Elford Numbum race 15 - 26/022023

Elford Numbum Race 15 - 26/02/2023

Blue skies, with lots of darkish clouds, a light breeze and cold as we left for Piddinghoe this morning. On arrival the clouds lifted, but were due to come back and go again during the morning and afternoon. The breeze was a good force  three touching four before the start and increased rapidly to a strong force 4 quite quickly.

Laurence Venus (RO), assisted by Sean Beevers, with Andy Beck and Alisdaire Fortune in the safety boat, set an ‘M’ shaped course, as below, with the start line from the small jetty north of the clubhouse to a pink mark to the east with a windward leg towards the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay. The next leg was a reach towards the south bank followed by another beat towards a mark off the east bank. There followed an off-wind  leg to a mark in the south east  corner (gybe) thence a reach to the white mark in the south  west corner and a short leg to the finish line (from the clubhouse to the start mark).

Photos by Bett Simmons

At the gun Alan Simmons (Streaker) was first across the line but with Ed Thorburn (Finn) nearer to the pin end. Next to go was Zoe McCain (Laser Radial) and the Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII) and Bill Wates (Laser Radial) followed by Dave Murley also in a Radial. Alan had chosen the wrong end of the line and had to tack to clear the west bank ending up as tail end Charlie.

Ed was first to round the windward mark followed by Zoe, then Geoff, Bill, Dave and lastly Alan The order was much the same on the second beat, to the mark off the east shore but Bill went ahead of Geoff. Every one, bar Alan, went round the gybe at the mark in the south east corner. Alan failed to come out of the gybe. He capsized and as is usual his mast sunk into the mud. The safety boat soon turned up and quickly took Alan ashore as his hands had stopped working and there was no way that he could get his boat upright. 

In fact the safety boat having returned to the capsized Streaker struggled themselves for a goodly while until they managed to drop the sail and finally tow the boat to the south bank. Alan went off for a hot shower whilst Bett started to stow the sail and put the cover on the boat. 

At the end of lap 1 the order was Ed first, Zoe 2^nd (13 seconds behind), Bill 3^rd 35 seconds behind her , Geoff 4^th  7 seconds later and Dave 5^th  another 5 seconds back. Terry Jones (Laser Radial) had intended to race but when changing managed to put is foot through his dry suit foot – and did not fancy the chance of a capsize without the proper protection and thus never went afloat.

Lap 2 and the order remained unchanged with Zoe crossing the line now 17 seconds behind Ed in the increasingly blustery and shifty breeze. Bill was still 3^rd, a further minute later and 14 seconds  astern.  Geoff was 4^th, 9 seconds back and lastly Dave also 9 seconds behind him.

Lap 3 Ed continued to lead and crossed the line 19 seconds ahead of Zoe. Geoff went ahead of Bill to lie 3^rd, two minutes 37 seconds behind her but just 5 seconds in front of him. Dave had dropped back to lie 42 seconds astern in 5^th place.

Lap 4 No place changes for the leading pair with the gap now 29 seconds. Behind them Bill went back ahead of Geoff by 39 seconds and Dave retired. It was not seen but it is suspected that he had a capsize.

Lap 5 with now just 4 boats racing Ed extended his lead over Zoe to a minute and 35 seconds. Geoff went back ahead of Bill to cross the line in 3^rd place with Bill then 44 seconds behind.

Lap 6 Ed seems to have got into his stride as he continued to pull away from Zoe in the increasing breeze and crossing the line two minutes and 4 seconds ahead. Geoff remained ahead of Bill by 32 seconds to lie 3^rd. Zoe, Geoff and Bill were then finished.

Lap 7 was sailed solely by Ed

With the calculations made Zoe was declared the winner of this the final race of the series, Ed was second, Geoff 3^rd and Bill 4th

Results:-

Race 15 - 26/02/2023

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147		44.16	6	0.45.02	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		49.64	7	0.47.44	0.02.50	2.0
3	Menagerie	BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		48.57	6	0.49.55	0.04.48	3.0
4	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147		49.29	6	0.50.20	0.05.13	4.0
5	Laser Hull	LASER	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1100		OOD				4.5
6	Menagerie	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		RET				7.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1147		RET				7.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER	48154	NSSC	Terry Jones		1100		DNS				7.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	85185	NSSC	Alisdair Fortune		1147		OOD				7.0
10	Menagerie	Motyh non Foiling		NSSC	Andy Beck		1145		OOD				11.5

 

As this was the last race of the series further calculations were needed to ascertain the series overall placings. 

The series was won by Todd Grady-Gales, from Lancing SC, who was unfortunately not in attendance to receive the Trophy, with Ed Thorburn taking 2^nd place,  Zoe McCaig 3^rd, Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) 4^thand Michael Veale (and Mike Rosier) 5^th.

Thomas Beck (Laser Radial) - also not present - won the Cadet Trophy.

