Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum race 9 & 10 - 04.02.2018

Mostly blue skies with a stiff breeze as we left for Piddinghoe. On arrival it was still largely sunny but the breeze was a good force 4 and it did not look as though there would be too many takers.  Eleven boats signed on but one, Ed Rollestone changed his mind and went afloat in a reefed down Topper instead of his usual Oppie  before deciding that it was too windy for him. Brandon Rudd was going to sail singlehanded in a Laser 2 but he also decided against it and thus there were eight boats in the first Race.

The race Officer, Richard Beal assisted by Zoe McCaig, with  Chris Turner and Geoff Sheridan in the safety boat, set the course as shown below such that there was, fortunately, only a pair of gybes in each lap.

 

At the gun it was Rupert Smith (Streaker – NSSC) who was first away at the shore end of the line, next to go was Jazz Turner, crewed by Lucy McCaig (Feva – NSSC) lower down the line with Chris Foster (Laser full rig – Lancing) speeding off the line and Tiger Cox (Laser 4.7 – NSSC) just to windward of Maddie Quinn (Topper – NSSC).

 

Rupert was first to round the windward mark but as he turned towards the mark in the middle of the pond he spotted that one of his shroud pins had disappeared and he quickly lowered his sail to save his mast. As a result he had to head back to the shore and he retired in order to find a new pin and fix the shroud back in position but was unable to rejoin the race.

Thus it was Chris who crossed the line in the lead. Tiger was second to complete the first lap with Jazz third, and Paul fourth. Alan was lying fifth and struggling in the strong wind which was by then a good force 5. Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200 – NSSC) were sixth just astern of Alan with Maddie next and Dave Murley (Laser Radial – NSSC) eighth and last to finish the lap.

 

Lap 2 saw Chris in the lead still from Paul who had gained two places to lie ahead of Tiger. Jazz dropped back a place due to Paul’s rise and Michael overtook Alan as Dave went ahead of Maddie.

 

Lap 3 and Chris stayed ahead of Paul but the latter was closing the gap from 33 seconds to 24 seconds. Tiger was third with Michael and Jazz now fifth as Alan dropped to sixth. Dave stayed ahead of Maddie.

 

Lap 4 and Chris led the fleet home with Paul now dropping back to 32 seconds astern having taken a spill. Michael took a swim allowing Jazz to pass him to lie fourth. Alan retained sixth place ahead of Dave and Maddie.

 

Lap 5 with Chris still in the lead but with a decreased margin over Paul and was now 29 seconds ahead. Michael was now back and chasing Jazz and pulling away from Alan. Dave and Maddie’s relative positions remained unchanged.

 

Lap 6, the final lap, and Chris crossed the line still ahead of Paul but with the gap by then down to just 11 seconds. Tiger was third with Michael now just ahead of Jazz with Alan, still upright, behind her  and last as Dave and Maddie had been finished at the end of lap 5.

With handicaps applied Jazz was the winner with Tiger second and Chris third.

Results:-

                                                                   R9 - 04.02..2018

Place Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1		Feva	6327	NSSC	Jazz Turner	Lucy McCaig	1240	29.12	0.00.00	1.0
2		LASER 4.7	138161	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1200	28.35	0.00.20	2.0
3		Laser	171864	Lancing	Chris Foster		1097	27.15	0.01.25	3.0
3		Laser Radial	158365	NSSC	Chris Turner		1139	OOD		3.0
3		Byte (Orig Rig)	672	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1190	OOD		3.0
3		Laser Radial	43382	NSSC	Richard Beal		1139	OOD		3.0
7		Laser	49864	Hardway	Paul Ryan		1097	27.26	0.01.36	4.0
8		Topper		NSSC	Maddi Quin		1347	29.48	0.03.22	5.0
9	Hot Toddy	RS200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1047	29.01	0.04.22	6.0
10		Streaker	1700	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1132	31.24	0.04.45	7.0
11		Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1139	27.32	0.05.11	8.0

 

Race 10, the second of the day, sailed over the same course started with Dave and Chris staying ashore but Rupert back in the fleet and leading off the line. Bett’s camera battery failed (as did the spare) so there are no pictures of the start or of the subsequent racing – more of the first race pics are used here.

Alan decided, having started, that the wind was definitely not to his liking (up to force 6 in the gusts by then) and he retired before reaching the windward mark off the Fisherman’s Bay.

 

At the end of the first lap Rupert led from Michael by 9 seconds with Tiger next 17 seconds behind and Paul a further 11 seconds astern. Jazz was next, fifth and Maddie bringing up the rear. The girls in the Feva screaming with delight (or was it fear) as they creamed up the reach along the pond south shore.

 

Lap 2 and the order was unchanged from that in the first lap.

Lap 3 Rupert continued to lead from Michael with a slightly increased gap between them. Tiger dropped back to lie fifth behind Jazz, probably due to a dip, as Paul took his place as third with Maddie in sixth place.

 

Lap 4 Rupert was by then 12 seconds in front of Michael with Jazz up to third, Paul having had another capsize and dropping back to fifth place ahead of Maddie.

 

Lap 5 and Rupert had a short swim allowing Michael to close the gap to just 5 seconds. Paul moved up to fourth place astern of Jazz and Tiger retired leaving Maddie in sixth place.

 

Lap 6, the final lap, had Rupert still out in front of Michael at the finish line by 17 seconds – The Streaker going like a train on the long reach up the south side. Jazz crossed in third place with Paul still astern and Maddie having been finished at the end of lap 5.

 

After the Handicaps were used it was another win for Jazz with Rupert second and Michael third.

Results:-

                                                                     R10 - 04.02.2018

 

Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1		Feva	6327	NSSC	Jazz Turner	Lucy McCaig	1240	29.00	0.00.00	1.0
2		Streaker	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1132	26.45	0.00.17	2.0
3		Laser Radial	158365	NSSC	Chris Turner		1139	OOD		3.0
3		Byte (Orig Rig)	672	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1190	OOD		3.0
3		Laser Radial	43382	NSSC	Richard Beal		1139	OOD		3.0
3	Hot Toddy	RS200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1047	27.02	0.02.33	3.0
7		Laser	49864	Hardway	Paul Ryan		1097	29.47	0.04.08	4.0
8		Topper		NSSC	Maddi Quinn		1347	30.54	0.04.39	5.0
9		Streaker	1700	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1132	DNF		8.0
9		LASER 4.7	138161	NSSC	Tiger Cox		1200	DNF		8.0

 

 

An experience for all concerned, roaring reaches and huge gusts, enough to challenge all but it was the girls who had the greatest enjoyment winning both races. For the writer, certainly the second race was a race too far and not enjoyable at all.

 

Alan.S 1700

PS. The last four blogs have been posted relatively close together with no individual e-mail notifications. If you wish to read the earlier reports - 14th Jan,21st Jan and 28th Jan - go to the right hand side of this page (near the top) and click on the earlier dates to view.