Freeman Iceberg Races 13 & 14 - 19.12.2021

Freeman Iceberg R 13 & 14

Grey and Overcast as we left home in Hangleton this morning. By the time we got up to the top of ‘Snakey’  (George VI Ave – A2038) it was becoming misty/foggy, low cloud perhaps. 

                        

                        Photos - in spite of the mist/fog - by Bett Simmons

On arrival at Piddinghoe Pond it was thick mist with visibility down to 50 or 60 yards, the far side of the pond was invisible even thought there was a light breeze  (< force 3) blowing from the north. During the morning the fog/mist kept coming and going but there was enough visibility to see the marks of the course.

Terry Jones was RO and Anna Freeman stepped in to assist him with Connie Sturt and Michelle (not Smith) in the safety boat. With a lot of Fishermen on the banks, Terry set a course, convoluted to avoid the Fisherman’s Bay and east bank as shown below. It ended up, in the second race with a fair few reaches to the benefit of the one spinnaker rigged boat, the RS 200.

At the Gun, with the fleet at the pin end, Thomas Harland Smith (Laser Radial) was first away with Ed Rollestone (Laser 4.7- NSSC) behind but to windward, he then immediately tacked off to port. Third to cross the line were Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200 – NSSC) and forth off was Thomas Beck (Topper – NSSC).

It appears that Rupert Smith (OK – NSSC) was a bit premature, or could not find room at the pin end, and was over the line having to tack back to start at the back of the fleet,  along with Alan Simmons (D Zero – Lancing SC) who had problems with the traveller on his boat before the start sequence. It did not help when Alan approached the windward mark to be confronted with two Lasers, they on port tack, almost at the mark forcing him to go to the wrong side to avoid a collision. By the time he rounded correctly they had both gone well ahead.

Back to the front of the fleet it was Thomas H-S who rounded the windward mark in first place with Ed.R behind him then Lewis and Zoe behind him. Behind these leaders was a gaggle consisting of Michael.V, Rupert, Dave Hitchings (Laser full rig _ NSSC) and Dave Murley Laser Radial – NSSC) followed by Thomas.B.

By the end of the lap the order was Thomas H-S in the lead with Lewis 2^nd, Ed.R 3^rd, Zoe 4^th, Rupert 5^th, David.H 6th, Julian Dobson (Laser full rig – NSSC) 7^th,Michael 8^th, Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC) 9^th, Dave.M 10^th, Alan 11^th, Andy Beck (Moth – NSSC) 12^th and Thomas.B 13^th.

Lap 2 saw a few scraps occurring, for whilst Thomas H-S retained the lead, Lewis crossed the line 13 seconds behind and Rupert went up to 3^rd place. Zoe, behind him was being chased by Michael as Ed.R dropped back to lie 6^th. Dave.H dropped back behind Julian and Bill to hold 9^th spot. Alan pulled back a single place to 10^th pushing Dave.M behind him. Andy and Thomas B remained 12^th and 13^th.

Lap 3 by now the breeze was just about up to a force 3 and Thomas H-S still held the lead but now with Rupert now 17 seconds astern, having overtaken Lewis. Julian jumped up the fleet to hold 4^th ahead of Zoe who in turn went ahead of Michael and Ed.R dropped back behind Bill to lie 8^th. The order behind remained unchanged.

Lap 4 and it was Thomas H-S who finished the race in first position with Rupert 9 seconds behind but ahead of Lewis. Julian was 4^th and Zoe 5^th. Alan eventually made it home across the line in8th place. With handicaps applied the race winner was Thomas Harland Smith with Rupert Smith 2^nd, Zoe McCaig 3^rd, Ed Rollestone 4^th and Lewis Johns 5^th. – see results below.

 Results Provisional unchecked:-

Race 13 - 19/12/2021

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		28.43	4	0.25.02	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	Saxon	OK	2239	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1104		28.52	4	0.26.09	0.01.14	2.0
3	Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147		30.17	4	0.26.24	0.01.34	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1208		32.02	4	0.26.31	0.01.47	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		29.22	4	0.26.42	0.01.50	5.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		29.51	4	0.27.08	0.02.19	6.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Waites		1147		31.39	4	0.27.36	0.02.56	7.0
8	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		30.30	4	0.29.10	0.04.19	8.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER	122461	NSSC	David Hitchens		1100		32.11	4	0.29.15	0.04.39	9.0
10	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		30.14	3	0.29.32	0.04.36	10.0
11	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147		34.07	4	0.29.45	0.05.24	11.0
12	Menagerie		Int Moth (Non-foiling)	3605	NSSC	Andy Beck		1141		34.29	4	0.30.13	0.05.55	12.0
13	Menagerie		DEVOTI D-ZERO	224	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1029		31.55	4	0.31.01	0.06.09	13.0

Race 14 was held over the same course with the breeze little better in strength but from a slightly changed direction, moving a bit more eastward and making the first leg, for most, one longish beat and then quick tack to round.

