Elford Numbum Races 7 & 8 - 23.1.2022

Elford Numbum Races  7 & 8 - 23/01/2022.

Dull, Grey overcast and windless as we left for Piddinghoe and no better upon arrival at the Pond. Eight boats eventually signed on and seven went afloat, there were a couple of others present but they decided to forego any possible race.

Lewis Johns, assisted by John Cornish and with David Hitchens in the safety boat, set   a vaguely rectangular course starting off the club house towards a mark off the Fisherman’s bay, followed by a reach to a mark to the north of the island. The next leg was a run back towards the south bank and a mark just east of the start mark – as below.

There was a whisper of breeze from the northeast just before the countdown started but at the gun it faded to almost nothing and the fleet became almost becalmed on the line immediately the gun went. 

Photos by Bett Simmons

First across the line was Ed Thorburn (Finn) with Ed Rollestone (Laser Radial)  next to go, then Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) and to windward of them all Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII). Behind this group were Thomas Harland-Smith (Laser Radial), Peter Burch (Laser full rig) and lastly Alan Simmons - on his first sail in his newly acquired Streaker 1832. 

A tiny puff did come in but all the boats were changing tack every couple of minutes up this first leg. It was however Geoff who rounded the windward mark ahead of Ed.T.  Next to get onto the broad reach was Thomas H-S with Julian behind him and Alan now lying 5^th. 

Ed.T tried to pass Geoff the run back towards the south bank but failed to make it and crossed the start line 8 seconds behind. 

Alan had closed in on Thomas H-S and Julian but failed to pass them. Added to that he missed the blue start mark – which he failed to see until the second lap – and was thus not timed. Should he have sailed the correct course he may well have taken second place in the race.

Lap 2 and Ed.T did get past Geoff and Alan went ahead (on the water) of both Julian and Thomas H-S albeit now a lap behind on time. Peter crossed the line 6^th with Ed.R behind him.

Lap 3 as the top three positions remained unchanged  Ed.T pulled out to lie a minute ahead of Geoff with Alan behind him and Julian went ahead of Thomas H-S with Peter and Ed.R still bringing up the rear.

Lap 4 Ed.T continued to pull away from Geoff with Julian passing Alan to lie 3^rd. Peter went ahead of Thomas H-S and Ed.R still held last place.

Lap 5. Saw Ed.T cross the line a minute and 20 seconds ahead of Geoff with Alan, have gotten back ahead of Julian,  a further minute and 24 seconds adrift.  Peter was 5^th to cross the finish line having gone ahead of Thomas H-S and with Ed.R 7^th.

With the elapsed times adjusted according to the boat handicaps the winner of the race was Geoff Sheridan with Ed Thorburn second, Thomas Harland –Smith third, Julian Dobson fourth and Peter Burch fifth. Alan’s mistake was now obvious from his last place.

Results :-

Race 7 - 23/01/2022 at 10.35

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie		BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		40.02	5	0.35.00	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		38.40	5	0.36.52	0.01.57	2.0
3	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		42.43	5	0.37.15	0.02.35	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		OOD				3.7
5	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		41.49	5	0.38.01	0.03.19	4.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER	189641	NSSC	Peter Burch		1100		41.54	5	0.38.05	0.03.24	5.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1147		45.20	5	0.39.31	0.05.12	6.0
8	Menagerie		STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		41.25	4	0.45.54	0.09.50	7.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER	122461	NSSC	David Hitchens		1100		OOD				25.0
10	Laser Hull		LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1100		DNS				42.0
10					NSSC	John Cornish				OOD				42.0

Race 8 was run over the same basic course, adjusted slightly to suit a shift in the wind direction, and after short ‘coffee’ break. There was no real change in the wind strength as the now seven boat fleet came to the line. 

At the gun Ed.T was first away, on port tack to cross the fleet, from mid line. Peter was next at the shore end and Alan third to go at the pin/outer end. It was extremely shifty, with lots of tacking required as Alan closed up on Ed.T on the first windward leg, along the west bank.

By the windward mark Peter had caught up with Alan and they continued to battle for second place in this and the second lap. 

Julian rounded the mark in fourth place, just ahead of Geoff and Thomas H-S with Ed.R bringing up the rear.

Lap 2 had Ed.T pulling away from the chasing pack to cross the line – and finish as the RO had pity on the fleet, and the wind/breeze died to almost nothing, shortening their misery. Alan was next to finish (having sailed the correct course this time) 3 minutes + behind him with Peter 5 seconds later. Julian crossed the line 4^th, Geoff 5^th and Thomas H-S 6^th. Ed.R did not complete the lap.

With times adjusted to handicaps the winner of the race was Ed Thorburn, with Alan Simmons 2^nd, Peter Burch 3^rd, Geoff Sherdan 4^th, Julian 5^th and Thomas Harland-Smith 6^th.

Results :-

Race 8 - 23/01/2022 at 11.45

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		26.55	2	0.25.40	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie		STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		30.07	2	0.26.42	0.01.10	2.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER	189641	NSSC	Peter Burch		1100		30.12	2	0.27.27	0.01.58	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		OOD				3.7
5	Menagerie		BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		32.25	2	0.28.20	0.03.04	4.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		31.23	2	0.28.32	0.03.09	5.0
7	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		33.43	2	0.29.24	0.04.17	6.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER	122461	NSSC	David Hitchens		1100		OOD				25.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1147		RET				42.0
9					NSSC	John Cornish				OOD				42.0

 

The breeze for both races was extremely light and fitful making it difficult for all sailors. Those who were able to concentrate best were the more successful. The forecast for Sunday next, 30^th Jan 2022, is for a more reasonable 10 knots – this Sunday it had been 2 knots! It was however nearly ideal for Alan to try out his new (second/third hand) Streaker which he found much easier/nicer than the D Zero which is now at the D Zero agency awaiting sale.

Alan S 1832