Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 - 16/02/2014

Clear Blue Sky, not a cloud in sight, a rustle of breeze and in the sunshine it was even warm dare I say as we left Hove for Piddinghoe, arriving in identical conditions. What a change from the last few days of storm force winds, pouring rain and, at Seaford, Brighton and other parts of the Sussex coast, enormous seas.

Michael Veale and Mike Rosier were RO and AOD for the day’s races and set a ‘W’ shaped course with the start line midway along the southern shore with a beat to the mark in the South West corner, just off the clubhouse followed by a broad reach to the mark off the Fisherman’s bay. After a gybe the next leg was a very close reach, nearly a beat, to the start mark with another gybe and run to the mark midway along the east side. Yet another gybe and a close reach behind the Island led to a mark in the South east corner and a beat back through the start (and Finish) line and back to the clubhouse mark.

Thirteen boats came to the line with Bea Cameron and Jamie Smith both sailing Toppers and Steve and Penelope Duncan back out on their Fireball. At the start it was Laurence Venus (Streaker) leading a small group comprising Alan Simmons (Streaker), Roger McCall (Laser full rig) and Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) at the shore end of the line, who was first away. Towards the Pin end, John Smith (Laser Radial) and Steve were first to cross the line at that end.
Laurence was first to round the windward mark followed by Roger and then Alan and then Jazz Sayed (Laser 4.7) not too far behind.  With John Smith (Laser Radial) next up and followed closely by Zoe.  Laurence managed to catch the Start mark mooring warp with his rudder and pulled the mark onto his hull. Whilst he was doing his turn Roger briefly took the lead with Alan also picking up a place only to lose it again as Laurence passed him on the running leg. He, Laurence, caught up and passed Roger to go back in front up the subsequent beat. By the end of the first lap Laurence was just ahead  of Roger by 3  second with Alan some 30 seconds adrift of Roger. Jazz was lying 4^th in front of John, by five seconds, and then Zoe eight seconds further back with Steve behind her. Next up was Bill Wates (Laser full rig) with Chas Humphries (Laser full rig), then Dave Murley (Pico), Colin Cryer (Otter), Bea and lastly Jamie.

Lap two saw Laurence still out in front and extending his lead to lie 22 seconds in front of Roger with Alan a further 15 seconds behind .with Steve pulling back to lie third having gained 3 places. Zoe was lying 5^th having overtaken John, who dropped back three. Bill was up to 6^th behind Zoe having passed Jon and Jazz whilst Chas remained 9^th ahead of Colin, Bea and Jamie.
In lap 3 Alan briefly passed Roger at the gybe at Fisherman’s bay only to drop back on the ensuing close reach whilst Laurence increased his lead and Steve, even with the use of his Spinnaker, slipped back behind Alan by a further 7 seconds. Bill overtook Zoe to lie 5^th but Chas passed both Jazz and John.
By the end of the fourth lap Laurence was almost a minute ahead of second placed Roger with Alan half a minute behind him and 6^th behind Bill with Steve still fourth but falling back. Chas passed Zoe to lie 6^th. The order in the rear pack remained unchanged both Bea and Jamie having finished in their third lap.
Laurence crossed the line an impressive two minutes ahead of Roger, having found all the right shifts up the beat and with impressive off wind speed. Alan came home a minute and a quarter behind Roger with Steve still fourth but having dropped back to be 58 seconds adrift of Alan.
With the handicaps applied Laurence was the clear winner with Alan second, Roger third and Jazz fourth. Fifth place went to Bill and Zoe tied with John.

Race 14, starting at 12.05 over the same course, was held in slight increase wind, now just about up to force 3.Once again a small group led across the line from the shore end with Laurence leading Steve, Roger and Alan up the first beat but it was Steve who led round the windward mark and holding in second place for the lap. Roger was lying third with Alan behind him. Zoe was lying fifth ahead of John, then Bill and then Chas. Jazz was next in ninth whilst Dave and Bea crossed the line simultaneously with Jamie leading Colin.

By the end of the second lap Laurence had overtaken Steve but Roger was still ahead of fourth placed Alan. Bill also passed John to lie sixth and Chas had climbed up behind Bill. Jazz came next in front of Dave, Bea and Colin, Jamie having dropped back a position.
Lap 3 saw Laurence still out ahead but both Roger and Alan passed Steve with Alan gaining some eighteen seconds advantage. Zoe stayed in front of Bill whilst the remainder stayed in the same order.

