Streaker Ramblings - Elford Num Bum Race 7 - 19th Feb 2012

Bright blue sky and sun and a little breeze from the north west greeted our journey to Piddinghoe. On arrival there was real water to see instead of solid ice – actually we had been to Piddinghoe on Wednesday and all the ice had gone by then.
It was a tricky wind direction in which to set a course but Kay laid the start from near the clubhouse leading northwards towards the Fisherman’s Bay with a gybe onto a run back across the pond to a buoy about mid way down the south side. Tacking round that it was off to a mark midway along the eastern side. Off along the east side, rounding a mark just short of the Island, with yet another gybe, then rounding one right up near the bank before a close reach up the south side to the start/finish mark at the clubhouse.

Eight boats took to the water in what turned out to be a very gusty force 4 to 5 wind and at the start gun it was Michael Veale and Mike Rosier in the RS 200(NSSC), closest to the bank, who led off the line on Port tack. Just behind, but on Starboard, was Laurence Venus (Streaker, NSSC) with Louis Gorringe (Topper, NSSC) just to leeward. Roger McAll (Laser full rig, Pevensey Bay) crossed just behind this pair whilst Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) had tacked off near the pin end and was in front of the lot but somewhat low for the next mark.

Somewhere behind the leading group were Jack Turner and James Bovington (Laser II, NSSC) then Dan Ford and Becca Gibson (Magno, NSSC) and bringing up the rear Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC).
Michael.V was first to round the’windward’ mark closely followed by Laurence.V then Roger Mcall with Alan.S at the rear of the leading group. Michael. V flew his Black spinnaker up the following run but Laurence stayed in close touch. Roger.Mc had not gybed until the end of this leg and proceded to fall in – the first of his four capsizes in the race.
By the end of the first lap the order was Michael.V in front with Laurence.V next up then Steve.D, having pulled back from a very late start, and Alan.S in fourth spot.

In lap 2 Michael.V lost his lead to both Steve.D and Laurence.V when he hit a mark and had to do a 360° turn. By the end of lap 3 Laurence.V was leading the fleet – Steve and Penelope had their jib sheet come detached and had to go into the landing stage in front of the clubhouse to refit it.

Lap 3 also saw Jack.T and James.B have a sucession of capsizes on the eastern side of the Island ending up on the shore there and, after a loss of a lot of time trying to recover, decided to call it a day and to retire. Lap 3 was very eventfull as it saw also Dan.F retire having been struck on the head by his boom whilst gybing. He did not feel too well and decided to head for shore to recover his senses.
It was lap 6 before Steve.D, having fixed the jib, got past Alan.S who was then lying third behind Laurence and Michael.V. By lap 7 Steve was up to second and Alan back to third when Michael.V had a massive capsize on the windward leg across to the east side. That order – Laurence, Steve then Alan – held to the finish with Michael unable to overtake Alan but very close on his heels. Alan just managed to lap Louis.G in the closing stages of the race whilst Roger.Mc pulled up to fifth on the water – in spite of his capsizes.
When the Handicaps had been applied Laurence. V was the clear winner with Alan.S second but just four seconds ahead of Loius.G in third spot.
Results (Unofficial/Unapproved):-
1st. Laurence Venus, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd. Louis Gorringe, 4th. Michael Veale, 5th. Roger McAll, 6th. Steve Duncan. Dan Ford and Jack Turner retired.
Alan.S 1700
Next week sees the final race in the Series and although Alan.S is currently leading and if light weather prevails it looks as is Laurence, with a first or second place result, will come from behind to take the trophy ahead of him and Michael.v who is currently lying second.