Streaker Ramblings – Elford Numbum Race 15 – 22/02/2015

A mixed sky, some blue areas with white and dark grey clouds as set off from Hove for Piddinghoe. On arrival the sky was overcast and the breeze from the south at top end force 3 came up by start time. Thirteen boats went afloat on the ‘X’ shaped course that Race Officer Laurence Venus, assisted by Zoe McCaig ,set as shown below:-

At the gun, on the short leg to the mark in the south west corner, Alex Mills-Barton (Laser full rig) was first to cross the line. To windward but behind was the Vago of Rupert Smith and Chris Turner and to leeward, also slightly behind, was Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial). Alan Simmons (Aero 7) was fourth away with Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) next to the line.

 

The wind shadow from the clubhouse made it difficult to gain any speed to round the windward mark and resulted in a lot of bunching in the pursuing fleet but Alex made it ahead of Rupert , then Alan with Jonty following. Next to round was  Bill Wates (Laser full rig) leading  Michael with Darren Field and Louise Currell (RS200) onto the ensuing run/reach to the mark in the middle of the east side. Behind this group the rest of the fleet was quite bunched up with Max Bell and Liah Hunter (Vision) leading Chas Humphries (Laser full rig), Bill Giles (Solution), Dave Murley (Laser Radial), Carolyn Turner (Laser Radial) and Colin Cryer (Otter).

Going down the run/ broad reach Michael and Mike used their Gennaker to great effect and closed up behind Rupert whilst Jonty got the inside berth from Alan. The next leg, behind the Island (which has now all but vanished), to the mark at the south east corner was a windward leg but one which nearly all made on one tack. Thereafter there was a broad reach back across the pond to the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay in the north west corner. It was along this leg that Alan took a heavy gust and capsized – this time getting back aboard without the help of the safety boat helmed by Penelope Duncan with Roger McCall crewing (and another un-named crew). By the time he had recovered and started sailing again virtually all the fleet had overtaken him and he finished the lap in 11^th place.

 

Alex was already some 30 seconds ahead of second placed Jonty (after the final beat up the west side of the pond) with Michael just a further second adrift. Rupert was fourth to cross the line ahead of Darren with Max lying 6^th having passed Bill.W.  Bill.G was in 8^th place in front of Chas who was in turn ahead of Dave. Carolyn was in 12^th position ahead of tail ender Colin in spite of a dry capsize at the end of the first run/broad reach towards the mark in the middle of the east side of the pond.

Lap 2 and Alex continued to pull away from Jonty – now a minute ahead – as he went clear of Michael. Rupert and then Darren were next with Dave behind (having gained four places) leading 7^th placed Bill.W. Max dropped back to 8^th having been passed by Dave and Bill.W.  Alan regained a place to lie 10^th behind Bill.G  and Chas dropped back to 11^th. Carolyn and Colin remained as in the previous lap.

 

Lap 3 saw Alex now nearly two minutes ahead of Jonty and Michael closing in on him. Darren passed Rupert to lie in 4^th position with Dave still 5^th. Bill.W took a swim in this lap dropping to 9^th with both Bill.G and Alan going ahead of him. Max also dropped back two places whilst Chas and  Carolyn stayed 11^th and 12^th and Colin retired.

Lap 4 and no places changes in the top six as Alan passed Bill.G to lie 7^th.

Lap 5 and likewise no place changes in the top six but Bill.G regained the place he had previously lost to Alan, as the latter was caught by an enormous gust on the leg to the Fisherman’s bay and ended up heading towards the clubhouse. Bill.W in 9^th, having taken yet another dip, still lead Max and Chas(10^th and 11^th), Carolyn having finished at the end of lap 4.

Lap 6 saw Darren overtake Michael to lie 3^rd but there were no further place changes above nor down the fleet.

Lap 7 the final lap, was raced by only Alex, Jonty, Darren and Michael and they finished in that order with Alex some three minutes ahead of Jonty. With the Handicaps applied the winner was Alex with Jonty 2^nd, Darren 3^rd, Michael 4^th Dave 5^th, Rupert 6^th, Bill Giles 7^th and Alan 8^th.

 

Alan, having just crossed the line, was caught by a huge windshift and capsized to windward. After several unsuccessful attempts to get back aboard, the safety boat came along side and after much effort, including taking him on board, towed the capsized craft - with Alan once again in the water - back to the nearest slipway where Rupert and Chris hoisted it ashore. Alan later discovered that his dry suit wasn’t and he had water inside it nearly up to his knees. A hot coffee, courtesy Rupert and a hot shower were then the next priority before finally packing up the boat for transport home to Hove.

Results :-

RACE 15

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
LASER	200490	NSSC	Alex Mills-Barton		1088		46.51	0.00.00	1.0
LASER RADIAL	192842	NSSC	Jonty Freeman		1122		49.50	0.01.31	2.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		OOD		3.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		OOD		3.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		51.19	0.06.04	3.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		51.59	0.06.44	4.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		48.33	0.07.08	5.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner	1064		46.35	0.07.19	6.0
Solution	398	NSSC	Bill Giles		1080		49.43	0.09.51	7.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		50.29	0.11.11	8.0
LASER	133416(26)	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		52.46	0.12.37	9.0
RS VISION	434	Plumpton	Max Bell	Liah Hunter	1080		52.58	0.13.06	10.0
LASER	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		1088		55.28	0.15.19	11.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		47.47	0.20.11	12.0
OTTER	981	NSSC	Colin Cryer		1385		DNF		14.0

 

This being the last race in the series there then followed the prize giving for the overall series. Taking home the Elford Numbum trophy was Laurence Venus which was awarded to him by Kay Young (formerly Elford). Laurence had a very impressive scoreline with nine gongs and discards of two 2^nd places and 2 third places (excluding the third place for OOD on the day. In second place was Roger McCall having just beaten Alan Simmons by one point, due to the latter’s not so good result in that last race. 4^th place went to Darren Field, 5^th to Rupert Smith and 6^th to Bill Giles. For details of the overall series of races and points refer to the NSSC web site:- http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2015/enb14.htm

Although he was not present to receive his trophy (on his way home from a ski trip?) the winner of the new Cadet Trophy was Jamie Smith who came 14^th overall in the series and had sailed his Laser 4.7 in some of the strongest winds, with lots of capsizes but a strong intention to finish the races no matter what hit him. He is to be congratulated for some very determined, and good, sailing efforts.

The weather during the series had more than its fair share of strong winds (more than previous years) and the other days the wind was light to almost non existant. Only one race was not sailed out of the programme and that after the first strong wind of the day left everyone who had taken part too exhausted to face another. As always the ROs came up with interesting, and enjoyable, courses, the timekeeping great in all conditions and the results, checked out by Laurence, Spot on. The various safety boat crews preformed splendidly, some kept very busy and others having slightly easier times. Special thanks go to Penelope Duncan who carried out a high percentage of the safety boat duties – and even more thanks for her (and Roger’s) assistance to the writer in that last Race.

Alan.S 1700