Lap 4 Saw Laurence losing some of his lead over both Roger, to just 10 seconds, and Alan, whilst Steve overtook Alan to lead him by four seconds. The staus quo held in the rest of the fleet with Zoe maintain her fifth place.
The final, fifth lap was a fight to the finish with Laurence crossing the line just two seconds in front of Roger and Alan retaking third place 27 seconds behind Roger but fifty seconds ahead of Steve. Zoe was fifth and Chas overtook Bill to enjoy sixth place with John bringing up the tail 8^th, Jazz and Dave having finished at the end of their fourth lap.
After applying the handicap, Laurence was the winner, with Alan second, Roger third – as in the previous race - and Zoe fourth (her best ever result, at which she jumped and screamed for joy).

It was a beautiful day with adequate, if shifty, breeze. Blue skies and warm enough to raise sweat in all, whether they were wearing Wet or Dry suits. Much enjoyed after recent weather events. Next Sunday sees the final race of the series, with Laurence as RO, who is the outright winner of the Elford Numbum Trophy thanks to his two bullets today. Alan and Roger are both in contention for second place overall with just two points separating them so all is down to that final race – watch this space. Thanks go to Bett, my wife, and her exploits with her Nikon (42x Zoom) camera for the shots include in all my blogs – come rain or shine. She tries to get a shot of every one taking part in the races and I have to try to select just a few to include.
Alan.S 1700.
PS. Bill Wates wished to get his picture in this blog so he 'fell/jumped' into the pond between races.

PS. The Winter series may be over next weekend but don’t forget the Dighy Show, at Alexandra Palace, in two week’s time on Saturday 1^st and Sunday 2^nd March

Results:- 

R13

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Mistyblue	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1148	43.47	0.00.00	1.0
2	Last Bash	Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1148	47.01	0.03.14	2.0
3		Laser	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		1087	45.45	0.04.18	3.0
3	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	1053	OOD		3.0
5		Laser 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jasmin Sayed	c	1180	52.26	0.07.26	4.0
6		Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1087	50.13	0.08.46	5.0
7		Laser Radial	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1117	52.00	0.09.24	6.5
7		Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1117	52.00	0.09.24	6.5
9	Gay Amigo Won	Laser	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		1087	50.52	0.09.25	8.0
10		Otter	981	NSSC	Colin Cryer		1385	54.10	0.11.55	9.0
11		Fireball	15021	NSSC	Steve Duncan	Penelope Duncan	980	48.03	0.10.40	10.0
12		Pico 2	2072	NSSC	David Murley		1332	54.06	0.13.28	11.0
13		Topper	7	NSSC	Bea Cameron	c	1313	44.35	0.14.32	12.0
14		Topper	4	NSSC	Jamie Smith	c	1313	52.07	0.22.04	13.0

R14

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY No	Elapsed	BCE	Points
1	Mistyblue	Streaker	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1148	42.15	0.00.00	1.0
2	Last Bash	Streaker	1700	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1148	42.44	0.00.29	2.0
3		Laser	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		1087	42.17	0.02.17	3.0
3	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	1053	OOD		3.0
5		Laser Radial	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1117	45.24	0.04.17	4.0
6		Laser 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jasmin Sayed	c	1180	39.16	0.04.31	5.0
7	Gay Amigo Won	Laser	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		1087	45.41	0.05.41	6.0
8		Laser Radial	177611	NSSC	John Smith		1117	47.15	0.06.08	7.0
9		Laser	133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		1087	46.36	0.06.36	8.0
10		Fireball	15021	NSSC	Steve Duncan	Penelope Duncan	980	43.34	0.07.30	9.0
11		Otter	981	NSSC	Colin Cryer		1385	40.38	0.10.03	10.0
12		Topper	7	NSSC	Bea Cameron	c	1313	38.50	0.09.50	11.0
13		Topper	4	NSSC	Jamie Smith	c	1313	30.34	0.11.14	12.0
14		Pico 2	2072	NSSC	David Murley		1332	48.18	0.18.53	13.0