This has been another excellent series, 15 races sailed and none lost to strong winds or otherwise bad weather – unlike the Freeman Iceberg series which lost 2 races, although one was recovered on the last day. Breezes were generally light  in strength which was perhaps not to everyone’s liking but gave  the opportunity for all to get afloat. The organisation as always went like a dream, especially with Laurence Venus acting as RO (bar one day) through out the series with various members acting as ARO and the safety boat (apart from the odd failure to turn up) (again crewed by club members)  not overly tasked 90% of the time. Thanks go from the writer to NSSC for an enjoyable well organised winter’s racing at Piddinghoe,  thanks also to Bett Simmons for the mass of photos she has taken and which have been used selectively  in these blogs/reports.

This blog is the last at this end of the year, there may be another edition during the NSSC Sailing Week, otherwise look out for more reports from November 5^th onwards.

Alan.S 1832

PS. If you would like to be taken off my (weekly) BCC notification list please return email me and I will ensure that you are no longer bothered.

Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 - 19/02/2023

 

Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 – 19/02/2023

Barely a whisper of breeze, overcast, high, grey skies, dry and cool as we left for Piddinghoe. As we arrived patches of blue sky were to be seen and a very light breeze from the west appeared.

Laurence Venus was once more the RO, assisted by Mike.D with B Philipson in the safety boat (without crew, who failed to turn up) for Races 13 & 14 and Laurence struggled a bit to set a suitable course but finally decided on an ‘X’ shaped course, as the breeze rose slightly from the west.

                                            Photographs by Bett Simmons

By the time of the start sequence the breeze had filled in at about force 2. 

At the gun the fleet was heading down the line to the shore with Duncan McDonald (Streaker) – his first outing on the pond in this Series – first to tack onto Port with Todd Grady- Gales (Laser full rig) second away below him. Third away was Matt Springall (Laser full rig) – also in his first Numbum race. Fourth away was Geoff Sheridan (ByteCII). Ed Thorburn (Finn) had been early and had to get back over the line. Alan Simmons (Streaker) made a hash of the timing and was last but one of the fourteen strong fleet to start. 

By the time boats started turning the mark in the south west corner Duncan was in top spot with Matt behind and Todd behind him. Geoff  was fourth, Ed fifth and Thomas Beck (Laser Radial) sixth. Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) came next followed by Dave Murley (Laser Radial) and Alan ninth, with Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) tenth, Bill  Wates (Laser Radial)  eleventh, Andy Beck (Moth, non foiling) twelveth, Darrel Topp (Laser full rig) thirteenth and Jo Bruggenwirth fourteenth. 

There were no place changes in the rest of the lap until the long beat up the south bank. Matt had a capsize just before that leg and Alan went ahead of him and Zoe, Geoff and Thomas, to lie 5^th behind Dave by 3 seconds. At the front of the fleet  Ed went up to lie second behind Duncan but ahead of Todd.  

Lap 2 saw Ed go into the lead having caught and passed Duncan by 3 seconds at the line. Alan passed Dave to take 4^th place with Matt 2 seconds astern of him. Geoff and Thomas also went ahead of Dave and Bill  passed Julian. Zoe remained in 11^th place as Andy went ahead of Darrell to lie 12^th with Jo still in 14^th place having capsized at the south east mark.

Lap 3 Ed extended the gap from Duncan  to 33 seconds and Todd closed in on Duncan to lie 12 seconds astern. Matt went ahead of Alan to cross the line with a 17 second advantage. Dave pulled back to 6^th place passing Geoff and Thomas and Zoe went up to lie 9^th ahead of Julian as Bill dropped back behind him to 11^th place. At the back end Andy dropped to 14^th as he capsized and Jo went ahead of him and Darrell. 

Lap 4 no change down the order  until 10^th place which Bill took back from Julian and Andy recovered to lie 12^th with Darrell going back ahead of Jo,  these three were then finished.

Lap 5 saw no changes in the top seven placings as Zoe overtook Thomas to lie 8^th and Julian went  ahead of Bill. From 6^th placed Dave  back all were finished here.

Lap 6, the final lap, had Ed cross the finish line 43 seconds ahead of Duncan with Todd third 7 seconds later. Matt took 4^th place 30 seconds ahead of 5^th placed Alan. 

With Calculations made the race winner was Duncan with Todd second, Ed third, Alan fourth and Matt fifth.

Resuts:-

Race 13 - 19/02/2023

Rank. k	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie	STREAKER	2102	NSSC	Duncan McDonald		1128		40.55	6	0.36.16	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	LASER	209998	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1100		41.02	6	0.37.18	0.01.08	2.0
3	Menagerie	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		40.12	6	0.38.19	0.02.09	3.0
4	Menagerie	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		43.40	6	0.38.43	0.02.45	4.0
5	Laser Hull	LASER	2070006	NSSC	Matt Springall		1100		43.10	6	0.39.15	0.03.16	5.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1147		39.21	5	0.41.10	0.04.41	6.0
7	Menagerie	BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		39.24	5	0.41.20	0.04.49	7.0
8	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147		39.31	5	0.41.21	0.04.51	8.0
9	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1147		40.04	5	0.41.55	0.05.24	9.0
10	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147		40.41	5	0.42.34	0.06.01	10.0
11	Laser Hull	LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		40.24	5	0.44.04	0.07.09	11.0
12	Menagerie	Motyh non Foiling		NSSC	Andy Beck		1145		40.24	4	0.52.56	0.12.43	12.0
13	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	164421	NSSC	Jo Brugenworth		1147		42.50	4	0.56.01	0.15.06	13.0
14	Laser Hull	LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrell Topp		1100		41.23	4	0.56.26	0.14.47	14.0

 

Race 14 was held over the same course in a slightly stronger  breeze, with the odd gust into force 4, allowing boats to plane on the offwing legs. It was very shifty with the Leg up the south shore sometimes being achieved in single beat and at others requiring the odd tack to make the mark in the south west corner – and passing to the south of the start mark on the way.

