Monday 28 February 2011

Elford Numbum Race 9 -27-02-2011

Bluish Skies with 80% high grey clouds, not very warm in a Norterly breeze as we headed off to Piddinghoe for the final race of this year’s Numbum series.
Kay set the course, in a breeze of force 2 to 3, with the first leg along the northern side of the pond (more like a close fetch) to a turning buoy in the north east corner – by the bay – followed by a run to the south of the Island. Turning the mark there it was a beat back towards the north east and turning that mark it was off, east of the Island to the south east corner. From there to the finish it was a beat – one legged for the most close winded boats.
With the start in the shadow of the club room it was a bit ragged at the gun, only Roger McAll (Laser full rig- NSSC) was actually going in the correct direction and carrying enough momentum. Next off was Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) and then , a little to windward, Michael Veale and Mike Rosier in their RS200 (NSSC). Bill Wates (NSSC), sailing a full rig Laser for a change was next ahead of Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) and bringing up the rear was Chas Humphries (NSSC) sailing his Laser also with a changed rig – the Radial one this time.

Paul.R had a lot of catching up to do and it was not until lap 4 that he finally caught and passed the leader Roger.Mc. In the meanwhile Darren.F was having a battle royal with Michael.V in the RS 200 – using his spinnaker on the two downwind legs – first one then the other ahead until lap 5 when Darren began to pull away.
The pair at the rear were also having a bit of a ding dong with Bill ahead of Chas initially, being passed in lap 3 and then losing out again on the following lap.
Having passed Roger, Paul began to pull away at the front of the fleet but in the final lap his mainsheet block decided it had had enough and pulled out of it’s swivel fitting on the deck. This slowed Paul down quite a bit but he just managed to hold Roger off at the finish. Next home was Darren with Michael a little way behind, then Chas and finally Bill. No capsizes in this race although there were a couple of near misses but not from Bill this time, so that Alan.S in the safety boat had little to do.

Result (Preliminary/Unofficial) :-

1st. Paul Ryan, 2nd. Roger McAll, 3rd. Darren Field, 4th. Michael Veale, 5th.
Chas Humphries, 6th. Bill Wates,

At the prize giving which followed the racing it was Alan Simmons (Steaker – Lancing SC) who took the overall 1st Prize – the Elford Numbum Trophy - ahead of Paul Ryan in 2nd and third place went to Michael Veale who just pipped Bill Wates.

Bill, who ended out of main the prize list was a very worthy competitor (and Novice), having entered all nine races, only missing out a position in one when he failed to cross the finish line in error. Was awarded the RO’s special Trophy for his valliant efforts.

Our gratefull thanks were expressed to Kay our indefatigable (and long suffering) Race Officer (and Time Keeper) for her sterling efforts every week – since the beginning of last November - and she was presented with a floral tribute and a bottle of wine.
So that is the end of racing at Piddinghoe until next November. This series, unlike the pre Christmas Freeman Iceberg, had been Ice free, no races lost to foul wind or weather although some what stiffer breezes in the majority of races.

Alan.S 1700

PS. Those of you who have been kind enough to read my incessant spiels may be pleased to know that you are in for a short break – until the Streaker Southern Area Opens start with a meeting at Bough Beech in late March.
This blogsite was started initially, to cover my exploits/visits to away ‘games’ on the Streaker circuit to keep his fellow members at Lancing SC aware that there was life beyond the club boundaries.It seemed appropriate, however, to incorporate the summer and winter events at NSSC that he visited each year.

Sunday 20 February 2011

Elford Numbum Race 8 - 20.02.2011

Totally grey and fully overcast as we left Hove this morning. The Seaford Windguru was forecasting an easterly force 3 to 4 and for once this proved to be the case on arrival at Piddinghoe. It was cold but it stayed dry through the racing.
The course, starting at the twin buoys off the clubhouse consisted of an initial beat to the north east corner thence off on a run to the southern side of the Island. Following this there was a second beat, leaving the Island to starboard, to a mark towards the north east corner and then a second run to the south east corner of the pond to a a yellow mark. The final leg was a long fetch/reach up the southern side of the pond to the start mark.

