Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg race 17 - 26/12/2015

Streaker Ramblings – Freeman Iceberg Race 17 – 26 Dec 2015

Not a good forecast for Boxing Day – south westerly force 5 or 6 (22 to 26 Knots) at Seaford according to Windfinder. Ever the optimist we none the less set off for Piddnghoe under grey skies, not a hint of the sun. On arrival there were a few people  Rigging so yours truly joined them and got the boat uncovered and ready to launch before going off to put on the dry suit.

Laurence Venus was RO for this the last race (race 17) of the Freeman Iceberg series and given the strength of the breeze he set a rather testing course. Louise Currell decided to stay ashore and to act as ARO/Recorder for the morning. As start time approached yours truly had second thoughts and feeling that a dip or two was likely made the decision to stay ashore and immediately started to pack the boat away again, much to Bett’s relief. Had I brought the Wave sail with me I might well still have joined in the race, in spite of my lack of mobility.

The start was a bit ragged with no one really high enough to round the corner mark, by the clubhouse in one tack but it was James Cuxson (Laser Radial) first across the angled back line on port tack. A little behind but up wind were Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) and between the pair Rupert Smith (Streaker). Not far astern Matt Springall (Laser full rig) had enough height and speed to get to the mark in the lead, although he was pushing his luck with a port tack approach and James coming in on starboard. The pair then charged off down the (first) reach to the mark midway along the southern side of the pond with third rounding Rupert in hot pursuit.

 

Michael made a hash of that first leg but finally got onto the reach with Gennaker quickly hoisted. Next to round was Dave Murley (Laser Radial) with Alice Smith (Topper) next and Tim Cox (Laser Radial) behind her. At the next mark there was a gybe – the first of three each lap - which most navigated safely, another broad reach and then another gybe across the near side of the Island and then the last gybe in the south east corner before yet more reaching to a mark at the Fisherman’s bay area. This last gybe saw Matt and James both take to the water allowing Rupert to blast into the lead. Michael also took advantage of the two ‘swimmers’ to pull through to second place. At the end of the lap Rupert was already ¾ minute in front with Michael second and a recovered James14 seconds away in third. Fourth to finish the lap was Dave followed by Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7). Tim sixth, Matt seventh. Alice was in eighth, Bill Wates (Laser full rig) ninth, Zoe McCaig (Laser radial) tenth and Bill Hudson eleventh. Penelope Duncan (Laser Radial) and Richard Beal (Lasr full rig) both failed to complete the lap and after several dips called it a day and headed ashore.

Lap 2 saw plenty more spills and thrills with both Michael and James managing to miss out the penultimate mark of the course, possibly partly due to a spectacular capsize when Michael, on the first reach of the course and whilst just outside James near the first gybe, went over with a vengeance and James went in too a second or so later.

 Rupert stayed well in the lead from Matt, nearly a minute ahead, who took advantage of the aforesaid errors. Dave was also up to third, in spite of being passed by Matt., with Tim not far behind. Alice gained four places to lie fifth ahead of Zoe, Bill and Jamie all of whom had had a swim (or two).

Lap three saw the gusts keep coming, a good mid force 6 at times, and again not everybody stayed up-right or moving forwards. Rupert held the lead from Matt, who had also had another dip, now over 2 minutes in front. Dave was still third and Michael crossed the line in fourth, however this was effectively only his second lap. Tim was fifth, Alice sixth, Zoe seventh, Bill.W eigth and Jamie tenth. James missed the same mark again.

Lap 4 and, in spite of the odd ‘going about’ in lieu of ‘Gybing’ Rupert succumbed to a capsize – his first in a Streaker so we learnt as he came ashore after the race – allowing Matt to reduce his deficit to 1.1/2 minutes. Dave remained in third place with Tim in fourth. Fifth to cross the line was James, but having missed the same mark on two laps, he was only on his second lap. Zoe had managed to pull back and pass Alice to go 6^th and Michael missed that same damned mark once more.

Lap 5, the final lap and no one as going to catch Rupert who crossed the now depleted fleet ahead of Matt with Dave behind him and Tim crossing fourth. Michael crossed fifth but was only finishing his third lap due to his faulty navigation around the course – he subsequently deigned the offer of a compass (might have said yes to a GPS).

With the Handicaps applied Rupert was the winner with Matt placed second, Alice third and Dave fourth.

R17

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
STREAKER	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1138		29.18	5	0.25.45	0.00.00	1.0
LASER	153670	NSSC	Matt Springhall		1091		31.03	5	0.28.28	0.02.58	2.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1138		OOD				3.0
BYTE CII	2941	SHOREHAM	Louise Currell		1150		OOD				3.0
TOPPER	9	NSSC	Alice Smith		1340		31.14	4	0.29.08	0.03.38	3.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1135		33.06	5	0.29.10	0.03.53	4.0
LASER RADIAL	158377	NSSC	Tim Cox		1135		33.50	5	0.29.49	0.04.37	5.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1135		30.51	4	0.33.59	0.07.28	6.0
LASER	133416(26)	NSSC	Bill Wates		1091		28.32	3	0.43.35	0.11.41	7.0
LASER 4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith (c)		1195		33.56	3	0.47.20	0.15.28	8.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1047		34.01	3	0.54.09	0.17.51	9.0
LASER RADIAL	179808	NSSC	James Cuxson (c)		1135		30.08	2	1.06.22	0.18.27	10.0
LASER RADIAL	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		1135		DNF				14.0
LASER	43382	NSSC	Richard Beal		1091		DNF				14.0
TOPPER	14	NSSC	Bill Hudson (c)		1340		DNF				14.0

After the final race results Laurence was left to update the overall series places so that the trophies and prizes could be awarded by John Freeman and with Stuart Ford announcing the winners.

Overall Winner of the Iceberg was Laurence Venus with Rupert Smith in second place and Alan Simmons in third. Jamie Smith won the Cadet trophy with Natasha Stonestreet second and Toby Wride third. With a good few Lasers (of various rigs) prizes were also award to that fleet with Dave Murley taking top spot, Jamie Smith second and Penelope Duncan third place. Bett was awarded a bottle of Pink wine in recognition of her Camera skills.

It had been a good series with 13 of the possible races sailed – just 4 lost to excess breeze – and in all conditions from Drifting to near gale. 53 competitors were recorded sailing in at last one race, although the odd bod sailed more than one class of boat which distorts the figures a tiny bit. Either way it had been a very well supported event/series. With the Elford Numbum due to start on 3^rd Jan 2016, after the 2.00 pm start of the single race on New year’s day, who knows how well that series will be supported, one or two will doubtless go into hibernation.

Alan.S 1700