At the gun the fleet was rather too eager with a good few over the line. Terry (RO) was having none of it and signalled a general recall. As a result , on the second attempt,  Ed.R was first across the line at about mid length with Thomas H-S a little further back but to windward.  Next away was Alan to lee of the first pair but with clean air and then Michael with Lewis to weather but not ahead. Michael was first to the windward mark with Alan soon hot on his heels having passed the leading Lasers on the way round the course – crossing the line in second place at the end of the first lap. Rupert was in 3^rd place ahead Thomas H-S with Lewis 5^th, Julian 6^th, Ed.R 7^th, Dave.M 8^th, Bill 9^th, Zoe 10^th, David.H 11^th,and Thomas.B 12^th. Andy Beck started the race but did not complete the first lap.

Lap 2 Alan’s battle with Michael continued, in spite of the latter’s extra off wind speed due to his Gennaker, crossing the line 3 seconds astern. Rupert was 23 seconds further back with Lewis behind him, having passed Thomas H-S to cross the line 17 seconds ahead. Zoe had gone up to 8th, passing Dave.M and Bill on the way. Bill having also slipped back behind Dave.H ended up 11^th ahead of Thomas.B

Lap 3 and Michael still held the lead from Alan having pulled his lead out to 15 seconds. Lewis overhauled Rupert to lead him by 8 seconds . Thomas H-S stayed in 5th place ahead of Julian with Zoe behind him having gone ahead of Ed.R. Dave.H retained 9^th place as Bill went ahead of David.M and Thomas.B remained in 12^th place.

Lap 4 Alan finally went ahead of Michal by 4 second at the end of the lap, Lewis stayed put in 3^rd place with Rupert breathing down his neck just 3 seconds astern. Julian went into 5^th place passing Thomas.H-S on the way, whilst Zoe held on to 7^th place ahead of Ed.R. David.H held on to 9^th place ahead of Bill, Dave.M and Thomas.B who was finished at the end of the lap.

Lap 5 with Alan still at the front of the fleet Rupert got a huge surge as the wind dropped away in this lap to close up to 26 seconds behind  and in so doing passed both Lewis and Michael. Lewis also got passed by Julian  to lie 5^th. Thomas H-S , ahead of Zoe, was behind Lewis in 6^th with Zoe 7^th and Dave.H up to 8^th having passed Ed.R.  Dave.M went ahead of Bill into 10^th place.

Lap 6 The final lap, saw Rupert’s efforts pay off as he overtook Alan on the third to last leg, to lead the fleet and cross the line 29 seconds ahead. There was then a bit of gap before Julian crossed 3^rd ahead of Michael and then Zoe. Thomas H-S was next to cross in 6^th with Lewis behind him. The remaining four boats stayed in the same order as in lap 5.

With Handicaps applied and Calculations completed the Winner of race 14 was Rupert Smith with Zoe McCaig 2^nd, Thomas Harland-Smith 3^rd, Ed Rollestone 4^th and Julian Dobson 5^th – as below.

Results Provisional unchecked:-

Race 14 - 19/12/2021

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie	Scoundrel	STREAKER	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1128		42.08	6	0.37.21	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147		44.58	6	0.39.12	0.02.07	2.0
3	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		45.1	6	0.39.15	0.02.10	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1208		48.19	6	0.40.00	0.03.12	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		44.10	6	0.40.09	0.03.05	5.0
6	Menagerie		DEVOTI D-ZERO	224	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1029		42.37	6	0.41.25	0.04.11	6.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		45.47	6	0.41.37	0.04.42	7.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER	122461	NSSC	David Hitchens		1100		46.32	6	0.42.18	0.05.27	8.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147		48.47	6	0.42.32	0.05.56	9.0
10	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		44.31	6	0.42.34	0.05.27	10.0
11	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Waites		1147		48.59	6	0.42.42	0.06.08	11.0
12	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		40.12	4	0.44.11	0.06.13	12.0
13	Menagerie		Int Moth (Non-foiling)	3605	NSSC	Andy Beck		1141		RET				34.0

 

Whilst rigging prior to race 13 they Mist/fog began to clear – if it had stayed it is unlikely that racing would have been possible but thankfully it went ahead. The breeze dropping in the second half of the second race was also a shame – for Alan but not for Rupert. Alan did have his best (and worst) result of the series.

Next Sunday, Boxing day, is the final race of the Freeman Iceberg series, and Prize giving, the current XC Weather forecast is for Force 5 at 0900  easing to force 4 by 1200. Either way it looks a bit breezy for the writer.

Alan.S DZ 224