Elford Numbum Race 5 - 30/01/2011

By 9.00am the sky was blue from edge to edge, a few tiny clouds on the horizon, with the sun ‘blazing’ down. A fresh north easterly was eddying around the house and the windscreen required de-icing and upon starting out it was barely 2°C.
At the pond the boat cover was frosted over and there was a lot more breeze on the pond side than in the car park. A wind check showed about 10 knots from the eastern side of the water. Shortly afterwards white horses appeared on the water and the wind was whistling through the rigging (force 6?).

Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) prepared his Streaker but looking at the ‘waves’ and, on his 73rd birthday, he was keeping his options open as to whether to launch or not.

Kay (RO) soon arrived to set the course with the help of Rupert Smith who was on safety boat duty with daughter Alice. An extra buoy was laid just off the Clubhouse to get a good windward start and it was then off to a yellow mark midway along the eastern bank. From there it was a run/reach to the southern corner east of the Island.
A gybe followed with a close reach back across the pond to a pink mark in the north east corner, finish off with a reachy run to the twin buoy finish line. It was effectively a figure of eight out to the corners of the pond.

Eventually six boats came to the start, Including Alan who reckoned he could start and then almost immediately retire to the comfort of the clubhouse since it blowing a good force 4 to 5.

The actual start was rather confused when most of the boats attempted to use the twin buoys as the ODM resulting in a general recall. The real start was not a lot tidier but it was Matt Springhall (Laser full rig – NSSC) to get away first with Alan.S and Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) not too far behind.
The first lap was fairly uneventfull and it did seem that the breeze had eased a little – well Alan reckoned he could cope – provided he did not capsize and decided to continue racing. Tim Cox (Laser Radial – NSSC) was hot on his heels and beginning to close up. Behind these four Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 2000 – NSSC) were finding out the problems of a wide, slippery, hull in the gusty wind and were shortly to take a dip when Michael lost his grip on the tiller. Bill Wates (Laser Radial _ NSSC) had tipped in once before the start – well it was windier then anyway.

In lap two Paul.R – having sorted out his Mainsheet and Outhaul intertwining - took a spectacular spill on the final offwind leg .This activity allowed Matt.S to pull away a little only to be overhauled by the end of the following lap.
Alan.S closed up on Paul, after his dip, but was slightly to leeward on the first beat of the next lap allowing Tim.S  to get ahead of Alan. However these two continued to battle it out to the finish, being rarely more than 15 seconds apart.
Likewise Matt.S having been passed by Paul.R in lap 3 continued to harry him - they were rarely more than 8 seconds apart - until he too had a trip- up on the reach from the south east corner in lap 6, but with a speedy recovery, he soon made up the difference and was only 2 seconds adrift at the finish.
 Neither of these two were sufficiently ahead of Alan.S to beat him on handicap – a pleasing ‘present’ for the birthday boy!
Although the breeze began to ease in the later stages, and the temperature reached 6°C in the end, the wind chill was extreme and frozen fingers all too present. The safety boat crew are to be praised for their efforts in the chill conditions.
Results (Unofficial/Preliminary) :-
1st. Alan Simmons, 2nd. Paul Ryan, 3rd. Matt Springhall, 4th Tim Cox, 5th Michael Veale,
6th. Bill Wates.

Alan.S 1700

Elford Num Bum Race 4 - 23/01/2010

Half the sky was blue and sunny and the other half grey and grim with a sharp northerly breeze, 5°C, as we left home. By the time we passed Old Boat Corner the skies were almost all grey and then, on arrival at Piddinghoe, the sun came out to play again. The breeze measured just under 10 knots on the pond bank before the boats were rigged but 10 signed on – although one changed his mind and did not participate.
With the usual RO, Kay, off sick (Flu presumably) it was Rupert Smith who set up the course, complete with ‘committeee’ boat start – to ensure a fair beat to the north east corner mark. From here there was a short broad reach to a point just off the island and then a further beat to the north east. On turning that mark there was a dead run to the southeast corner of the pond and final long reach up the southern side to the finish at the twin buoys in front of the club house.

First to cross the line at the start was Roger McAll (Laser full rig – NSSC) with Steve Duncan (Laser full rig –NSSC) further to windward and Tim Cox (Laser Radial – NSSC) taking a port tack chance against Alan Simmons’s (Streaker –Lancing SC) starboard tack at the same time.

The younger fitter helms – in their Lasers made the early running with Steve.D in front by the end of lap 1, a position he was to hold for the entire race, then followed Roger.Mc and Tim.C.
Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial – NSSC) soon closed in on Tim.C (after a close encounter with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC)) who capsized - in lap2- on top of Julian Dobson (Laser Full rig – NSSC) and in the ensuing muddle Alan.S passed the pair of them. On recovery Paul realised that he was taking water into his hull – in spite of repairs the previous week – and decided to retire ashore and compete no further.

