Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 5 & 6 - 18/01/2015

Grey and overcast with high cloud, bright but without sunshine and a gentle northerly breeze as we left Hangleton for the short trip to Piddinghoe for Races 5 & 6 of the Elford Numbum Series.

On arrival there appeared to be a touch more breeze, say force 2, coming from the north west across the reeds. The RO for the day Mike Godwin, assisted by Adam set the start line from the bank adjacent to the east end of the clubhouse for an X shaped course, as below:-

 

A fleet of eighteen boats took to the water and at the gun it was Alan Simmons (Aero7) who was first to cross the line midway along its length with Roger McCall (Laser full rig) slightly astern but to windward and, quickly tacking on to port, Darren Field and Louise Currell (RS 200). By the time Alan and Roger had tacked Laurence Venus (Streaker) had crossed the line on port tack closer to the pin end and in better breeze. First to round the windward mark, off the Fisherman’s Bay quickly followed by Rupert Smith and Chris Turner (Vago) and then Laurence with Alan close on his stern. With his Gennaker hoisted Rupert swiftly passed Roger on the run to the mark on the far side (south east corner) of the Island. Alan also took the inside lane at the Island from Laurence and held it along the beat back behind the Island and up the ensuing reach. Laurence however got on the inside at the top (pink) mark in the south west corner and crossed the line in third place. Roger had also managed to nudge back in front of Rupert to regain the lead at the end of that first lap. Graham Hardy (Laser full rig) was in fifth place ahead of Bill Giles (Solution) with Julian Dobson (laser full rig) astern of him. Bill Wates (Laser full rig) was in eighth place with Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) behind him but ahead of John Smith (Laser Radial) next in line. Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) crossed eleventh, leading Carolyn Turner (Laser Radial) then Dave Murley (Laser Radial). Darren had not been able to capitalise on a good placed start and crossed fourteenth with Bill Hudson (Topper) fifteenth, Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7) next and Stuart Ford seventeenth. Charlie Rigg (Peco) failed to finish the first lap.

Lap 2 and it was all change at the front as Laurence surge past both Rupert – who in turn passed Roger to take the lead. Alan remained fourth ahead of Graham and Bill.G. Michael pulled back two places passing Julian and Bill.W as Julian Dropped behind Bill.W. John.S retained 10^th place as Darren overtook Zoe, Carolyn and Dave. Dave took the lead in the Radials to lie twelfth and Carolyn also moved ahead of Zoe. Behind them the order remained unchanged from the previous lap.

Lap 3 saw Laurence pulling further ahead of second placed Rupert and Alan overtook Roger to lie third whilst Graham retained fifth place. Bill.G dropped back to tenth allowing Michael to lie sixth, Julian to regain seventh and Bill.W to retain eighth. John.S also moved ahead of Bill.G as Darren held on to eleventh ahead of Dave. Zoe once again got ahead of Carolyn whilst the last three, Bill.H, Jamie and Stuart finished their race in that order.
Lap 4 (final lap) and Laurence continued to stretch away from Rupert who in turn pulled ahead of third placed Alan as he pulled up slightly on Roger. Darren pulled back somewhat to cross the line ninth behind Graham, Michael, Julian and Bill. Bill.G stayed at tenth whilst John.S slipped to eleventh in front of Zoe. Dave also slipped down a place to cross thirteenth in front of Carolyn.
With the handicaps applied Laurence was the outright winner with Rupert second, Roger third, Alan fourth and Graham fifth.

 

Race 6, due to start at 12.00 pm, was now down to an entry of 16 boats with Charlie Rigg and Bill Hudson both declining to take to the water. The course would be the same but the breeze had filled in a tiny bit, to about force 3, with the odd sporadically (almost force 4) stronger puff.

First away it was Roger close in to the shore with Laurence from mid line. Alan was third away just to leeward and behind Laurence whilst Darren a bit closer to the pin.

