zoe, Dave and Bill next in the order. With the handicaps applied Jazz was declared the winner, Matt 2^nd, Laurence 3^rd, Roger 4^th and John.N 5^th.

 Race 4, over the same course, was started at 11.50 am, with a slightly reduced flet of fourteen boats, and first off the line was Rupert tacking by the pin end mark with Jazz second away, close to the bank, and John.N tacking just to starboard of her but downwind. Darren, somewhat closer to the shore crossed the line fourth with Laurence leaving from mid-line to leeward of Roger. Matt was well back in the rest of the later bunch with a lot to do to get into contention but staying closer to the shore paid off for him as he rounded the windward mark behind Jazz at the front and Roger lying second. All flew down the reach along the west side down to the gybe off the Fisherman’s bay with both John.S and Jamie falling over on the way. The problems continued at and after the gybe with Dave taking a dip on the leg towards the mark at the middle of the east side of the pond by which time Matt had steamed into the lead with Roger just ahead of Jazz along the leg behind the Island. As the windward leg – to the finish line – began Matt was leading Roger and John.N was third ahead of Jazz whilst Darren was closing in on her and crossed the line simultaneously. Rupert was lying 6^th ahead of 7^th placed Laurence with Michael behind him. Next to cross was Bill with Zoe behind him (having taken a dip earlier in the lap) followed by John.S then Jamie, Dave and finally Stuart.

Lap 2 saw Matt still leading from John.N who had passed Roger and Darren holding on to fourth place ahead of Rupert who had overtaken Jazz. Laurence was still 7^th, in front of Michael, Bill, Zoe and John.S. Jamie, after more spills, dropped back behind Dave and Stuart to bring up the rear.

Lap 3 saw Matt still in front with Darren next in line and Jazz behind him. Roger having decided to gybe late (at the mark in the middle of the east side) also lassoed the mark. After assistance from the safety boat, to recover, he proceeded to sail off with the mark still in tow. A near panic on the safety boat eventually released him from the mark but necessitated a bit of speedy work to set it back in place ahead of the oncoming fleet. John. N also did a bit of bottom surveying and dropped down to 7^th. Rupert benefitted from Roger’s escapades to lie 4^th with Laurence behind him and Michael behind him. Bill, Zoe and John.S were lying 8^th, 9^th and 10^th. With the finally recovered Roger at 11^th, Stuart (who managed to get his mainsheet caught under his rudder) and Jamie (who had suffered more capsizing) came home 12^th and 13^th. Dave failed to complete this lap and Stuart and Jamie were finished at the end of it.

Lap 4 and the front four places were unchanged but John.N recovered from seventh passing Laurence and Michael on the way. Laurence managed to pass Michael as he capsized on the eastern leg – even without using his gennaker at the time. Bill, Zoe and John.S remained 8^th,9^th and 10^th as in the previous lap with John.F finishing at the end of the lap.

Lap 5, the final lap, had Matt leading but with Darren behind him closing fast. Rupert passed Jazz to cross the line third with John.N 5^th behind 4^th placed Jazz. Laurence in 6^th remained ahead of Michael, Bill and Zoe. With the handicaps applied the winner was Jazz, Laurence 2^nd, Matt 3^rd, John.N 4^th and Rupert and Darren tied for 5^th place.

 

Results :-

R3

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
LASER 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		1185		25.50	0.00.00	1.0
LASER	153670	NSSC	Matt Springhall		1088		24.51	0.01.08	2.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		27.59	0.03.00	3.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		OOD		3.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		27.00	0.03.17	4.0
LASER RADIAL	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122		28.13	0.03.45	5.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		28.20	0.03.52	6.0
LASER	136424	NSSC	John Nash		1088		27.36	0.03.53	7.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		28.30	0.04.02	8.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner	1064		27.06	0.03.54	9.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		27.07	0.04.12	10.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		25.05	0.04.25	11.0
LASER	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		30.33	0.06.50	12.0
LASER 4.7	182532	NSSC	Josh Smith		1185		27.20	0.06.40	13.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		29.40	0.11.33	14.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		DNF		17.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		DNF		17.0

R4

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
LASER 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		1185		26.04	0.00.00	1.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		26.22	0.01.09	2.0
LASER	153670	NSSC	Matt Springhall		1088		25.22	0.01.26	3.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		OOD		3.0
LASER	136424	NSSC	John Nash		1088		26.03	0.02.07	4.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner	1064		25.45	0.02.21	5.5
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		25.26	0.02.19	5.5
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		26.32	0.03.25	7.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		29.30	0.04.49	8.0
LASER	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		29.03	0.05.07	9.0
LASER RADIAL	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122		24.59	0.05.14	10.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		29.09	0.10.52	11.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		29.21	0.13.43	12.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		DNF		15.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		DNF		15.0

 

A hard mornings sailing/ racing for all the competitors, all of whom knew they had been tested to their limits in some cases, but had grins from ear to ear. The wind was not overly excessive but extremely gusty and shifty as is the wont at Piddinghoe due to its location in the river valley with hills on almost three sides. The basic wind direction for the day meant that the hills to the south west provided lots of movement.

Alan.S 1700

PS. Lack of the No 1 Computer for a couple of days whilst compiling this report may lead  to delayed notification of this posting – sorry!