By lap5 Jonty.F had managed to pass Tim.C and also Roger.MC, climbing into second place on the water – a position he retained to the finish at the end of 10 laps. Alan.S was unable to make ground on either 3rd placed Tim.C or 4th placed Roger.Mc but he did have a good race with Julian.D managing to stay just ahead.
Chas Humphries (Laser full rig – NSSC) – 8th at the end of lap 1 stayed ahead of the back marker Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC) but they both enjoyed a brisk sail.
Conditions were not as gusty or strong as last week and it seems that the only casualty was Paul.R Everybody else came ashore with broad grins having loved every minute of the hour long race –especially the swift reach up the ultimate leg of each lap.
The results were calculated Manually (a minor error was picked up when they went onto Sailwave later in the day) but it was an overall win for Jonty.F by 6 seconds over Alan.S and with Steve.D, the fleet leader on the water, in third place 11 seconds behind Alan.

Result (Unofficial/provisional):-

Ist. Jonty Freeman, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd.Steve Duncan, 4th. Tim Cox, 5th. Roger McAll,

6th. Julian Dobson, 7th. Chas Humphries, 8th Bill Wates. - Paul Ryan retired.

PS. Steve.D advsed me that I did him an injustice last week – he refutes that he capsized during that race – I humbly apologise!

Alan.S 1700

Elford Numbum Race 3 - 16.01.2011

Grey and overcast, honking around the west side of the house in Hove but mild’ish (at 10°C) s registered in the car on the way to Piddinghoe. The Seaford Windguru was forcasting a solid force 5 for the day so it was a bit’ iffy’ if Alan was going afloat. On arrival at Piddinghoe the cloud was beginning to break and some blue sky was showing. A check on the pond side showed a maximum of 12 knots but there was the occasional ‘whilstling in the rigging’ – usually experienced when the wind is force 6!
A course was set along the northside of the pond with a very short windward leg to the twin marks, bearing off to a yellow mark opposite the flag pole and then back east on a short run across to a turning mark for a second beat. There followed a short reach to the mark in the southern corner of the pond, a gybe and run northwards followed by a broad reach to near the north bank and then the full beat back to the start. As is usual the wind at Piddinghoe comes in lumps, some today were rather hefty gusts.
Some ten boats took to the water, including Alan.S in his Streaker.

He had barely left the shore when one of those lumps of breeze flipped him into the water – not a very auspicious start. Apart from the loss of dignity – in full view of all – he lost his mast head burgee to the pond mud. There was plenty of reaching up and down before the start in the Southerly breeze.

At the gun it was Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) first off the blocks, closely followed by Michael Veale (RS200 –NSSC) crewed by Rupert Smith and behind them Steve Duncan (Laser full rig).

Alan.S was at the back having been caught in a Starboard boat’s call and as a result got into irons.
At the end of the first lap Paul.R was in front – a position from which he remained un challenged to the finish – Michael.V second up but with Steve.D right on his tail. Darren Field and Tim Cox (both Laser Radials – NSSC) were in 4th and 5th spot with Alan.S behind them in 6th. The trailing pack consisted of Alice Smith (Topper –NSSC) ahead of Callum Johnson (Laser Radial) then Bill Waites in his much reefed Laser Radial with Gary Johnson (Pico – NSSC) bringing up the rear.
By the end of lap two Steve.D had passed Michael.V whilst Tim.C had bested Darren. F. The bottom south east corner seemed to be popular swimming location as the gybe caught out quite a few sailors. – not that it was the only spot and most of the ten had a dip (or two) in the course of the race, even Paul.R the leader and Steve.D.
Gary.J gave up quite soon having not only failed to sign on but missed out a mark and Callum.J did likewise not too long after his dad, Callum had found the breeze somewhat more testing than he expected and did not overly enjoy his swims.

By lap 7 Darren.F had passed both Tim.C and Michael.V but came a cropper in the following lap and decided enough was enough. Niether Tim.C nor Alan.S were able to make any headway against Michael.V and in the closing laps (for them) Alan.S did make up some ground but could not gain enough to pass.
At the finish the order was 1st .Paul.R, 2nd. Steve.D, 3rd. Michael.V, 4th Tim.C and 5th Alan.S.
It had been a very gusty race with plenty of spills and for the heavyweights quite fun if somewhat damp. Alan. S was not so sure it had been a wise decision for him to sail after all, but he had stayed upright during the race. Results (unofficial/preliminary):-
1st, Paul Ryan, 2nd. Steve Duncan, 3rd Alan Simmons, 4th. Michael Veale and Rupert Smith,
5th. Tim Cox, 6th Alice Smith, 7th. Bill Waites. – Darren Field, Callum Johnson and Gary Johnson all retired.
Alan.S 1700

Numbum Race 2 - 09/01/2011

A beautiful clear blue sky, lots of sunshine and no breeze at the start of the drive to Piddinghoe. A bank of greyish cloud began to drift off to the south as the boats began to rig and a faint breeze began to blow from the north, just to compliment the near zero temperature which had added a goodly frost to the boat covers.

