Elford NumBum 2025 - Races 15 & 1 (Re-run) - 22/02/2025

Grey overcast  and a light to moderate breeze was noted upon leaving home in Hangleton for the final race of the Elford Numbum 2025 series. In addition the un-sailed first race – due to strong winds – was to be re-sailed.

Upon ar4rival at Piddinghoe the breeze was a bit stronger and from the south. The writer was in two minds whether to sail or not but he got changed a rigged his Streaker Anyway.

Three other boats signed on – obviously having ignored the dire weather forecast for the day.

Sean Beevers was RO assisted by Helen Thomas, with Tim Cox and Neill Russel in the safety boat, set a simple course around the banks of the pond with no deviations such as sausages or multiple gybes, as below:-

Photographs by Bett Simmons

At the gun Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) were towards the pin end and first across the line. Next to go was Ed Thorburn (Finn) with Alan Simmons (Streaker), having decided to give it a go, to leeward and slightly behind Ed. Zoe McCaig (LaserRadial) was last over the line.

Following the short beat, to the mark in the south west corner, Ed was first to round followed by Alan but with Zoe on his weather corner. Michael, in spite of being first to start had to put in an extra tack and ended up fourth to round.

The following leg was a very breezy reach to the mark in the south east corner of the pond. Ed began to pull away and Zoe was soon ahead of Alan. Michael had passed him by the mark and shot off along the following run to the mark in the middle of the east bank . Another ‘spirited reach led to the mark off the Fisheman’s Bay , the lap concluding with a stiff beat back to the finish line.

By the time he got there, in last place, Alan decided that it was a bit too brisk for his liking and he did not fancy taking a dip – which was more than the likely outcome of continuing and thus he headed ashore. As it happened the breeze did abate very slightly in the latter stages of the first race and possibly even a bit more for the second race.

Lap 1. Ed having taken the lead in the first lap crossed the line 40 seconds ahead of Zoe with Michael 14 seconds behind her.

The order  remained unchanged through out the next 6 laps. And thus the ‘space’ between first and second place will be recorded here.

Lap 2 Ed was 55 seconds ahead  of Zoe with Michael  still astern.

Lap 3 had Zoe a minute 20 Seconds behind.

Lap 4, Ed pulled a little further ahead, to a gap of a minute and 42 seconds.

Lap 5 the lead was a minute and 53 seconds in Ed's favour.

Lap 6 Ed increased his lead again, moderately , to a minute and 59 seconds.

Lap 7 Ed crossed the line two minutes 41 seconds ahead of Zoe at the final gun. She being still a minute and 18 seconds in front of Michael at the line.

With handicaps applied Zoe was the winner of  the race with Ed Second and Michael third, see details in the results below :-

Results (provisional)

Race 15 - 23/02/2025 

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	46	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1154	33.28	0.00.00	1.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	30.47	0.00.22	2.0
Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	34.46	0.04.26	3.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1124	RET		4.0
				NSSC	Helen Thomas			OOD		40.0
				NSSC	Neill Russell			OOD		40.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Tim Cox		1154	OOD		40.0
Menagerie		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1154	OOD		33.2

 

The re-run of Race 1 was to be sailed over the same course – with the three finishers from Race 15.

At the gun Ed was the windward of the three with Zoe to leeward and Michael between them but a trifle back from both. At the south west mark Ed was just clear ahead of Zoe with Michael clear behind her as all set off down the south shore on a snappy reach. 

Michael hoisted the Gennaker but he was still behind Zoe at the south east mark. Ed pulled ahead by three or four lengths on the leg along the east bank but Zoe caught up on the reach to the Fisherman’s Bay and yet more on the beat back to the finish line crossing 12 seconds behind with Michael 25 seconds later.

Lap 2 saw Zoe take the lead and cross the line by a hairs breadth of 1 second with Michael 38 seconds behind Ed.

Lap 3 and was Zoe still just holding off Ed and crossing the line 2 seconds in front.

Lap 4 and Ed regained the lead, by a magnificent 2 seconds!

Lap 5 had Zoe back in front again with a lead of 5 seconds.

Lap 6 and the lead changed again with Ed as top helm extended to 53 seconds.

Lap 7 the final lap and Ed ‘got a grip’ pulling away from Zoe to cross the line 1 minute and 8 seconds in front of her.

With handicaps applied it was Zoe as top dog once more with Ed taking second place and Michael third again. See results below :-

Results (Provisional)

Race 1- RR - 23/02/2025

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	46	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1154	31.22	0.00.00	1.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	30.14	0.01.43	2.0
Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	33.43	0.05.17	3.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1124	DNC		40.0
Menagerie		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1154	OOD		33.2
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Tim Cox		1154	OOD		40.0
				NSSC	Neill Russell			OOD		40.0
				NSSC	Helen Thomas			OOD		40.0

 

As said earlier the breeze, initially, was quite brisk, it did ease a little later on but it was obviously conducive, at least in the second race, to a very hard and close battle between Zoe and Ed, which she nearly won on the water. Michael did not seem able to catch either of the two leaders even with his much greater sail area down and off wind. It was not observed by the writer but it is thought that he may have taken a dip at some point – there is a photo of a very near miss/capsize.

So that is the finish of the  Freeman Iceberg and Elford NumBum Winter series 2024/5.

The prizegiving is currently programmed to take place next Sunday, 2^nd March, after the two scheduled Duncan Dash Races have finished. According to the writer’s results Ed Thorburn is the winner of the NumBum with Alan Simmons second, Adam Billany third, Zoe McCaig fourth and Rupert Smith fifth.  For confirmation  (or denial) see the results published by Rupert on WhatsApp.

Alan.S 1832

PS. This could be the last, ever, Streaker Ramblings unless someone else takes up the mantle.