Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 7 & 8 - 29.01.2017

Grey and overcast with a slight drizzle and just a tickle of breeze from the south west as we left Hangleton for Piddinghoe. The forecast was for a strongish breeze but it never materialised at more than a force 4 – for the second race. On arrival it was established that there was no RO nor helm or crew for the safety boat but within a few minutes Julian Dobson (Laser) had offered to do the RO duty and Alan Simmons (Streaker) and Bill Wates (Laser) offered to do a Safety boat Helm duty for the alternate races. A crew came forward in the person of Simon Hudson and Emma Briggs as ARO. Laurence set up a course – as below – with a very short first windward leg (and not very long line) in the southwest corner just off the club house.  The breeze had built to a good middle force three.

 

At the gun Bill Hudson (Topper) was the first to get his bow over the line close to the shore end and then go into Irons while the rest of the fleet left him behind. Further out Roger McCall (Laser full rig) was next to go and thirdly Geoff Sheridan (Byte- orig rig). Towards the pin end of the line Rupert  Smith (Streaker) started ahead  Laurence Venus (Streaker). At the turning (windward Mark) Rupert got a bit too close and hit it, having to do his turns, after leaving it in his wake.

Laurence was soon off into the lead sailing free towards the island. Roger was in second position down this leg with Chris Foster and Charlie Foster (Laser II) not far behind and Penelope Duncan (Laser Radial) next closer to the south bank.

By the time the fleet was approaching the south east mark Laurence was in the lead still with Rupert next to round. Chris was next up and then it was Micheal Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200), both of whom had spinnakers flying down the leg. Roger was fifth to round.

After the next two legs behind the Island and the beat back to the mark in the centre of the pond, Roger was in the lead with Rupert second Laurence third,Michael fourth (these three just 3 seconds apart, Bill Wates (Laser full rig) fifth and Chris.F sixth. Down the next leg (Run) there were more place changes and again on the final beat back to the start/finish mark. At th line Laurence was once more in the lead with Bill.W second and Rupert and Michael crossing at the same time with Chris.F 5^th.Roger was back to 7^th with Geoff 8^th, Penelope 9^th and Dave Murley (Laser Radial) 9^th. Roan Briggs (Topper) was 10^th, Bill.H 11^th and Charlie Rigg (Topper) 12^th.

In the next, 2^nd, lap it was all change behind Laurence with Chris.F moving up three places into second place, Roger likewise up three to third, Michael up one to fourth and Rupert down two to 5thBill.W dropped four places to sixth and Penelope gained one place to lie 7thas did Dave to 8^th both of them overtaking Geoff.

Bill.H climbed ahead of Roan as Geoff went down to 11^th place and Charlie stayed unchanged at 12^th.

Lap 3 and Laurence began to pull out ahead  of Chris to cross the line 34 seconds in the lead. Rupert passed Michael to cross fourth behind Roger. Behind them there were no further place changes but Geoff retired with gear troubles.

Lap 4, the final lap, and Laurence continued to forge ahead crossing the finish line 37 seconds in front of Chris. Roger was next with Rupert unable to close the gap enough. Further down the fleet there were no place changes. With Handicaps applied Laurence was pipped by Bill Hudson and with Roan Biggs in the third place. Charlie Rigg took fourth with Rupert in 5^th position

R7 

Class	H Cap	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Topper 'c'	1341	47257	NSSC	Bill Hudson		38.54	0.00.00	1.0
Streaker	1137	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		33.03	0.00.04	2.0
Streaker	1137	1700	Lancing S C	Alan Simmons		OOD		3.0
Laser	1095	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		OOD		3.0
Topper 'c'	1341	58082	NSSC	Roan Briggs		39.28	0.00.34	3.0
Topper 'c'	1341	27531	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		40.40	0.01.46	4.0
Streaker	1137	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		34.39	0.01.40	5.0
Laser	1095	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		34.22	0.02.36	6.0
Laser II	1065	10594	Lancing S C	Chris Foster	Charlie Foster	33.40	0.02.46	7.0
Laser Radial	1136	142208	NSSC	David Murley		36:41	0:03:44	8.0
Laser Radial	1136	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		37.08	0.04.11	9.0
Laser	1095	26/133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		36.20	0.04.34	10.0
RS 200	1047	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	35.00	0.04.38	11.0
Byte (origl)	1179	671	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		DNF		13.0

 

The second race was sailed over the same course but the breeze had freshened to a low force 4 and shifted a bit more southerly making the leg down the south side a bit tighter reach.

