Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Races 9 & 10 - 5/12/2021

 Freeman Iceberg Races 9 & 10

Not a very nice start to the day. It was cold, grey and raining as we set off for Piddinghoe for races 9 & 10 and the wind , as per the XC Weather forecast,  was at least force 5 – it was force 6 last night. Sure enough on arrival there did not seem to be much enthusiasm but eventually six boats went afloat for race 9. The writer was not amongst them, not even thinking about sailing/racing in that wind. Michael Veale (RS 200 – NSSC) was Race Officer together with Johnathon Perham with Mike Rosier (Michael usual crew) and Paul Knipe in the safety boat – and they were kept very busy.

Michael set an ‘M’ shaped course with the initial beat towards a mark off the fisherman’s bay, then a run back towards a mark off the south shore – well out. The followed another windward leg towards a mark off the east shore and a run behind the island to a mark in the south east corner of the pond. All was rounded off with a broad reach along the south shore to the start mark off the clubhouse. Then Pin end buoy was not a mark after the start.

                                    Photos curtesy Bett Simmons.

The wind was blowing hard, note the waves breaking on the south bank. Thus it was that Andy Beck (Laser 4.7 – NSSC)  just about made it afloat for the gun five minutes after the sequence started but going in the opposite direction as the gun went.

First across the line, at the shore end, was Ed Thorburn (Finn – NSSC) with Thomas Harland-Smith (Laser Radial – NSSC) In the middle of the line with Ed Rollestone (Laser 4.7 – NSSC) astern of him but to windward. Of the other starters Thomas Beck (Topper – NSSC) was fourth to set off, Lewis Johns (Laser full rig – NSSC) was fifth and Andy sixth and last to get going.

Ed R was first to round the windward mark followed by Ed.T, Thomas H-S  had a near miss or two at capsizing up the first leg but made it third and off on the run. There were no problems on that or the following leg but Ed.R took a lengthy dip as he gybed round the south east mark to come back towards the club house. Thomas H-S nearly joined him swimming but recovered quickly to get off on the reach. Lewis was not so lucky and did capsize at this mark. From the times for the first lap it is apparent the rest of the fleet, bar Ed.T, also had a dip - not surprising given the wind strength and two gybes in the course.

At the end of the lap the order was Ed.T 1^st, Thomas.H-S 2^nd, Andy 3^rd, Lewis 4^th and Ed.R 5^th. Thomas.B retired having spent a long time in the water and being towed back to the slipway by the safety boat just about exhausted.

Lap 2 was led by Ed.T with Ed.R 2^nd 1 minute and 27 seconds behind. Thomas H-S was third to cross the line with Lewis dropping back but still ahead of Andy. Lewis and Ed.R were making great strides towards an Olympic swimming medal.

Lap 3 Ed. Stayed upright but those following began to ‘wear round’ at the mark  off the middle of the east shore, the ensuing downwind leg was obviously somewhat ‘iffy’ with the prospect of a gybe at the south east mark if they did not do so at the beginning of that leg. At the line Ed.T crossed ahead of Ed.R who was still holding on with Thomas H-S in 3^rd place ahead of Andy .

Lap 4 and no guesses as to who was leading the fleet, Ed.T led Ed.R home with Thomas H-S behind him but still ahead of Andy who had passed Lewis and who was then finished – nearly 20 minutes adrift of the leader having had yet more capsizes – perhaps he should try a Radial?

Lap 5 and there were just three boats contending the race with Ed.T leading Ed.R and Thomas H-S, having closed the gap a bit, third to cross and finish.

Lap 6.  Ed.T was so far ahead the he was actually sent round for a sixth lap on his own crossing the line just a second behind Thomas H-S finishing his fifth lap.

With the calculations made – handicaps applied – and corrected times noted the winner of the races was Ed Rollestone  with Ed Thorburn 2^nd, Thomas Harland-Smith 3^rd, Andy Beck 4^th and Lewis Johns 5^th. Appologies for the many 'wet' pics but at times it was just 'Carnage' out on/in the water.

Results – Provisional unchecked:-

Race 9 - 5/12//2021

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1208		30.48	5	0.30.36	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		32.45	6	0.31.13	0.00.39	2.0
3	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		32.44	5	0.34.15	0.03.29	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	None	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		32.00	4	0.39.44	0.07.22	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		32.13	4	0.43.56	0.09.47	5.0
6	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				9.4
7	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		RET				31.0
7					NSSC	Paul Knipes				OOD				31.0

All the Lasers went ashore at the Sailboard slip at the end of race 9 and were wondering if they faced another ‘slog’ around the pond – well they were and race 10 started very soon over the same course as race 9.

At the gun  Ed.T started near the shore end of the line on Port tack, with Thomas H-S actually first away near the pin end mark and to weather of Lewis with Andy behind this group. Due to greater speed Ed.T was able to cross ahead of the Lasers. Ed.R was well back but still ahead of Thomas.B who almost immediately fell out of his Topper. Ed.T managed to round the windward mark in the lead and to set off of the initial run back towards the south bank, followed by Thomas H-S and Lewis alongside one another. Having rounded that ‘middle of the pond’ mark Thomas H-S began to pull away from Lewis who now had Ed.R closing in. The next mark off the middle of the east shore saw wearing round again before that treacherous run behind the island. It was just before the south east mark that Thomas.B took another spill but he did manage to get upright and going again – for a short while  before eventually retiring once more.

At the end of the lap the order was Ed.T 1^st, Thomas H-S 2^nd, Andy 3^rd,  Lewis 4^th and Ed.R 5^th, Thomas.B having retired.

Lap 2 Ed.T continued to lead the fleet from Thomas H-S with Andy behind him but Ed.R now in front of Lewis who had had a lengthy swim once more.

Lap 3 with Ed.T and Thomas H-S still up front Ed.R continued to climb and passed Andy to lie 3^rd with Lewis still ‘tailender’.now 19 minutes behind Ed.T. He was finished at the end of this lap.

Lap 4 saw no further place changes in the fleet and Ed.R and Andy both finished here.

Lap 5 had only Ed.T and Thomas H-S left on the water with the latter 8 minutes astern, he was finished at the end of the lap.

Lap 6 as he was so far ahead Ed.T was sent round again, effectively finishing just behind Thomas H-S.

With the results calculated the race winner was Ed Thorburn with Thomas Harland Smith 2^nd, Ed Rollestone 3^rd, Andy Beck 4^th and John Lewis 5^th – as below.

Results provisional/unchecked:-

    Race 10 - 5/12/2021

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		33.45	6	0.32.10	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		35.15	5	0.36.53	0.04.30	2.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1208		30.35	4	0.37.59	0.04.40	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	None	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		35.07	4	0.43.36	0.09.12	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		36.25	3	1.06.13	0.18.43	5.0
6	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				9.4
7	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		RET				31.0
7					NSSC	Paul Knipes				OOD				31.0

    

To say that these were two hard races is an understatement – if those participating were not feeling the pain and exhausted I don’t know how much stronger the conditions need to be. I am sure that they all enjoyed their racing/swimming. Whilst the downwind legs were doubtless frightening the reaches, when under control , must have been exillerating. Next Sunday, according to XC Weather, as I write, looks to be the absolute opposite with very light breezes forecast, just keep looking.

Alan.S DZ 224

PS. Double click any pjoto to enlarge it.