Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 9 & 10 - 31/01/2016

Cold, Wet (drizzle) and not a lot of breeze as we set off for Piddinghoe. On arrival there as a slight breeze blowing from the south east and the RO for the day, Louise Currell, assisted by Mike Godwin with Penelope Duncan and Darren Filled on the safety boat, set a slightly unusual course with a Triangle and Sausage as below.

At the gun it was Laurence Venus (Streaker) first away with Chris Turner (Laser Radial)  behind but to windward ) and then Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial) behind him.  Astern of these three were Jo West (Laser Radial) and then Ed Thorburn (Finn). Because of the use of an IDM, this leading pack had to tack onto port to get round the mark in the south west corner (off the clubhouse), before setting off on the broad reach down the south side.

Chris was first to round the mark followed by Jonty and then Laurence. Alan Simmons (Streaker) and Rupert Smith (Streaker) had not had particularly good starts and were 6^th and 7^th to get onto the reach. Roger McCall (Laser full rig) was even further back.

By the time the leaders had completed the first triangle, and were about to set off on the first leg of the sausage, Chris as still in front, just, of Jonty and Ed - with Laurence a couple of lengths astern. They all  then had to navigate their way through the rest of the approaching fleet, albiet they were on Starboard tack.

A run followed to a mark towards the Fisherman’s Bay and then there was a final beat back towards the clubhouse. At the end of the lap Ed crossed the line 7 seconds ahead of Jonty who was by then 11 seconds ahead of Chris with Laurence another 7 seconds behind. Rupert was in in 5^th place followed by Roger, Jo and then Alan who crossed the line at the same time as Dave Murley (Laser Radial) and Mike Rosier (Laser Radial) - who was having to sail singlehanded as his normal helm, Michael Veale, was not available to sail the RS200. Bill Wates (Laser full Rig) was in 11^th place followed by James Cuxson (Topper), Johnathon Vernon (Streaker) and Natasha Stonestreet (Topper)

Lap two saw no place changing among the leading 7 boats but Mike passed Alan and Dave to lie 8^th and Dave also passed Alan. Johnathon went ahead of James to lie 12th as Natasha brought up the rear in 14^th place.

Lap 3 saw few places changes throughout the fleet as Jonty lost a little time on Ed, to cross the line just 24 seconds behind  (9 seconds in lap 2) and Laurence dropped back a little but passed Chris to lie 3^rd and Rupert closed in on Chris. There were no place changes down the rest of fleet.

Lap 4, the final lap, saw Ed crossing the line in the lead with Jonty next and then Laurence.  Chris was  4^th to cross with Rupert 5^th, Roger 6^th, Jo 7^th, Dave 8^th, Alan 9^th and Bill.W 10^th. Mike failed to finish – missed a mark? With the handicaps applied Jonty was the winner with Laurence 2^nd, Chris 3^rd and Rupert 4^th.

R8

Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1		Laser Radial	192842	NSSC	Jonty Freeman		1135	34.04	0.00.00	1.0
2	Misty Blue	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1138	34.58	0.00.49	2.0
3		Laser Radial	83663	NSSC	Chris Turner		1135	35.19	0.01.15	3.0
3		Byte CII	2941	Shoreham	Louise Currell		1150	OOD		3.0
3		Laser Radial	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		1135	OOD		3.0
3		Sprint 15	1531	NSSC	Mike Godwin		930	OOD		3.0
7	Scoundrel	Streaker	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1138	35.58	0.01.49	4.0
8		Finn	5915	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1042	33.36	0.02.19	5.0
9		Laser Radial	122345	NSSC	Jo West		1135	37.54	0.03.50	6.0
10		Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1135	38.17	0.04.13	7.0
11	Last Bash	Streaker	1700	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1138	38.28	0.04.19	8.0
12		Laser	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McCall		1091	37.36	0.04.51	9.0
13		Laser	133416/26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1091	40.03	0.07.18	10.0
14		Topper	10	NSSC	James Cuxson (c)		1340	40.06	0.09.56	11.0
15		Streaker	1832/1691	NSSC	Johnathon Vernon		1138	38.06	0.12.29	12.0
16		Topper	37585	NSSC	Natasha Stonestreet (c)		1340	33.04	0.12.57	13.0
17		Laser Radial	16663	NSSC	Mike Rosier		1135	DNF		15.0

 

The breeze during the first race had risen sharply to a good top end for 4 with some vicious gusts (and the drizzle had turned to definite rain) and Alan, for one, concluded  that he would not manage a second race as the breeze got up even more. Natasha also chose not to race again. As it turned out these were very wise choices.  Race 10 (the scheduled race number) was to take place over the same course.

