Elford Numbum Race 15 - 20/02/2022

Elford Numbum Race 15 – 20/02/2022

After the storms and with the wind still blowing a hooley across Hangleton Valley this morning we left home assuming that there would not be a race – the last of the series – on Piddinghoe. On arrival, with the intention of just checking on the security of the Streaker –which as it happened was fine – it was announced that four boats (foolishly?) wanted to race.

Rupert Smith took the safety boat out to arrange a course and Matt Springall and mum Penny were roped in to carry out RO and ARO duties. Rupert’s course was a figure of eight with the start (and Finish) line from the engine loading area of the west bank in front of the clubhouse. The first leg was almost dead downwind with a gybe at the end, then a short broad reach to a mark off the Fisherman’s bay. Following that there was a close reach cross the pond to a mark off the south bank and then a beat back to a turning mark in the south west corner and then a short off-wind leg to the start mark, as below:-

There were a few capsizes before the race began, Peter Burch (Laser full rig), Thomas Harland-Smith and Lewis Johns (Laser full rig) leaving only Ed Thorburn (Finn) remaining upright – something he maintained through out the race as it happens. Thomas never made it to the start as he snapped his tiller extension in two as he capsized and he just managed, against the wind, to get back to the east end of the south bank.

Consequently at the gun just Lewis and Ed.T went across the line, with Lewis nearer to the shore end. Peter, right at the shore end, did not seem to know what was happening but finally set off towards the mark in the north east corner. 

Lewis had his first capsize, in the race, on that first downwind leg whilst Ed.T decided to wear round, instead of gybing at that mark. Peter was also getting in plenty of swimming as he capsized on that leg too, or was it two!

Ed.T managed to miss out the mark in the south west corner at the end of the first lap so appeared to set up a good distance ahead of Lewis. Peter however round correctly on this lap.

Lap 2 saw Ed.T leading the group (too small to call a fleet) but still missing out that pen-ultimate mark in the south west corner. Lewis was second across the line and still on the proper course whilst Peter did an ‘Ed’ and rounded the wrong mark having previously hit the water again.

Lap 3 saw Ed.T still in front on the water and this time rounding the corner mark correctly with Lewis 2 minutes behind – having had another long capsize, recover, capsize. Peter was not immune as he had a swim too and missed out two marks.

Lap 4 saw Ed.T first to cross the line- but he had only completed two laps correctly. Peter was next to cross the finish line but he too was was down to only finishing one lap correctly. Lewis, although crossing the line third was the only one of the three to sail the correct course.

The application of Handicaps was rather achedemic considering the incorrerectly finished laps of the other pair and thus he was declared the winner with Ed.T second and Peter third.

Results:-                            Race 15 - 20/02/2022 at 10.30

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		20.03	4	0.18.14	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		46.32	2	1.28.43	0.36.58	2.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER	189641	NSSC	Peter Burch		1100		29.14	1	1.46.18	0.24.13	3.0
4	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		DNS				44.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER	207006	NSSC	Matt Springall		1100		OOD				44.0
4	Menagerie	Scoundrel	STREAKER	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1128		OOD				44.0

This being this being the last race in the Series there should have been a prize giving ceremony. Given the forecast however it had been thought that thre would be no race and as a result no prizes/ Trophies were on hand. The outright winner of the series however was Thomas Harland-Smith with Lewis Johns in second place, Ed Thorburn third, Geoff Sheridan fourth and Julian Dobson fifth. For the details of all the entrants and positions achieved go to the NSSC web site :- Sailwave results for Elford Numbum 2022 at Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club. Seaford 2022 (sailinginsussex.org)

The series had been a success, only two races were not held due to strong winds and only three were held in ‘heavy’ conditions – which the writer declined to sail in or came back ashore very rapidly having ‘tried the waters’.

Next weekend the Dinghy show is on at Farnborough and the four week Duncan Dash series starts on Sunday at the Pond with Sea Sailing at NSSC commencing on 27^th March.

The writer will not be sailing/reporting on the Duncan Dash races – some one else must do the honours if it is required – and thus with no Streaker Open at NSSC this year it will be Sailing Week (25^th to 29^th July) before he visits the club again and consequently Streaker Ramblings is going off line until at least those later dates.

Alan.S 1832

Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 - 13/02/2022.

 Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 –13/2/2022

It was bright but overcast with grey cloud, fairly cold and a noticeable breeze as we set off for Piddinghoe on Sunday morning for races 13 & 14 of the 2022 Numbum series. In the car were the Streaker’s dagger board and rudder which we had failed to take with us when we took the boat back down to the pond on Friday. On arrival I took these items over to the boat and having uncovered it felt that, although blowing at about force 4 at that time, that I could give it a go. The forecast from XC Weather was for wind speeds up to and exceeding 30 knots by midday, later there was a whistling in the rigging to be heard. – force 6.   

Having made the decision I changed and got the boat on the water, along with six others, just after the first gun of the sequence had been heard and almost got across the line at the start along with the others.