At the gun Penelope was well on the wrong side of the line but her recall created mayhem with over half the fleet thinking it was a general recall while the rest just sailed on. Chris.F was first to cross, legally, but turned back. At the pin end Rupert was next away, he also turned back, just to windward of Bill.H. Alan, having swapped over with Bill.W on the safety boat, tried to make a port hand start from near the pin end but was forced to tack and then went into irons. By the time he regained control the fleet had disappeared – apart from the returnees, Rupert, Chris Michael and Roger.

With all the fuss behind Laurence carried on without any competition any where near him and after passing the south east mark had Dave nearly two legs behind and Penelope, having restarted and set off once more close behind him. Alan had passed the Toppers and the Byte down the South side reach and began to reel in Penelope with Rupert still some distance astern. On the reach towards the Fisherman’s Bay – from the central mark – Rupert still had to catch Roan. At the end of the lap Laurence was well in the lead with Dave in second place, some 47 seconds astern.
Penelope crossed the line third 5 seconds ahead of Alan and Rupert was just 10 seconds behind him. Michael was behind Rupert in 6^th place with Geoff (now mended) in 7^th, Chris in 8^th, Roan 9^th, Charlie 10, Roger 11^th and Bill.H 12th

Lap 2 saw the same two boats, Laurence and Dave, in first and second place as Alan went ahead of Penelope but with Rupert breathing down his neck – just 4 seconds astern at the line. Michael was still 6^th as Chris went ahead fo Geoff and Roger climbed up to lie 8^th ahead of Roan as Geoff dropped back to lie 10^th. Charlie also went up a place as Bill.H retired with a broken/detached tiller extension.

Lap 3 Laurence continued in the lead from Dave as Rupert passed Alan and began to catch him. With Penelope still 5th Chris passed Michael to lie 6^th as Roger remained in 8^th place. Roan still led Geoff and Charlie.

Lap 4. Rupert caught and passed Dave and Alan got him in his sights. Chris retired leaving Michael, Roger, Roan, Geoff an Charlie each to climb the order by one place.

Lap 5 Laurence was so far ahead Rupert could not make any significant reduction to the gap but he did extend the distance ahead of Dave. Alan meanwhile was closing in onDave, now just 18 seconds astern. Penelope thought she had finished at the end of lap four so she went ashore, only then to realise her mistake. This put Michael up to 5^th but still a good way astern of Alan and well ahead of Roger. Roan also went up a place to finish in 7^th place with Geoff finishing behind him and Charlie bringing up the rear to end his race as ninth.

Lap 6 . the final lap with now just six boats still sailing,.Laurence crossed the line a minute and thirty seconds ahead of Rupert with Alan nearly as far astern. Michael was next with Dave 5^th and Roger 6^th. After the handicaps had been applied Laurence won the race with Roan second, Rupert third and Alan fourth.

R8

Class	H Cap	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Streaker	1137	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		43.29	0.00.00	1.0
Topper 'c'	1341	58082	NSSC	Roan Briggs		43.42	0.00.58	2.0
Laser	1095	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		OOD		3.0
Laser	1095	26/133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		OOD		3.0
Streaker	1137	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		45.23	0.01.54	3.0
Streaker	1137	1700	Lancing S C	Alan Simmons		46.47	0.03.18	4.0
Laser Radial	1136	142208	NSSC	David Murley		47.05	0.03.38	5.0
Topper 'c'	1341	27531	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		47.13	0.04.29	6.0
Laser	1095	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		48.41	0.06.48	7.0
RS 200	1047	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	47.00	0.06.58	8.0
Byte (origl)	1179	671	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		44.37	0.07.03	9.0
Laser Radial	1136	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		DNF		13.0
Laser II	1065	10594	Lancing S C	Chris Foster	Charlie Foster	DNF		13.0
Topper 'c'	1341	47257	NSSC	Bill Hudson		DNF		13.0

 For those who hate the light stuff today was a pleasant relief, not too breezy, no capsizes were noted. As has been said, quite frequently this winter, the forecast was way off beam yet again. It is just best to turn up and take what comes on the day. If it looks too much like hard work on the day there seem to be plenty of duties that need filling so one can either stay ashore and take times or go afloat with an engine to get one about. Alternativel if the engine packs up as it did for Alan in the first race one can always paddle back to shore!

Alan.S 1700

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