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.