At the gun, Laurence was a little too previous and found himself over the line and had to go back. First away was Chris, well down the line, with Dave above him and Jonty above him Rupert was at the IDM end of the line but all four made a virtually simultaneous crossing.

After rounding the clubhouse mark, which a wind shift had allowed the leaders to make in one tack, it was Dave first off down the reach/run along the south shore. Jonty was next and stayed closer to the bank with Rupert a little further out and Ed a bit behind these three. On the reach after the southeast corner mark Rupert went ahead of Jonty who in turn passed Dave. It was on this leg, behind the Island, that the rot began to set in with Jo the first to take a dip - and decide it would be more pleasant ashore.

Not long afterwards, on the first leg of the sausage, Jonty took a swim and subsequently retired ashore. Bill.W sailing in a Topper, whilst James sailed his Laser, took an early ‘bath’ and struggled to get back board.

At the end of the lap it was Rupert who led Ed across the line Chris was third to cross with Roger 4^th, James 5^th, Laurence 6^th, Dave 7^th (likely to have had a capsize after his excellent early legs), Mike 8^th, Johnathon 9^th, Bill.W 10^th

Lap 2 was no less ‘entertaining’ with Rupert leading and Ed capsizing - and eventually retiring.  He was unable to get back aboard and lowered his sail to prevent his boat rolling right over.

He had to wait for some time for the safety boat as they were dealing with Roger who capsized on the gybe near to the Island along with James who had a similar problem/swim. Roger was in the ‘ogin’ for quite a long time and finally only managed to complete two laps. Laurence pulled right up, even passing Chris, to lie 2^nd at the end of the lap. Mike also shot up the fleet to lie 4^th with James5th, Dave back up a place to lie 6^th, Roger 7^th and Johnathon 8^th.

Lap 3, the final lap had just six boats still racing and finshed with Rupert crossing the line a minute and seven seconds ahead of second placed Laurence. Chis was third, Mike fourth, James 5^th and Dave 6^th.

With the handicaps applied Rupert was the winner, Laurence second, Chris third and Mike fourth.

 

R9

Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Scoundrel	Streaker	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1138	21.39	0.00.00	1.0
2	Misty Blue	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1138	22.46	0.01.07	2.0
3		Laser Radial	83663	NSSC	Chris Turner		1135	23.05	0.01.29	3.0
3		Byte CII	2941	Shoreham	Louise Currell		1150	OOD		3.0
3		Laser Radial	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		1135	OOD		3.0
3		Sprint 15	1531	NSSC	Mike Godwin		930	OOD		3.0
7		Laser Radial	16663	NSSC	Mike Rosier		1135	25.04	0.03.28	4.0
8		Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1135	25.47	0.04.11	5.0
9		Laser	26	NSSC	James Cuxson (c)		1091	25.11	0.04.26	6.0
10		Streaker	1832/1691	NSSC	Johnathon Vernon		1138	31.13	0.16.47	7.0
11		Laser	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McCall		1091	31.05	0.17.15	8.0
12		Topper	10	NSSC	Bill Wates		1340	35.05	0.26.35	9.0
13		Laser Radial	122345	NSSC	Jo West		1135	DNF		13.0
13		Laser Radial	192842	NSSC	Jonty Freeman		1135	DNF		13.0
13		Finn	5915	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1042	DNF		13.0

It had been forecast for the wind to get up to about 26 knots and although the average speeds were probably less than this, in the first race, the gusts certainly exceeded that predicted. Most of those afloat had at last one capsize and for those who stayed upright throughout it was more by luck than judgment.

Yours truly, in the first race, was unable to move about comfortably and with the required alacrity and could not face the increasing wind for a second one. With a bit of luck the coming weekend will be a bit calmer.

Alan.S 1700