Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg 2019 - Race 17 - 26.12.2019

Boxing Day 2019 dawned with dark Grey Skies, Raining and Blowing a good strong breeze from the south. The forecast for the winds at Piddinghoe, per XCWeather,  was a good 20 knots. On arrival at the Pond the breeze did not seem quite that strong and thirteen craft entered for the final race of the Iceberg 2019 series.

Laurence Venus, RO for the race assisted by Penny Springall with Rupert Smith and Ed Rollestone in the safety boat, with Rupert’s input laid out a somewhat complex course with a Committee Boat Start. Rupert was keen to test the signal pole, with flags, in the safety boat so was in charge of the start of the race.

Twelve boats came to the line, including two young ones, James and Lorien in Oppies. 

Toby Rollestone (Laser Radial) had capsized close to the east shore and taken a hard knock to his head from the boom. He, once upright, retired – hurt, and took no further part in the race.

At the gun it was Duncan McDonald who was first away at the pin end of the line with Matt Springall (Laser full Rig) second to cross. Third away was Lewis Johns (Laser Radial) with Jonty Freeman and Chloe Marsh (Mirrior) a little behind. Ed Thorburn (Finn) was a good bit further to windward of those mentioned previously. The wind was by then a good force 5 with some vicious gusts. See the table below for boat positions in each lap:-

Race 17

Posn	Class	Sail No	Lap 1	e time	Lap 2	e time	Lap 3	e time	Lap 4	e time	Lap 5	e time	Lap 6	e time	Lap 7	etime	Posn
1	Finn	595	Ed Thorburn	8.01	Ed Thorburn	14.06	Ed Thorburn	20.09	Ed Thorburn	26.06	Ed Thorburn	32.28	Ed Thorburn	38.29	Ed Thorburn	44.25	1
2	Laser	207006	M Springall	8.28	M Springall	14.24	M Springall	20.41	M Springall	26.46	M Springall	33.04	M Springall	39.03	D McDonbald	45.47	2
3	Streaker	2102	D McDonbald	8.43	D McDonbald	14.43	D McDonbald	20.56	D McDonbald	27.15	D McDonbald	33.41	D McDonbald	39.53	M Springall	46.44	3
4	Laser Radial	179808	L Johns	9.19	L Johns	16.13	L Johns	22.52	L Johns	29.30	L Johns	36.19	L Johns	43.12	L Johns	49.35	4
5	Streaker	1681	Alice Smith	9.54	Alice Smith	16.46	Z McCaig	23.27	Alice Smith	30.58	Z McCaig	37.55	Z McCaig	44.48			5
6	Laser Radial	64200	Z McCaig	10.14	Z McCaig	16.54	Alice Smith	23.52	Z McCaig	31.11	D Murley	38.27	Alice Smith	45.21			6
7	Laser Radial	142208	D Murley	10.37	D Murley	17.26	D Murley	24.34	D Murley	31.33	Alice Smith	38.39	D Murley	45.27			7
8	Streaker	1700	A Simmons	11.17	B Wates	18.30	B Wates	25.50	B Wates	33.09	B Wates	41.23	B Wates	48.2			8
9	Laser	26	B Wates	11.18	J Freeman	20.32	J Freeman	28.59	J Freeman	37.37	J Freeman	46.08					9
10	Mirror	6275	J Freeman	12.05	Lorien	26.09	James	37.36	James	48.52							10
11	Oppy	4064	James	16.01	James	26.32	Lorien	RTD									11
12	Oppy	6497	Lorien	16.14	A Simmons	DNF											12
13	Laser Radial	201962	T Rollestone	DNS													13

Ed.T, Duncan and Matt had a good battle up the initial beat with Ed eventually coming out on top ahead of Duncan with Matt just astern. 

The order by the end of the first lap was Ed.T , Matt and Duncan, with 42 seconds between first and third. 

Lewis was fourth round ahead of Alice Smith (dad’s Streaker). Alan Simmons (Streaker) made across the line in eighth place behind Dave Murley (Laser Radial) but having found it rather hard going,  and too tippy in the gusts, called it a day and headed for shore.

Lap 2 saw no changes at the front – there were positional changes between the leading four for the rest of the race except in the last lap but Lorien went ahead of James for the lap.

In lap 3 Zoe overtook Alice to lie fifth and James went ahead of Lorien again.

Not much change in lap 4 except that Lorien retired – not sure if she capsized but the boat was rather full of water once ashore. Alice went ahead of Zoe the latter having a capsize.

Lap 5 Zoe got back ahead of Alice who was seen hanging out of the Streaker and so did Dave, briefly, only to lose the advantage in the following lap.

Lap 7  was sailed by just the leading four boats and from the final positions, Ed.T first Duncan second and Matt third it would seem that the latter took a short swim. Lewis crossed the line fourth and last to finish.

With handicaps applied, times corrected and results calculated the winner was Duncan with Ed second, Matt third, Lewis fourth and Zoe fifth.

R17 - 26/12/2019

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1		Streaker	2102	NSSC	Duncan McDonald		1128	45.47	0.00.00	1.0
2		Finn	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1051	44.25	0.01.46	2.0
3	Cadet	Laser 4.7	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1207	OOD		3.0
3		Laser	207006	NSSC	Matthew Springall		1099	46.44	0.02.08	3.0
5	Cadet	Laser Radial	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1145	49.35	0.03.07	4.0
6		Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1145	44.48	0.04.58	5.0
7		Laser Radial	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1142	45.27	0.05.43	6.0
8		Mirror	6275	NSSC	Jonty Freeman	Chloe Marsh	1390	46.08	0.05.50	7.0
9		Streaker	1681	NSSC	Alice Smith		1128	45.21	0.06.06	8.0
10		Laser	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1099	48.20	0.10.06	9.0
11	Cadet	OPTIMIST	4064	NSSC	James McDonald		1655	48.52	0.10.29	10.0
12		Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1128	DNF		36.0
12	Cadet	OPTIMIST	6497	NSSC	Lorien McDonald		1655	DNF		36.0

This being the last race of the series the overall positions were worked out and the prizes awarded with Ed Thorburn taking top place and the, somewhat, heavy Iceberg Trophy. Rupert was second overall with Thomas Harland-Smith awarded third place – although he was not present to receive his prize. Fourth place went to Zoe McCaig and fifth to Laurence Venus.

It had been a good series with no races lost to extra strong winds,  that is not to say that it was not a bit breezy some Sundays – the last four come to mind. There was quite a bit close racing and just four points between first and second place  before this final race.

Thanks go to the ROs, Assistant ROs, the Safety Boat crews and the Galley staff for their excellent work – without competitors, and Others doing their duties there would be no racing.

Alan.S  1700

PS for the overall results follow the link to the results page on the NSSC web site (http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2019/2019icebergr16.htm)  and see all the photos of the prizegiving on the NSSC Facebook Page.