Freeman Iceberg Races 9 & 10 – 4/12/2022

The morning dawned grey and overcast with a gentle breeze – at Hove – in spite of an XCWeather forecast of 15 -16 knots. On arrival at the Pond the breeze was found to be quite manageable for the writer.

Ed Thorburn was RO assisted by Garaint Alercot Jones (co-opted from the Galley) with John Scosfer and Kevin Kingston in the safety boat. Ed set a somewhat complicated course – as below –with an ‘offshore’ start between two white marks and an ‘onshore’ finish to the pink mark, adjacent to the nearest white mark off the clubhouse.

Photos by Elizabeth Simmons

At the gun Thomas Beck (Topper) was first across the line with Alan Simmons (Streaker) to windward  of him and second to go with Dave Murley third but to leeward.

A little behind Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) were fourth to start and quickly tacked off on port, towards the Island. Fifth and last to start was Darrel Top (Laser full rig).

By the windward mark Michael was in the lead with Dave second around and Alan third. Michael immediately hoisted his Gennaker which he carried on the next, downwind leg, back to the mark off the centre of the south shore. On the following beat, to the mark off the south corner of the Island, Alan went ahead of Dave but could not catch Michael. Alan crossed the finish line some 24 seconds behind Michael who had been able to fly his Gennaker once again. Dave was 9 seconds behind Alan.  Bill Wates(Laser Radial) was fourth to finish the lap with Thomas fifth and Darrel bringing up the rear in sixth place.

Lap two saw Michael still in the lead but Alan had closed the gap to 12 seconds with Dave dropping back slightly to lie 20 seconds behind Alan. Bill was still fourth behind Dave by 33 seconds, a tiny bit further back. Darrel and Thomas were neck and neck with just 3 seconds separating them.

Lap 3 had Michael still in the lead by 11 seconds from Alan with Dave a further 12 seconds behind but pulling away from Bill, by 55 seconds. Thomas, just over 3 minutes behind Bill, was ahead of Darrel who had had a capsize.

Lap 4 and Alan was now 25 seconds behind Michael with Dave 38 seconds astern of the former, and 48 seconds ahead of Bill. Darrel was now back, upright and ahead of Thomas as these two were finished.

Lap 5 Michael crossed the finish line 44 seconds ahead of Alan, who in turn was 42 seconds in front of Dave. Bill crossed in fourth place with Darrel fifth. During the later lap Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII) ‘joined in’ the circuits having been too late afloat to join the race.

With Handicaps applied and calculations carried out the winner of the race was Alan Simmons, with Dave Murley 2nd, Thomas Beck 3^rd, Bill Wates 4th^th and Michel veal and Mike Rosier 5^th.and Darrel Top 6th.

Race 9 - 4/12/2022

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128	40.30	5	0.35.54	0.00.00	1.0
1	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	OOD				1.0
3	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147	41.12	5	0.35.55	0.00.01	2.0
4	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1358	40.55	4	0.37.40	0.01.55	3.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	43.31	5	0.37.56	0.02.20	4.0
6	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	39.46	5	0.38.01	0.02.13	5.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrel Top		1100	43.22	5	0.39.25	0.03.52	6.0

 

Race 10, starting at 11.45 was held over the same course with Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII) and Steve and Stuart Lenton (470) both now joining the racing. At the gun it was Dave who was first away with Bill second, a yard or too back but to windward. Next came Alan and Geoff, level but with Thomas sandwiched between them, just a foot back. Steve and Stuart were next to go with Michael a good way behind and Darrel not even on the correct side of the line.

Bill was first to round the windward mark followed by Alan with Michael third. It was not until the beat along the south shore that Alan caught up and passed Bill to take the lead. Michael also passed Bill to lie 2nd.

 

The order at the line at the end of the first lap was Alan 1^st, Bill 2^nd 28 seconds later, Michael 3^rd, 4 seconds behind him, Geoff 4th, 32 seconds astern, Dave 5th. Another 9 seconds adrift, Thomas 6^th, Darrel 7^th and lastly Steve and Stuart 8^th.

 

Lap 2. Alan continued to pull way as Michael and Mike went ahead of Bill to lie second 55 seconds behind.  Geoff crossed the line in 4^th place 25 seconds astern of Bill, Dave was next 5^th, Thomas 6^th as before, as were Darrel and Steve.

 

Lap 3 had Alan out in front of Michael, now by 45 seconds with Geoff tied with Michael and ahead, by 15 seconds of Bill to lie 3^rd. with the order behind remaining unchanged.

 

Lap 4 saw Alan still in the lead and now 1 minute 32 seconds ahead of Michael. Geoff was third 18 seconds behind Michael with Bill and the remainder of the fleet in unchanged positions. Thomas, Darrel and Steve were then finished.

 

Lap 5  the final lap had no place changes with Alan crossing the line at the front a minute and 55 seconds ahead of Michael with Geoff 15 seconds astern and Bill 4 seconds behind him.

 

With the results calculated the winner of the race was Alan Simmons with Thomas Beck 2^nd, Bill Wates 3^rd, Dave Murley 4^th and Geoff Sheridan 5^th. Michael Veale 6th, Darrel Top 7th and Steve Lenton 8th.

Race 10 - 4/12/2022

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128	40:35	5	0:35:59	0:00:00	1.0
1	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	OOD				1.0
3	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1358	39.16	4	0.36.09	0.00.11	2.0
4	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	42.49	5	0.37.20	0.01.33	3.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147	43.00	5	0.37.29	0.01.44	4.0
6	Menagerie	Mothers Ruin	BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1135	42.45	5	0.37.40	0.01.55	5.0
7	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	42.30	5	0.40.38	0.04.52	6.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	217834	NSSC	Darrel Top		1147	40.01	4	0.43.37	0.07.00	7.0
9	Menagerie		420	29705	NSSC	Steve Lenton	Stuart Lenton	1105	48.10	4	0.54.29	0.16.22	8.0

 

As stated at the beginning of this report the breeze was not up to the level forecast but was ideal for all those racing, with the odd occasional gust keeping everyone on their toes, lest they fall in. It could have been a bit sunnier – and a lot warmer – but one cannot have everything. All enjoyed their outing on the water. Great calls of joy were heard in the showers from those new to their delight.

Until next Sunday – 11^th December – the writer will refrain from quoting the weather forecast – just turn up and enjoy, even if that is only viewing from the banks.

Alan.S 1832