Kay was able to set a new style of course – from the previous session of north easterlies experienced in the Freeman Iceberg Series. The start was just below the sailing school berths on the south side of the pond up to the twin buoy mark adjacent to the clubhouse. From there it was a very broad reach to the north east corner, right turn to a mark in the middle of the pond and then a close reach back towards the south side before setting off on a run to the gybe mark north of the island. A short close reach behind the island led to a long beat from that southern corner right up the southern side of the pond to the finish mark keeping all the marks on the way up to starboard – lots of tacking.

Some eleven boats took to the water and on the start line there was a bit of bunching. Matt Springhall (Laser full rig – NSSC) was first to start although unfortunately for him just a bit too early and he had to extricate himself from the rest of the hoard to get back behind the line and start properly. Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) and then Steve Duncan (Laser full rig- NSSC) were effectively next across the line and just inside Darren was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC). Having the inside berth at the pin end allowed Alan to also take the lead position at the twin buoy mark and then begin to establish a reasonable lead over the rest of the fleet which he retained until the last few moments of the race.
By the end of the second lap Matt had recovered from his ‘too early’ start and was scrapping it out with Steve. These two continued to pass and re-pass one another until in lap 4 Steve suffered a failure of the flexible joint in his tiller extension and subsequently retired. It was unfortunate in so far as he was on the point of catching and overtaking Alan. On this occasion Matt had dropped back a bit behind Steve leaving Alan still in front.

Tom Taylor (Megabyte – NSSC) had not come out of the start too well although being near the front row, he got a bit boxed in at the start and had to work hard – very difficult in the early light breeze – to get back in the race and in the early laps had to do a ‘few’ turns for both other boats and marks (so it was subsequently learned). During this early part of the race Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) was giving him a good run for his money. Darren also managed to pass Roger McAll (Laser full rig) in lap 2 whilst slipping into 4th spot which he held to the finish.

At one point, in mid race, one capsize occurred when Bill Waites (Laser radial – NSSC) caught a hefty gust along the north side of the pond but it was a dry capsize so he reports.

Michael Veale(NSSC) crewed by Mike Rosier in their RS 200 although able to fly their spinnaker led 5th place on the water in the first couple of laps but then dropped back to 7th until Steve retired and were then 6th to the end of the race.
Callum Johnson (Laser Radial – NSSC) fought out 8th place with Jesica Cox (Topper – NSSC) until she too retired but it was Gary Johnson (Topper – NSSC) right at the rear until he too retired in lap 5.
In the penultimate lap (lap 8) the breeze began to build, towards the top end of force 3, and Tom in his Megabytye began to catch up with Alan having already passed Matt – who decided, whilst on the run across the pond, to do a ‘Captain Cook’ and go exploring on the island with a spectacular roll to starboard. He had, as Steve earlier, been on the point of passing Alan but none the less managed to stay in 3rd spot on the water after his recovery and re-launch.
In the final seconds of the last lap Tom finally got past Alan to cross the line 5 seconds ahead, nowhere near enough to beat him on handicap however.

Results:-

1st. Alan.S, 2nd Darren.F, 3rd. Matt.s, 4th. Tom.T, 5th. Roger.Mc, 6th. Michael.V, 7th. Bill.W, 8th. Callum.J – Steve.D, Jessica.C and Gary.J retired.

Paul Ryan (Hardway SC) did an excellent duty – if a trifle noisy – as safety boat helm, whilst young James Veale gave Kay support in acting as AOD.

Alan.S 1700

Numbum 2011 - race 1 02.01.2011

Firstly may I wish all my viewers a Happy New year 2011. Now read on for a double helping.