At the gun it was Todd who was first away at the shore end of the line with Alan second a lot further up towards the pin end mark just above Duncan. Down the line at the shore end Ed was away in the leading group. 

Matt was leading at the finish line, Ed astern of him and followed by Duncan with Todd behind him. Next came Zoe and then Dave with Alan behind him, then Thomas, Julian and Bill. Geoff, Andy, Darrell and lastly Jo were the back group setting off on the reach across to the mark off the east shore. Matt lead Duncan, Todd and Ed on the run towards the mark in the south east corner. 

Matt capsized, as in the previous race at this mark. By the time he recovered and was back racing Zoe had passed him, as had Dave and Alan. At the finish line Ed was in the lead  with Todd 15 seconds behind and Duncan 17 seconds further astern. Zoe was in 4^th place, 13 seconds in front of Alan.  Dave was in 6^th place just ahead of Matt. Next came Thomas in 8^th, Julian 9^th, Geoff 10^th, Bill 11^th, Andy 12^th, Jo 13^th and lastly Darrell 14^th.

Lap 2 No change in the leading three boats,with Ed now 33 seconds ahead of Todd but Duncan just 4 seconds astern, as Alan went ahead of Zoe to lie 4^th. Matt passed Zoe and Dave to lie 5^th 12 seconds behind Alan. Julian went up to 8^th place ahead of Thomas and there were no changes back down the fleet.

Lap 3 Ed was still out front but Duncan passed Todd to lie 2^nd and Alan clung on to 4^th place as Matt closed in to lie 5 seconds behind at the line. The order behind remained unchanged.

Lap 4 the top three were in the same positions as in lap 3 but Matt went ahead of Alan dropping the latter to 5^th place with Zoe close behind. Julian overtook Dave to lie 7^th and Geoff went ahead of Thomas to lie 9th, 11^th to 14^th positions remained unchanged from the previous laps.

Lap 5 no place changes down to 6^th place but Geoff passed Dave to lie 8^th.Thomas and Bill stayed in 10^th and 11^th place respectively but Jo went ahead of Andy - another pond bottom survey perhaps. Andy, Jo and Darrel were finished here.

Lap 6 Ed was 20 seconds ahead of Duncan with Todd another 54 seconds behind Duncan. Positions behind, 4^th to 10^th remained as in the previous lap. Apart from the leading three boas all the remainder were finished here.

Lap 7 had no place changes with Ed crossing the line ahead of Duncan by 47 seconds and Todd a further 46 seconds astern.

With Calculations made the winner was Duncan, second place went to Todd, third to Ed, fourth to Zoe and fifth to Alan.

Results:-

                                        Race 14 - 19/02/2023

 

Rank	Fleet	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie	STREAKER	2102	NSSC	Duncan McDonald		1128		46.33	7	0.41.16	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	LASER	209998	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1100		47.19	7	0.43.01	0.01.55	2.0
3	Menagerie	FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		45.46	7	0.43.38	0.02.29	3.0
4	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147		43.31	6	0.44.16	0.02.57	4.0
5	Menagerie	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		43.11	6	0.44.40	0.03.17	5.0
6	Laser Hull	LASER	2070006	NSSC	Matt Springall		1100		42.23	6	0.44.57	0.03.28	6.0
7	Menagerie	BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		47.12	6	0.48.08	0.06.44	7.0
8	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	David Murley		1147		47.41	6	0.48.30	0.07.07	8.0
9	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1147		47.43	6	0.48.32	0.07.09	9.0
10	Laser Hull	LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		46.49	6	0.49.39	0.07.54	10.0
11	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1147		49.24	6	0.50.15	0.08.50	11.0
12	Laser Hull	LASER RADIAL	164421	NSSC	Jo Brugenworth		1147		42.55	5	0.52.23	0.09.06	12.0
13	Menagerie	Motyh non Foiling		NSSC	Andy Beck		1145		43.55	5	0.53.42	0.10.10	13.0
14	Laser Hull	LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrell Topp		1100		45.45	5	0.58.14	0.13.20	14.0

 

Two interesting races, difficult and trying breezes, varying in strength and direction by the second with a fair bit of close encounters, the odd capsize mostly not due to the wind strength but none the less enjoyable sailing.

The outlook for next Sunday, the final race of the series and the prize giving after, is for 15 to 16 knots from the ENE at first.

Just as a reminder the RYA Dinghy show at Farborough on Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th Feb should you be thinking of attending.

Alan.S 1832