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