Num Bum Race No 1 – 02.01.2011.
Cloudy but with small breaks showing blue sky and absolutely no breeze in a temperature of some 2 degrees C – such was the journey to Pidinghoe from Hove this morning. The clouds continued to break up and some sun was seen and miraculously half an hour before racing was due to start a slight NE breeze filled in at the pond – no more than force 2.
Kay set a course with a beat along the north side of the water followed by a run to a mark near the middle of the south side. A further beat then followed back towards the NE corner then off on a close reach and around the eastern side of the Island finally turning north along the south side of the water back to the starting area off the clubhouse.
The nine strong fleet was joined by Alex Mills-Barton (Laser full rig – NSSC) – before his depature to bigger things in Florida, USA and it was he who led off the line at the gun. In Close contention were Laurence Venus in his Steaker, Steve Duncan (Laser full rig – NSSC) and Paul Ryan also Laser full rig.
Close behind this group were Alan Simmons (Streaker), Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) and Darren Field (Laser Radial) with Callum Johnson (also in a Radial) and Bill Waites similarly boated out.
During the early laps Alex.M-B pulled away but a battle royal developed behind with both Laurence and Paul vying for second place on the water. Likewise Alan.S was in contention initially with Steve.D and Julian.D.
Upfront Alex was unchallenged but there was a bit of argy bargy between Lauence and Paul with a fair bit of vocalisation between them (mostly Paul) and at one point in lap 5 Laurence was seen to be doing turns and as a result lost out several places putting him back in 5th place behind Steve and Alan.
Darren whilst close behind Julian in the early laps seemed to fade as the race progressed with the full rig slowly pulling away as would be expexted. Likewise Callum could not hang on to Bill but it was spotted that his Kicker was hanging rather slack at all times. Ashore he said that it had been slipping but he hoped to get hold of the latest fittings pack if he could persuade his dad.
Alan and Steve gradually drew away from Julian in lap 3 and Alan finally, also in lap 5, got ahead of Steve to begin to catch up with Paul.
In the penultimate lap, after a few place changes, Alan overtook Paul and stayed ahead to the finish. Laurence slowly made good some of the ground he had earlier lost and also passed Steve to cross the line in fourth place.
The usual banter about the Streaker handicap took place in the changing room –‘ if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em’ is the phrase that comes to mind.
With the handicaps worked out it was Alan who was the winner (just) ahead of Alex, who’s 4.1/2 minute lead was insufficient and then it was Laurencein third place.
Results (Provisional/Unofficial):- 1st. Alan.S, 2nd. Alex.M-B, 3rd. Laurence.V, 4th. Paul.R, 5th. Steve.D, 6th. Julian.D, 7th. Darren.F, 8th. Bill.W, 9th. Callum.J

New Year’s Day morning was grey and overcast and as Alan Passed the Sussex University on the way to Piddinghoe it was drizzling. On arrival at the pond at about 12.30 the drizzle was no longer present but the skies were still overcast but with a light North Easterly (force 2 ish)blowing from the top corner of the pond.
The course was a beat across the north side of the pond followed by a run back to a mark near the middle of the south bank. Having rounded that it was back towards the NE corner then a run back to the south side. After tuning this one it was a beat around the north side of the pond, back to the SE corner and then a close reach back up the south side to the start mark just off the clubhouse.
Eight boats took to the water for the 2.00pm start and it was Laurence Venus (Streaker – NSSC) who was first away along with Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial – NSSC). Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) was just a little behind but it was Lauernce who took off into the wild blue yonder, never to be subsequently challenged.
Callum Johnson (Laser Radial – NSSC)slotted in behind Alan.S and remained in 4th spot on the water to the finish.
The Toppers of Rupert Smith (NSSC), Alice Smith (NSSC) – Rupert’s daughter- together with Sasha Stonard (NSSC) had a continuing battle through out the race. The former pair always close together with Alice.S getting past her dad in the 4th lap only to lose out again in the final lap they sailed often less than 10 seconds separating them.
Gary Johnson (Pico – NSSC) brought up the rear of the fleet –the slow speed of the boat being the reason why his son Callum has opted for the Laser Radial.
Whilst Laurence romped away at the front of the fleet, trying out the Carbon Fibre mast lent to him by Alan.S, Alan himself enjoined a battle with Jonty.F and passed him by the end of the second lap only to lose out again when he snared the mooring line of a mark and pull it onto him. After doing his turns he had it all to do again but by the finish of lap 6 (the final lap) he was still 5 seconds adrift.
With the average lap taking about 10 minutes for Laurence.V – apart from the first lap - he finished some 4 minutes ahead of Jonty and Alan.
As the boats were finally packed away it appeared as if night had come early with dark and threatening skies – more drizzle was noted on the drive home through the downs near Falmer.
Results:-
1st Laurence.V, 2nd. Alan.S, 3rd. Jonty.F, 4th Rupert.S, 5th. Alice.S, 6th. Callum.J, 7th. Sasha.S, 8th. Gary.J
Appologies for the lack of Pics for this and for the first Numbum Race below due to the usual photographer – Bett Simmons – being indisposed with a large dollop of Bronchitus, but slowly improving.


Alan.S 1700