Freeman Iceberg Race 15 - Boxing Day 2023

Freeman Iceberg Race 15 - 26th Dec 2023 

Bright, high clouds, dry and a light breeze as we left for Piddinghoe Boxing day Morning. On arrival there were several boats already rigged on the south shore and a couple afloat for this the 15^th and final race of the Freeman Iceberg 2023 series.

Laurence Venus was once again RO assisted by Connie Sturt with Michiel Dethmers in the safety boat alone – the crew did not turn up – but with little likelihood, other than moving marks in the then light breeze. The forecast was for 17knots and reducing but it turned out to be entirely wrong once again.

Laurence set a different course form previous weeks with lots of reaches, much to Michael Veale’s RS 200 liking with Mike Rosier helping out with the Gennaker. The start line was from the south bank, just east of the first slipway and finishing at the clubhouse.

There were a few ‘new’ entrants, Rod Sheridan in an Optimist, Ed Horne in a Laser Radial, with Esme and Isla Horne in a Cadet.

At the gun Ed Horne was first away mid line with Ed Thorburn (Finn) next close to the south bank and Matt Springall (Laser full rig) just above Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII) fourth away. There was a bunch of boats (out of the16 strong fleet) closer to the pin end of the line. 

It got rather congested at the windward mark off the clubhouse but Ed.T was first to round followed by Matt and then Ed.H. They were followed by Julian Dobson (Laser full rig), Bill Wates (Laser Radial) and Alan Simmons (Streaker) and alongside him Geoff. 

The fleet soon started to spread out and by the end of the first lap the order was as follows:- 1^st Ed.T 55 seconds ahead of Matt, Julian 3^rd, 39seconds further back, Michael 4h, Bill 5^th, Geoff 6^th, Alan 7^th, Ed.H 8^th, Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) 9^th, Dave Murley (Laser Radial) 10th, Andy  Beck (Lightning) 11^th, Jo Bruiggenworth (Laser Radial) 12^th, Thomas Beck (Laser 4.7) 13^th, TimCox (Topper) 14^th, Rod 15^th and Esme 16^th.

Lap 2 had Ed.T in the lead by a minute and 58 seconds from Matt with Julian behind but still ahead of Michael. Alan, now 5^th, had pulled ahead of Geoff who had overtaken Bill. Bill was ahead of Zoe 8^th who had passed Ed.H. The remainder of the fleet positions were unchanged. Esme and Isla were finished here.

Lap 3 and no changes at the front of the fleet as Ed.T crossed the line ahead of Matt, who had closed the gap a minute 51 seconds. Julian, Michael and Alan held their respective places but Zoe overtook Geoff to lie 6^th No further positional changes below the above but Rod was finished here.

Lap 4 Matt continued to close the gap from the fleet leader Ed to 1minute 36 seconds. Julian was now 49seconds behind Matt with Michael 4^th still holding his lead over Alan 5^th. Geoff went back ahead of Zoe to lie 6^th, with Bill 8th and Ed.H 9^th. Andy went up to 10^th passing Dave. Ed.H, Dave,Jo, Thomas and Tim were finished here.

Lap 5. Ed.T crossed the line in pole position but just 1 minute 27 seconds ahead of Matt with Julian 3^rd, Michael 4^th and Alan 5^th. The order between Zoe, Geoff, Bill and Andy remained as in lap 4.

With the required calculations, the result of the race was Matt in 1^st Place, Ed.T 2^nd, Alan 3^rd, Julian 4^th and Zoe 5^th as shown below:-

Results:-

Race 15 - 26/12/2023

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	200706	NSSC	Matt Sprigall		1150		51.17	5	0.44.36	0.00.00	1.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		49.50	5	0.47.30	0.03.03	2.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128		53.54	5	0.47.47	0.03.36	3.0
Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1101		52.42	5	0.47.52	0.03.36	4.0
Menagerie		LASER RADIAL	146421	NSSC	Zoe McCiag		1150		56.33	5	0.49.10	0.05.16	5.0
Menagerie		BYTE CII		NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1135		56.16	5	0.49.34	0.05.39	6.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150		57.15	5	0.49.47	0.05.58	7.0
Menagerie		TOPPER	44941	NSSC	Tim Cox		1369		54.47	4	0.50.01	0.05.57	8.0
Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		52.56	5	0.50.36	0.06.17	9.0
Menagerie		OPTIMIST		NSSC	Rod Sheridan		1635		49.58	3	0.50.56	0.06.13	10.0
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160		60.11	5	0.51.53	0.08.27	11.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	189452	NSSC	Ed Horne		1150		48.10	4	0.52.21	0.07.08	12.0
Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	No No	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1210		51.48	4	0.53.31	0.08.38	13.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1150		50.28	4	0.54.51	0.09.26	14.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	166421	NSSC	Jo Bruggenworth		1150		51.40	4	0.56.10	0.10.38	15.0
Menagerie		CADET	9293	NSSC	Esme Horne	Isla Horne	1430		36.31`	2	1.03.50	0.11.01	16.0

 

This being the final race of the series the overall places were then worked out with Thomas Beck claiming  the Cadet Trophy, Bill Wates taking the Freeman Iceberg Trophy, Tim Cox in Second place and Alan Simmons third place. 

This year the series has again been a success, in no small part due to the extensive efforts of Laurence Venus - RO for the entire racing events - for which he is due to be grealy thanked and with not a single race cancelled, albiet some turning out to be a bit too frisky for the writer, among others,with ups and downs in wind strength. Cold and Icy (boat covers and sheets) at times but no icing on the water. Safety crews have been quite busy at times and the pond bottom surveys quite extensive but not very revealing. 

A special word of thanks are due to Penny Springall for the Mince Pies and Mulled Wine on this last day of the series.

The next outing on th pond is due for New Year's Day at the later time of 2.00pm.

Best wishes to all readers of this ramble, for the coming year 2024, have a sucessful sailing season, starting off with  the Elford NumBum series beginning on Sunday  7th January.

Alan.S 1832