As had been anticipated it was blowing too hard
for Alan’s liking to race on Sunday last thus he went down to take some photos
should there be any racing. On arrival at the pond there was some whistling in
the rigging (force 5-6 is his guess) to be heard, it was dark and grey and
raining but half a dozen boats ventured out for Races 4 and 5.
Zoe McCaig was RO assisted
by Sean Beavor and with Andy Beck and Penelope Duncan in the Safety Boat. Zoe
set an ‘m’ shaped ‘Dino’ (her words) course – as below – with a windward start
close by the clubhouse’.
Even before the start there
was a bit of ‘activity’ on the water, with both the two Michaels in the RS 200
and the new entrant Stephen Hamilton? (Laser full rig), taking an early dip.
Apparently it is a brand new boat, as was his Dry Suit which filled up – Zip
not fully closed at a guess.
There was even a problem at
the start as the ‘hooter’ was malfunctioning – Alan was close to the line and
he did not hear it clearly and thus missed the actual start.
The five starting
boats were nowhere near the line at the gun but Thomas Harland-Smith led Lewis
Johns around the ‘windward’ mark in the south west corner followed by Michael,
Bill Wates (Laser radial) and then Saskia Dethmers (Laser 4.7).Stephen was still half
way down the south side of the pond but eventually got to the line area and
started last.
After the reach down the
south bank, Thomas led Lewis along the eastern shore whilst Saskia led Bill and
The RS capsized near the fisherman.
Following the next run, towards the
Fisherman’s bay, Saskia had a capsize whilst Lewis sailed the wrong course and
‘retired’. At the line the order was Thomas followed by Bill with Michael close
behind (4 seconds) and Saskia fourth.
Lap two saw Thomas in the
lead as Michael went ahead of Bill and Saskia had nearly caught up to be last
but just 4 seconds behind Bill.
Lap 3 was still led by
Thomas with Saskia in second place ahead of Michael and Bill – probably more
capsizes, it was difficult to keep up with them, capsizes that is.
Lap 4 and Thomas was way out
ahead but with Saskia second and Bill passing Michael.
Lap 5 and Zoe sent Thomas
around again, alone, having finished the others at the end of lap 4.
With the results for this
race calculated the winner was Thomas with Saskia second, Bill third and
Michael fourth.
R4 - 13/12/2020
Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place
|
Rank
|
Fleet
|
Class
|
SailNo
|
Club
|
HelmName
|
CrewName
|
PY
|
Elapsed
|
Corrected
|
BCE
|
Points
|
|
1
|
Cadet
|
Laser Radial
|
72341
|
NSSC
|
Thomas Harland-Smith
|
|
1147
|
32.52
|
0.28.39
|
0.00.00
|
1.0
|
|
2
|
Cadet
|
Laser 4.7
|
209959
|
NSSC
|
Saskia Dethmers
|
|
1208
|
30.55
|
0.31.59
|
0.03.13
|
2.0
|
|
3
|
|
Laser Radial
|
26
|
NSSC
|
Bill Wates
|
|
1147
|
33.31
|
0.36.32
|
0.07.13
|
3.0
|
|
4
|
|
RS 200
|
582
|
NSSC
|
Michael Veale
|
Mike Rosier
|
1046
|
33.50
|
0.40.26
|
0.09.51
|
4.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser 4.7
|
|
Lancing SC
|
Andy Beck
|
|
1208
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser
|
46237
|
NSSC
|
Sean Beevor
|
|
1100
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser Radial
|
64200/46
|
NSSC
|
Zoe McCaig
|
|
1147
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser Radial
|
81
|
NSSC
|
Penelope Duncan
|
|
1147
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
9
|
Cadet
|
Laser Radial
|
179808
|
NSSC
|
Lewis Johns
|
|
1145
|
DNF
|
|
|
46.0
|
|
9
|
|
Laser
|
217664
|
NSSC
|
Stephen...
|
|
1100
|
DNF
|
|
|
46.0
|
After a short break ashore,
for coffee, the ‘drowned rats’ including the RO and helpers set up for the
second race, over the same course. This time a whistle was used and the signals
were heard loud and clear.
First to cross the line at
the gun, was Saskia with Michael just to leeward and slightly behind. Next came Thomas
followed by Lewis. Bill was still somewhere in the reeds on the west bank. He
did eventually start but a long way back.
At the end of the first lap Thomas
was ahead of Saskia by 14 seconds with Michael next then Lewis – having taken a
short swim – with Bill last to cross the line.
Lap 2 and it was Thomas who
took the plunge allowing Michael into the lead and Lewis passing Saskia as she
dipped ln along the way – approaching the mark off the Fisherman's bay at the
end of the downwind leg seems to have been a favourite spot to swim in.
Lap 3 was won by Lewis with
Michael second and Thomas third – no guesses as to what happened to him. Bill
was still last to cross the line.
Lap 4 and Thomas was back in
front of the fleet with Michael next, then Lewis followed by Saskia and Bill at the back still.
Lap 5 was led by Thomas with
Michael behind and Saskia ahead of a rather damp Lewis with Bill last man ‘standing’.
Lap 6 the final lap with
Thomas leading the pack, Michael next and then Saskia a mere 5 seconds behind.
Bill had already finished having been given the gun at the end of the previous
lap.
The worked out results
confirmed a win for Saskia with Thomas second, Lewis third, Michael fourth and
Bill fifth.
R5 - 13/12/2020
Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place
|
Rank
|
Fleet
|
Class
|
SailNo
|
Club
|
HelmName
|
CrewName
|
PY
|
Elapsed
|
Corrected
|
BCE
|
Points
|
|
1
|
Cadet
|
Laser 4.7
|
209959
|
NSSC
|
Saskia Dethmers
|
|
1208
|
42.04
|
0.34.49
|
0.00.00
|
1.0
|
|
2
|
Cadet
|
Laser Radial
|
72341
|
NSSC
|
Thomas Harland-Smith
|
|
1147
|
40.40
|
0.35.27
|
0.00.43
|
2.0
|
|
3
|
Cadet
|
Laser Radial
|
179808
|
NSSC
|
Lewis Johns
|
|
1145
|
45.00
|
0.39.18
|
0.05.08
|
3.0
|
|
4
|
|
RS 200
|
582
|
NSSC
|
Michael Veale
|
Mike Rosier
|
1046
|
41.59
|
0.40.08
|
0.05.33
|
4.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser 4.7
|
|
Lancing SC
|
Andy Beck
|
|
1208
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser
|
46237
|
NSSC
|
Sean Beevor
|
|
1100
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser Radial
|
64200/46
|
NSSC
|
Zoe McCaig
|
|
1147
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser Radial
|
26
|
NSSC
|
Bill Wates
|
|
1147
|
39.41
|
0.41.31
|
0.06.24
|
5.0
|
|
5
|
|
Laser Radial
|
81
|
NSSC
|
Penelope Duncan
|
|
1147
|
OOD
|
|
|
5.0
|
These had been two gruelling
and somewhat wet races, exciting sailing – and swimming not quite so much. All
who took part are to be commended for sticking it out in those conditions.
Yours truly, whilst wisely not going afloat, had to contend with almost
continuous light rain and very breezy conditions which meant that many of the
photos he took were out of focus or be-speckaled with rain drops
The current forecast for next
Sunday, 20th December, is looking a bit less frantic – but who knows
how it will eventually turn out.
Alan.S DZ 224