                                            Photos by Bett Simmons

Julian Dobson was RO for the day and he set an ‘M’ shaped course with a very short initial windward leg followed by a broad reach along the south shore to a mark in the south east corner finishing with a gybe. Thereafter it was a dead downwind leg behind the Island to a mark two thirds of the way along the east bank  to then return to a mark on the west side of the Island. This was followed with another off-wind leg to a mark off the Fisherman’s bay with a concluding windward leg back to the start/finish line – as below.

At the Gun Thomas Harland-Smith (Laser Radial) was first away and quickly off down the south bank leg followed by Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) and then Lewis Johns (Laser full rig). Next to start was Andy Beck (Laser 4.7) with Alan Simmons (Steaker) and lastly Thomas Beck (Topper).

By this time the breeze had begun to increase and was very gusty and shifty and by the time he was halfway down that off-wind leg Alan decided not to continue, turned around and headed for the slipway. The first casualty at the gybe was Andy as his son Thomas did the job properly and stayed upright through that rounding.

Before he reached the mid east shore mark Lewis also took a swim, first of several, allowing Thomas H-S to pull away in front. The order at the line at the end of the lap was 1^st Thomas H-S, 2^nd Michael, 3^rd Thomas.B 4^th Andy, 5^th Lewis 6^th.

Lap 2 saw Thomas H-S well out in front of Michael with both Lewis  and Thomas.B taking dips but Lewis did get back to lie 3^rd a further 4 minutes astern and Andy ahead another 4 minutes behind him but ahead of Thomas.B.

Lap 3 had no place changes from those in lap 2 but with Thomas H-S now nearly 3 minutes ahead of Michael. Lewis had another swim (or two) and Andy made up some ground to, lie 2.5 minutes astern with Thomas.B 3 minutes further back and being finished.

Lap 4 and again no place changes with Thomas H-S now 3 and a bit minutes ahead of Michael      and Lewis another 5 minutes adrift with Andy still 2.5 minutes behind and both he and Lewis being finished.

Lap 5 was a two horse race with Michael finding it impossible to reduce Thomas H-S’s 3 minute lead. A late capsize for the pair in the RS 200 did not help.

With the calculation done the finishing order was Thomas Harland–Smith 1^st , Michael Veale and Mike Rosier  2^nd and Andy Beck 3^rd.

                     Race 13 - 13/01/2022 at 11.45

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		28.04	5	0.24.28	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		31.09	5	0.29.47	0.05.33	2.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	None	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		32.37	4	0.33.45	0.08.58	3.0
4	Menagerie		TOPPER 4.2	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1416		28.42	3	0.33.47	0.07.55	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		30.06	4	0.34.12	0.08.34	5.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		OOD				5.0
7	Menagerie		STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		RET				44.0

Race 14, starting at 11.25 was held over the same course, without any adjustments and there would be five starters 

At the gun Thomas H-S was first away again with Lewis, a bit to leeward, second across the line and then Thomas.B even closer to the west shore, Michael  was fourth to start and Andy fifth. 

Lewis made it down the south bank leg but then capsized after the gybe in spite of taking the south east corner mark ahead of Thomas H-S.

 All the other three boats passed him on this leg along the west bank there was an added hazard in the form of a (Paddle) boarder with an inflatable wing sail but all managed to avoid him. At the line the order was 1^st Thomas H-S, 2^nd Michael (a minute behind), 3^rd Andy, 4^th Lewis and 5^th Thomas.B.

Lap 2 had Thomas H-S leading Michael by a minute and a half with Andy in third place still ahead of Lewis. Thomas.B was fifth and last to cross the line having had a dip in the ogin.

Lap 3 with Thomas H-S still in the lead 2.5 minutes ahead of Michael saw Lewis climb up to lie 3^rd ahead of Andy with Thomas.B as the tail ender.

Lap 4  and the order was as in lap 3 with Thomas first across the line 2.5 minutes ahead of Michael and had Lewis take yet another dip, with both Andy and Thomas.B finishing.

Lap 5, the final lap saw Thomas H-S cross the line first with Lewis 5 minutes behind, having passed Michael who had a lengthy dip (and mast well and truly in the mud).

With the calculations done the final order was 1^st Thomas Harland-Smith, 2^nd Thomas Beck, 3^rd Andy Beck, 4^th Lewis Johns and 5^th Michael Veale and Mike Rosier.

Race 14 - 13/01/2022 at 11.45

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

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	5	0.25.02	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie		TOPPER 4.2	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1416		33.38	4	0.29.41	0.05.16	2.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	None	NSSC	Andy Beck		1208		29.49	4	0.30.51	0.05.37	3.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		34.18	5	0.31.11	0.06.46	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		OOD				5.0
5	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		35.56	5	0.34.21	0.09.45	5.0

In the second race the breeze appeared to decrease and there were some almost calm patches close to the clubhouse – but it was a myth and merely a minute lull between the gusts. Nobody is sure who wins the prize for the most capsizes but Lewis was certainly in the frame. The writer is not sure if Thomas H-S actually failed to take a swim, since he held such a lead in both races, but it was a bit achedemic anyway.

                                                          Strange Bird !

Alan.S 1832

PS. There is a very short blog for races 11 & 12 but as no racing took place due the forecast of strong winds it is of little consequence - but clik the relevant posting on the top left of this if you wish to read it.