Six boats went afloat and at the start it was Michael Veale (NSSC) sailing single handed in his RS 200 at the shore end with Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) to weather and Roger McAll (Laser full rig – NSSC) at the pin end - all in a line. Just behind were Laurence Venus (Streaker –NSSC), Darren Field (Laser Radial - NSSC) and Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC).
By the end of lap one Roger.Mc had taken the lead with Alan.S behind and Laurence.V very close behind with Darren.F in fourth spot.
By the end of the second lap Laurence had passed Alan and was in hot pursuit of Roger and after three laps caught and passed him on the second run. He also caught a bit of breeze and began to pull out a goodly lead leaving him unchallenged to the finish.
Meanwhile Alan kept catching up with Roger on the offwind legs only to lose out again upwind, where the Laser pointed so much higher, with Alan getting ahead in lap 4 only to drop back in lap 5, but finally climbing back in front for the critical laps 7 and 8.

Just behind, by mid race, Darren.F was being challenged by Michael.V but again the gap between them kept varying. Michael was using his Spinnaker but things did not always go quite right and he nearly had a spill in the final lap allowing Darren to pull well out ahead of him.
Bill W was plugging away in the background – no capsizes this week – and is gradually getting the hang of things, the lighter breezes of the day being much to his liking.
At the close of the race it was Laurence.V some 3.1/2 minutes out in front followed by Alan.S with Roger.Mc ½ minute behind him.
Results:- 1st Laurence Venus, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd. Darren Field, 4th. Roger McAll,
5th. Michael Veale, 6th Bill Wates.
A very enjoyable race, not too much effort needed to keep the boats going – not exactly survival conditions – and time to concentrate on tactics a little. The breeze did begin to drop off a little as the race progressed so that the odd spurt no longer became possible.
Next Sunday – 27th February – is the final race of the series. – and Prizegiving.
Yours truly will be in the Safety boat.
Alan.S 1700.

Sunday 13 February 2011

Elford Numbum Race 7 - 13.02.2011

100% overcast, grey and with a sharp Southerly breeze blowing as we left home for Piddinghoe this morning. On the final approach there was a brightness in the sky to the south but it came to nothing and then we had rain during the racing. The breeze was forecast – Winguru – as force 5 but apart from in the gusts it was a, more manageable, top end 4.

The course was a short beat to the twin buoys off the club house in the north west corner (Entry Gate area) of the pond followed by a long fetch (should have been a reach but the wind changed after it had been laid) with a gybe round a mark south of the Island. Thence it was off on a dead run northwards, leaving the Island to starboard, to a mark well up the east side. Rounding that began a beat back, leaving the Island to port this time, to a mark in the far south corner of the pond. After another gybe round that it was back to the far north east corner and then a single sided beat back to the double buoy finish.
Five boats went afloat and at the start it was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) first away. At the double buoy Paul Ryan (Hardway SC) in his full rig Laser made a timely (just) tack onto starboard as Alan, also on starboard by then, had left just too much room. Just behind this pair Michael Veale with crew Mike Rosier (NSSC) in their RS 200 were up to windward but ahead of Roger McAll (NSSC) in his full rig Laser with Bill Wates (NSSC) in his Laser Radial bringing up the rear.
Paul.R led down the first fetch, in some very telling gusts, just ahead of Alan.S – who was in control of his boat some of the time – with Mike.V by then close behind. All three boats were initially on Port tack necessitating a gybe to round the next mark.
As this was being approached Paul.R gybed and snapped his tiller extension, leaving only 8” or 9” to handle his boat with. He headed for the south shore to try to find a replacement. Meanwhile Michael.V was also in trouble and gybed more than once before rounding the mark to start up the beat. Alan.S had no problems at this point and went into the lead. The gusty breeze also played havoc with both Roger.Mc and Bill.W who were both laid flat near the mark on this downwind leg.
Paul R found a replacement tiller with extension and re entered the race, having been effectively lapped by the rest of the fleet.
It was on the same leg and at the same mark that the next ‘incident’ occurred when Alan.S, in lap 2, having gybed onto Starboard to round the mark was almost attacked by Michael. V charging in on port tack. These two boats rounded the mark in very close proximity with Alan, obviously a bit miffed at the intrusion, calling for Michael to do turns - he not having right of way.
The boats separated, Alan holding on on Starboard, before tacking to pass the Island on its starboard side. Michael also tacked, a bit higher to windward but a bit further back, and fell in, leaving Alan to pull away and allowing Roger.Mc to also pass the RS 200.
This windward leg appears to have been Alan’s nemesis too as Roger.Mc , being able to sail a bit closer to the wind, passed him in lap 5 to take pole position, albeit 25 seconds ahead . Roger continued to pull away and was first to cross the line after 8 laps, some 1.1/2 minutes ahead. Alan also had a fright when a big gust nearly had him swimming on the penultimate fetch.

