Freeman Iceberg 2022 - Races 5 & 6 20/11/2022

Freeman Iceberg Races 5 & 6 – 20/11/2022

Sunday dawned Bright and Sunny with little or no breeze at Poplar Avenue. On arrival at Piddinghoe there was a breeze, coming from the North East corner of the pond and blowing towards the Island.

The RO for the day, Thomas Harland-Smith – ARO did not show up - with Bill Wates in the safety boat (crew did not show up either) - decided to set up an unusual course, in the form of a figure of eight, with the start and finish (with a chair ferried out) from the jetty on the Island as shown below :-

 

At the gun for the somewhat delayed start most of the eight strong fleet was approaching the line on starboard tack, however Alan Simmons (Streaker) thought he would chance his arm and took a port tack crossing near the pin end mark – and made a flyer. Next away was Sean Beevers (Laser full rig) having quickly tacked onto port, with Terry Jones ((Laser full rig) third to start. Ed Rollestone (Laser Radial) was fifth to go behind but to windward of fourth placed starter Thomas Beck (Topper).

Alan was first to round the windward mark as Sean, having passed him up the first leg, then decided to round the mark in the wrong direction. Having sorted himself out he let Ed.R through in to second place on the ensuing reach/run. 

Alan led up the following beat until nearly at the mark when Ed passed him, and although having been told by Alan which mark to round – there were several just beyond the correct one – he still went for the wrong one until Alan had turned onto the long run down the south bank.

In so doing he let Sean through behind Alan. At the end of the Lap Alan held the lead by 2 seconds from Sean with Ed 12 seconds further back. Jo Bruggenwirth (Laser full rig) capsized at the first gybe, near the east shore and as a result retired ashore.

Lap 2 saw Sean take the lead from Alan but Ed, from the lap sheets, appears to have been passed by Thomas.B. I think there was a trans-positioning on the lapsheet here and that Ed was actually lying third with Thomas fourth. Sam Beevers (Topper) was in fifth, Terry sixth, S Lenton (and Crew) 7^th in the 420. 

Lap 3 and Ed was in the lead at the line having overtaken Alan and Sean, the latter by 11 seconds. Alan was 3^rd, 34 seconds behind Sean. Thomas was 4^th with Terry still behind Sam – having taken an early swim and the 420 brought up the rear.

Lap 4 saw Ed edge a little bit further ahead of Sean, now with a 15 second lead as they both pulled away from 3^rd placed Alan. Thomas was still 4th with Terry behind him, then Sam and lastly the 420 – which was then finished.

Lap 5 has Ed still in the lead from Sean, by 11 seconds with Alan next, then Thomas with the next two in unchanged positioned. Both Terry and Sam were then finished.

Lap 6 had Sean sneak ahead of Ed, crossing the line 11 seconds in front with Alan still third and Thomas fourth. Thomas finished on this lap.

Lap 7 and just the three front runners were racing with Sean just holding off Ed by 8 seconds at the finish and Alan 3rd.

 

Race 5 - 20/11/2022

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1147	40.39	7	0.35.26	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147	OOD				1.5
3	Laser Hull	Icterus	LASER	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1100	40.31	7	0.36.50	0.01.32	2.0
4	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1358	43.02	6	0.36.58	0.01.47	3.0
5	Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128	41.49	7	0.37.04	0.01.50	4.0
6	Menagerie		TOPPER	5	NSSC	Sam Beevers		1358	43.30	5	0.44.51	0.09.07	5.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER	48154	NSSC	Terry Jones		1100	41.19	5	0.52.35	0.13.28	6.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	OOD				7.0
8	Menagerie		420	29705	NSSC	S Lenton	An Other	1105	37.13	4	0.58.56	0.14.50	7.0
10	Laser Hull		LASER	164421	NSSC	Jo Brulgenlwith		1100	DNF				22.0

The second race, Race 6, was held, after a short shore break, starting at 12.18 hours. Thomas H-S, with the aid of Bill Wates moved the windward mark a little further south, otherwise the same course was sailed.

At the gun Sean was first away, with Alan again taking a flyer on port, and Thomas and Ed crossing on starboard behind them. Ed went quite a bit to starboard, to make the mark in one long tack, passing Alan but unable to get ahead of Sean. 

On the following reach these three stayed in the same relative positions which order they held down the run along the south shore. At the line at the end of the first lap the fleet order was Sean 1^st by 8 seconds, Ed 2^nd, Alan 3^rd 17 seconds further astern. Thomas was 4th, Terry 5^th, S Lenton (420) 6^th and Sam 7^th. Jo did not sail and Darrel did not start.

Lap 2 saw Sean pulling away from Ed to increase his lead to 54 seconds. Ed also pulled away from Alan to lead him by 33 seconds. Thomas was lying 4^th still with the 420 5th having taken advantage of another dip by Terry with Sam bringing up the rear in 7^th place. 

Lap 3 no place changes in the top four but Terry went ahead of the 420 as Sam struggled on at the back.

Lap 4 Ed was catching up on Sean, the gap now down to 23 seconds. Alan dropped back in this lap crossing the line I minute 15 seconds behind Ed.  

Lap 5 Sean was still in the lead some 2 seconds ahead of Ed but Alan had suffered a full capsize at the gybe near the east shore, as did Terry trying to avoid him, Alan requiring aid from Bill in the safety boat as his mast top embedded itself in the mud. Between them they eventually got him upright and he completed the lap and was finished a lap behind the front runners but still behind Thomas. Lap 6 had Sean sneak ahead of Ed, crossing the line 11 seconds in front with Alan still third and Thomas fourth. Thomas finished on this lap.

Lap 6 and try as he may Ed could not get ahead of Sean, crossing the line 29 seconds astern. As these two were the only boats still racing it was the very end.

With calcs done the winner of the race was Ed once again with Sean 2^nd,
Thomas 3^rd, Alan 4^th and Terry 5^th.

   Race 6 - 20/11/2022

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	207462	NSSC	Ed Rollestone		1147	35.04	6	0.30.34	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147	OOD				1.5
3	Laser Hull	Icterus	LASER	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1100	35.33	6	0.32.19	0.01.55	2.0
4	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1358	37.13	5	0.32.53	0.02.37	3.0
5	Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128	42.13	5	0.44.55	0.13.29	4.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER	48154	NSSC	Terry Jones		1100	33.55	4	0.46.15	0.11.30	5.0
7	Menagerie		420	29705	NSSC	S Lenton	An Other	1105	38.04	4	0.51.40	0.15.33	6.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	OOD				7.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrel Top		1100	DNS				22.0
9	Menagerie		TOPPER	5	NSSC	Sam Beevers		1358	DNF				22.0

 

The forecast for the day – by XCWeather (20 + knots) – was way out as the breeze at the Pond was a middle force 3 with the occasional gusts into the force 4 range. Perhaps that was the reason for so many capsizes - especially Alan's serious one. 

The turnout was low, by last week’s numbers, which I think shows that whilst one cannot ignore forecasts one should always turn up at the venue and check what is actually happening. It is forecasting 21 to 23 knots for Sunday next – at present.

Alan.S 1832