Streaker Ramblings - NumBum Races 7 & 8 - 27.01.2019

 

Before Breakfast the sky was grey and overcast  and there was a keen breeze at the back of the house. On the way to Piddinghoe the sky started to open up with large patches of blue sky and even some sunshine.

Penny Springall was RO, assisted by Toby Rollestone and with Dave Murley and Geoff Sheridan in the safety boat and she set a course around the shores of the pond, with just the one gybe mark (off the middle of the east bank) missing out only the mark in the south west corner of the pond – off the clubhouse.

Six boats came to the start/finish line, with the shore end just east of the first slipway, away from the clubhouse area, along the south bank – yours truly and Laurence Venus staying firmly on the bankside.

At the gun it was Thomas Harland-Smith (Topper, NSSC) who was first to cross the line on the beat towards the clubhouse. A touch behind but to windward Jonty Freeman (Radial, NSSC) was second away with Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) third and just ahead of Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC). Chris Foster (Laser full rig, Lancing) should have been near the line but realised too late that he had tangle the Kicker and Cunningham controls and failed to sort it out afloat, he subsequently retired.

The last boat in the fleet was that of Ed Rollestone (Topper, NSSC) who was still ashore with a minute and a half to the gun, no sooner afloat than his boat capsized onto the bank. Finally properly afloat, with Dad’s help, he went of towards the wrong mark, had to return and still messed up his start, by which time Jonty had nearly finished his first lap.

 

The wind had started at a good top end force 4 with gusts into force 5 and occasionally force 6! This led to numerous capsizes, although the ‘upside down cup’ was definitely won by the pair in the RS 200 who persisted in flying their Gennaker only to fall over on nearly all laps at the gybe mark. A few gusts also caused ‘dips’ on the reach along the west bank, especially as the boats neared the Fisherman’s Bay area and the gusts' blasted' through.

At the end of the first lap Jonty was in the lead, 12 seconds ahead of Ed.T with Michael and Mike 41 seconds astern. Thomas was fourth and Ed.R fifth. The order remained the same throughout the race as each boat crossed the finishing line each lap.


There were some apparent  place changes between the two Toppers as each in turn spent some time swimming but as Ed was almost a lap behind Thomas, due to his late start, their relative places remained unchanged until the end of the race. The two offwind legs each had some spectacular planes especially for the two leaders.

With Handicaps applied the winner was Jonty with Thomas second, Ed.T third, Ed.R fourth and Michael fifth.

R7

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	LASER RADIAL	192842	NSSC	Jonty Freeman		1142	40.21	0.00.00	1.0
2	TOPPER	44242	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith (C)		1358	44.45	0.05.30	2.0
3	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1051	43.11	0.06.03	3.0
3	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1142	OOD		3.0
3	LASER RADIAL	(64200)	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1142	OOD		3.0
6	TOPPER	44422	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1358	40.44	0.10.12	4.0
7	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	49.58	0.16.22	5.0
8	LASER	171864	Lancing	Chris Foster		1098	DNF		7.0

The second Race (Race 8) started at 11.30with now just five boats, Chris having packed his boat away.

At the gun the two Toppers, Ed.R and Thomas were first to cross with Jonty below them and Ed.T further down the line and behind.

The RS capsized just before reaching the start line and was consequently way behind by the end of the lap. Ed.T was 17 seconds behind Jonty with Thomas 23 seconds astern of Ed.T with Ed.R fourth and Miichael and Mike over a minute behind.

 

Lap 2 had Ed.T take the lead as Jonty hit the mark in the far south east corner of the pond and have to complete a 360 degree turn but was still just 5 seconds astern at the line. Thomas was third around with Michael having caught and passed Ed.R – while the latter was swimming.

Lap 3 had Ed.T retain his lead and increase it slightly to 10 seconds. Thomas went back a head of Michael who took another dip and Ed.R retired, cold and wet.

 

Lap 4 saw no further place changes but Ed.T moved a triffle further ahead of Jonty to cross the line now 12 seconds in front. Thomas was a good way back with Michael ‘miles’ behind him – more swims – and finishing

Lap 5 the final lap and Ed.T crossed the line in first place 14 seconds astern with Thomas bringing up the rear in third place. After applying the Handicaps Jonty was the winner once more with Thomas again second, Michael third and Ed.T  fourth.

With Handicaps applied Jonty was the winner again  with Thomas second (also again), Ed.T third and Michael fourth.

R8

Rank	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	LASER RADIAL	192842	NSSC	Jonty Freeman		1142	19.36	0.00.00	1.0
2	TOPPER	44242	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith (C)		1358	24.53	0.01.35	2.0
3	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1051	19.28	0.01.26	3.0
3	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1142	OOD		3.0
3	LASER RADIAL	(64200)	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1142	OOD		3.0
6	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	23.39	0.09.17	4.0
7	TOPPER	44422	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1358	DNF		6.0

Conditions had been very trying, and very cold, really testing the metal of all who took part, most of whom enjoyed their battle with the wind and water. Next Sunday’s forecast, by XCWeather, is currently for a little lighter  breezes but a lot can happen in seven days.

Alan.S 1700

 

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