Alan was next home followed by Paul.R – Kay (RO) having taken mercy upon him and finished him at the end of his 7th lap – and then Michael.V. Last to finish was Bill.W but he reckoned that he could count his capsizes on one hand, rather than two last week.

Results (Unofficial/preliminary) :-

1st. Alan Simmons, 2nd. Roger McAll, 3rd. Micheal Veale and Mike Rosier, 4th. Bill Wates, 5th. Paul Ryan.

An enjoyable, if blustery race, a bit short on support entry wise but as usual excellently run by Kay and with Ian Lambert doing a great job single handedly on the safety boat.

With two more races to go in the series Alan.S is in the lead by 7.6 points from Paul.R with Bill.W in 3rd place ahead of Michael.V

Alan.S 1700

Sunday 6 February 2011

Elford Numbum Race 6 - 06.02.2011

At 9.00 am, normal leaving time for the trip to Piddinghoe, it was completely grey overcast and a stiff breeze was blowing from the South West. The ‘Windguru’ forecast for the day was 19 knots (a good top end force 5) and it was raining lightly, not an auspicious start. On arrival at the pond the safety boat crew were there and one other ‘potential’ sailor, Bill Wates. Alan Simmons fetched out his anenometer which read up to12 knots by the flagpole but one could see the gusts across the water and it was not inviting and he was not convinced that sailing, for him, was a good idea.. A hot coffee was called for and then Rupert Smith arrived – ‘but I haven’t got a boat’ were his first words. Just before 10.30 Paul Ryan arrived and it did appear that the wind had eased so there was a rush for the four of them to rig and sail.

The course Kay set was another figure of eight, similar to last Sunday, starting with a short beat (3 metres?) and then a run across the pond to the eastern side – dead downwind – to a mark just off the shore but north of the Island. The next leg was a beat to a mark in the southeast corner of the pond, followed by a very brisk reach towards the north east. The lap concluded with another beat along the northern side to the finish just off the clubhouse.

The start sequence commenced with Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC) capsizing between the five and one minute sound signals. He recovered in time for the off but nobody else was really ready for it anyway. The first boat actually away was Rupert Smith (NSSC) sailing single handed in his Mirror but within seconds Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) had passed him and was off on the run. Just behind them was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) and bringing up the rear was Bill.W.The breeze, at first reasonable, soon began to build again and the gusts came fast and furious from ever changing directions. This made both the upwind and downwind legs quite twitchy.
Paul R began to pull away from Alan.S who was struggling to keep control of his boat most of the time but somehow succeeded in staying upright until the last beat of his 6th lap. He never saw the gust that tipped him in and whilst attempting to recover went over again. By that time Paul.R, who had been sailing each lap in about 7 minutes, lapped him but on his own final lap he too suffered a knock down from which he quickly recovered, although he had more than enough time to beat Alan, the only other finisher.
Rupert .S who had been in 3rd spot on the water suffered a broken Kicker during his fifth lap and rapidly retired ashore – too dodgy to go downwind without that. Bill .W who had suffered his first invertion before the real start continued to practice this acytivity, was seen in the reeds at least once, could not remember if it was 8 or 10 capsizes in total and then missed out the finish mark – so he learnt after coming ashore - but still bore a grin from ear to ear.

Results (Unofficial/Preliminary) :-
1st. Paul Ryan, 2nd. Alan Simmons. Both Rupert Smith and Bill Wates did not finish.

The consensus was that this had been a very hard race and that it was time to go home for a recovery snooze.

Alan.S 1700.