By the time they had rounded the windward mark and were off on the run Laurence was leading from Darren and Alan, along-side Roger, but outside for the Island. Behind these four, and taking their wind close to the turning mark, were Michael with Bill.G just about on his inside, Bill.W on the outside of this pair and Rupert fast closing from behind. Upon turning the south east mark the fleet split into those who hardened up and headed for the east bank and those who tacked off towards the Island. First to turn the mark in the middle of the east shore was Roger leading Laurence, Rupert. With his somewhat larger sail area Rupert, alhtogh unable to catch Roger did pass Laurence, turn around the mark and cross the line in second place.and then down to leeward Alan. Although he was making better speed, the rest of the pursuing fleet presented a massive wind shadow for Alan but he was able to harden up, round the south west mark (near the clubhouse) but still outside Darren and cross the line in fifth place. Not far behind Bill.G headed Julian, Graham and Michael with Bill.W in 10^th place. Dave was next to arrive at the line followed by Zoe, John.S, Jamie, Carolyn with Stuart bringing up the rear.

Lap 2  had Laurence able to pass Roger and Rupert. On the run to the west of the Island Roger had a coming together with someone or something and had to carry out 720 degree turns. This allowed Alan to catch up just before the south east mark. On rounding Alan attempted to tack off towards the Island but did not have quite enough room and hit Roger’s stern thereby ensuring that he, Alan, also had to do a 720. By the time that was complete half the fleet had overtaken him with some thirteen boats all tacking in a tiny piece of water behind the Island. At the line, at the end of the lap, Laurence led Rupert with Darren behind him and Roger behind him. Julian was 5^th, Bill.G 6^th, Bill.W 7^th Michael 8^th (the RS 200 having passed and dropped Graham to 10^th.) and Alan 9^th. Dave was still 11^th but John.S had overtaken Zoe who was still ahead of Carolyn, Jamie and Stuart.

Lap 3, the final lap, and Laurence continued to pull away from Rupert who gained a touch on Darren who stayed about the same distance in front of Roger as in the previous lap.Bill.G dropped back to 8^th and Bill.W to 10^th having both been overtaken by Michael and Alan. Graham also passed Bill. Zoe got her revenge on Dave and John.S taking 11^th at the line. Last to finish were Carolyn at 14^th and Jamie 15^th, Stuart having finished at the end of the previous lap. With the handicaps applied Laurence was the winner, Roger was second, Rupert third, Julian fourth and John.S fifth. Alan had to use his 12^th place as a discard.

Results:-

R5

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		34.49	0.00.00	1.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner	1064		35.13	0.02.53	2.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		36.09	0.03.06	3.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		35.46	0.03.25	4.0
LASER	163443	NSSC	Graham Hardy		1088		36.59	0.03.56	5.0
LASER	176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1088		37.46	0.04.43	6.0
LASER	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		38.09	0.05.06	7.0
LASER RADIAL	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122		39.22	0.05.17	8.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		37.18	0.05.22	9.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		39.50	0.05.45	10.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		40.18	0.06.13	11.0
Solution	398	NSSC	Bill Giles		1080		39.20	0.06.31	12.0
TOPPER		NSSC	Bill Hudson		1322		36.07	0.06.00	13.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		38.23	0.06.27	14.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		41.09	0.07.04	15.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		37.05	0.10.05	16.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		44.28	0.12.55	17.0
PICO	No No	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		1335		DNF		19.0

R6

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		26.04	0.00.00	1.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		27.27	0.02.42	2.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner	1064		26.59	0.02.47	3.0
LASER	176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1088		27.43	0.02.58	4.0
LASER RADIAL	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1122		28.39	0.03.08	5.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		28.44	0.03.13	6.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		28.51	0.03.20	7.0
Solution	398	NSSC	Bill Giles		1080		27.53	0.03.19	8.0
LASER	163443	NSSC	Graham Hardy		1088		28.11	0.03.26	9.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		27.17	0.03.23	10.0
LASER	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		28.21	0.03.36	11.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		27.49	0.03.36	12.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		27.33	0.03.39	13.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		31.20	0.04.23	14.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		30.05	0.04.34	15.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		28.04	0.07.04	16.0

 

The weather seems to be all or nothing again for this series and today’s event was very much in the latter category. A good clean start, in the breeze, was one essential and staying clear of others was another. Given those two essentials the other required feat was concentration.

Alan.S 1700