Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Race 13 & 14 - 15.12.2019

Dark Grey skies, almost black, with a strong breeze as we left home for Piddinghoe this morning. The forecast was bleak with suggested wind up to 30 knots and thus it looked unlikely that there would be any racing. On arrival at the pond there was a little activity, Thomas Harland-Smith and Lewis Johns were off down the south shore, already togged up and Michael Veale and Mike Rosier were preparing their RS 200. Both Rupert Smith and Ed Thorburn were thinking about rigging.

The RO for the day, Laurence Venus, assisted by Bill Waites and with Penelope Duncan and Andy Beck in the safety boat were getting the engine shipped,  was setting up a course in an ‘M’ shape as shown below :-

The wind was whistling in the rigging on the boats on the south shore (force 6) and there were some vicious gust coming through from the south west which made Ed.T decide not  to bother. Rupert was not raising his sail and was offered the use of Alan’s Streaker Wave sail ( a reefed version of the normal rig) which he thought might be a good Idea to get a few points if he went afloat and Ed.T did not. Alan had already decide to view the proceedings from the bank.

The two Mikes went afloat when the wind was at its peak – the sky at its blackest with squally showers, Hail and even a Rainbow or two – and Ed.T changed his mind as Rupert used the Wave sail at the last moment. 

As a consequence five boats were on the water at the five minute gun – which Laurence delayed until 11.00 am. 

At the start gun it was Rupert .S (‘reefed’ Streaker) who was first across the line on the beat up to the mark off the clubhouse. Next away was Thomas H-S in his Laser Radial, then Michael.V in the RS 200 followed by Lewis.J also in a Radial and lastly Ed.T in his Finn. 

After the short beat towards the clubhouse Thomas was in the lead followed by Rupert and then Michael. By the end of the first lap the wind had begun to abate – and all had survived without capsize – Thomas led Ed across the line with Rupert in third place.

The wind continued to drop, much to Rupert’s disgust with his little sail. 

It was still raining though with a third rainbow – double this time – and Lewis was catching Rupert. By the end of the third lap Ed had almost caught Thomas (2 seconds astern) and Lewis had passed Rupert with Michael bringing up the tail.

It was the end of lap 4 before Ed got in front of Thomas but only by six seconds and began to pull away with Lewis by then 17 seconds ahead of Rupert with Michael another 12 seconds behind.

At the finish Ed crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of Thomas with Lewis two minutes further back and Rupert 41 second further back and just 14 seconds ahead of Michael behind him.

For individual lap positions/times see the table below :-

Race 13

Posn	Class	Sail No	Lap 1	e time	Lap 2	e time	Lap 3	e time	Lap 4	e time	Lap 5	e time	Posn
1	Laser Radial	72341	T Harland-Smith	6.58	Ed Thorburn	12.41	T Harland-Smith	18.46	Ed Thorburn	24.59	Ed Thorburn	31.02	1
2	Finn	595	Ed Thorburn	7.17	T Harland-Smith	13.06	Ed Thorburn	18.48	T Harland-Smith	25.05	T Harland-Smith	31.17	2
3	Streaker	1681	R Smith	7.43	L  Johns	13.42	L  Johns	20.08	L Johns	26.53	L Johns	33.19	3
4	Laser Radial	179808	L  Johns	7.45	R Smith	13.52	R Smith	20.52	R Smith	27.10	R Smith	34.00	4
5	RS200	582	M Veale	8.02	M Veale	14.08	M Veale	21.05	M Veale	27.22	M Veale	34.14	5

With handicaps applied Thomas was the winner with Lewis second, Ed third, Rupert fourth and Michael fifth.

                                          R13 - 15/12/2019

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Cadet	Laser Radial	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1145	31.17	0.00.00	1.0
2	Cadet	Laser Radial	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1145	33.19	0.02.02	2.0
3		Finn	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1051	31.02	0.02.19	3.0
3		Hadron H2	138	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1037	OOD		3.0
3		Laser	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1099	OOD		3.0
3		Laser Radial	91329	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		1145	OOD		3.0
3		Moth	3048	Lancing SC	Andy Beck		1145	OOD		3.0
8		Streaker	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1128	34.00	0.03.11	4.0
9		RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	34.14	0.05.39	5.0

After a break ashore, and for Rupert a change of sail to his full rig, four boats (Michael stayed ashore as he felt his hull was leaking and was trying to find the cause) came to the line for race 14 – over the same course - in a much lower breeze than that experienced at the beginning of the previous race – yours truly could have coped had I had my gear with me!

At the gun Thomas was first to cross the line with Rupert to windward, Ed below him and Lewis port tacking behind them. 

Rupert was first to round the windward mark by the clubhouse and pull away from the following three who started off down the run in line abreast. 

By the gybe mark, south west of the island Ed had passed the two cadets but not caught  Rupert and by the end of the lap was still 24 seconds behind with Thomas leading Lewis by 25 seconds.

In Lap 2 Rupert caught a nice gust on the reach towards the gybe mark and ended up crossing the line with a 53 second lead over Ed. Lewis had a serious capsize on the leg down the east shore in a strong gust just as he came clear of the Island and consequently finished the lap 4 minutes behind third placed Thomas.

Lap 3 saw Ed close the gap a bit on Rupert largely on the long beat up the south shore, crossing the finish line  now 27 seconds behind but with Thomas closing the gap to 29 seconds from Ed.

Lap 4 had Ed unable to make further ground on Rupert nor did Thomas on Ed.

It was not until the final lap, lap 6, that Ed made any mark on Rupert until finally catching and passing him on that final beat up the south shore to cross the line 3 seconds ahead with Thomas just 30 seconds further back.

Lap times/positions per boat :-

Race 14

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	Posn
1	Streaker	1681	R Smith	7.05	R Smith	13.20	R Smith	20.30	R Smith	27.18	R Smith	34.03	Ed Thorburn	40.42	1
2	Finn	595	Ed Thorburn	7.29	Ed Thorburn	14.13	Ed Thorburn	20.57	Ed Thorburn	27.47	Ed Thorburn	34.28	R Smith	40.45	2
3	Laser Radial	72341	T Harland-Smith	8.17	T Harland-Smith	14.54	T Harland-Smith	21.28	T Harland-Smith	28.21	T Harland-Smith	34.52	T Harland-Smith	41.15	3
4	Laser Radial	179808	L  Johns	8.42	L  Johns	19.09	L  Johns	26.59	L Johns	34.19	L Johns	41.29	L Johns	Finished	4
5	RS200	582	M Veale	DNC											5

With handicaps applied Thomas was the winner with Rupert second, Ed third and Lewis fourth.

                                         R14 - 15/12/2019

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Cadet	Laser Radial	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1145	41.15	0.00.00	1.0
2		Streaker	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1128	40.45	0.00.07	2.0
3		Hadron H2	138	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1037	OOD		3.0
3		Finn	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1051	40.42	0.02.50	3.0
3		Laser Radial	91329	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		1145	OOD		3.0
3		Laser	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1099	OOD		3.0
3		Moth	3048	Lancing SC	Andy Beck		1145	OOD		3.0
8	Cadet	Laser Radial	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1145	41.29	0.07.06	4.0

The wind went from horrendous, before race 13 to ‘a bit light’ by the end of race 14 but apart from Lewis’s rather lengthy capsize in the second race of the day, every one afloat coped well given all the variables – and it is felt enjoyed their outing.

Alan.S 1700