Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum - Races 11 & 12 - 08/02/2015

Apologies for the lateness of this report but a short break to north Wales during the week made an earlier issue impossible.

On Sunday morning, 8^th Feb 2015, the sky was overcast without any signs of the sun. The cloud was high without the likely hood of any rain. The breeze was fresh although the forecast was for 10 to 12 knots it was to be found a bit fresher on arrival at Piddinghoe and coming from the north (Fisherman’s Bay area.

The RO Darren Field, assisted by Louise Currell, set the course as below, with a beat to the north, a reach back to the middle of the pond, another beat to the middle of the east side and a reach behind the Island finishing with a reach back along the South side to finish just off the clubhouse.

 

First away at the gun was Roger McCall (Laser full rig), having tucked in at the outer mark ahead of the competition. Next off was Jazz Sayed (Laser 4.7) with Laurence Venus (Streaker) down to leeward of her. Tucked in behind Jazz, Matt Springall (Laser full rig) was just to windward of Adam Lansley (Laser Radial) with Alan Simmons (Aero 7) below him. Roger was first to turn the windward mark with Matt in hot pursuit and Laurence behind this pair just in front of Jazz. The second beat, to the mark in the middle of the east bank, separated the leaders, amongst themselves and from the rest of the eighteen strong fleet. On the reach up the south side Alan was in close order with Adam and Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) when he capsized. Although he righted the boat he had to have Safety boat assistance once again to get back aboard and to watch most of the fleet pass him. Just behind , by then fourth placed Jazz, Zoe and Rupert Smith (crewed by Chris Turner in the Vago) crossed the line on tied time. Bill Wates (Laser full rig) crossed 7^th ahead of Michael Veale (and Mike Rosier in the RS 200) with Dave Murley (Laser Radial) 9^th.  Adam had dropped back a bit and crossed 10^th with Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7) next, then Bill Hudson (Topper). Charlie Rigg (Pico) 13^th led Daisy Davies and Paddy (RS Vision) who crossed the line with a now recovered Alan. At 16^th Sam Turner (Pico) was ahead of Colin Cryer (Otter) and Carolyn Turner (Laser Radial).

Lap 2 saw no place changes among the leading four boats but Rupert dropped back behind Zoe and Dave. Adam moved up to 9^th  behind Michael whilst Bill.W dropped from 7^th to 10^th place  Charlie also lost places from 13^th to 16^th as Alan and Sam each gained a couple of places. Colin and Carolyn stayed in the same relative 17^th and 18^th places. Carolyn decided to go ashore whilst the going was still good (Upright) as did Charlie.

Lap 3 had Matt still in the lead from Roger, Laurence and Jazz as Rupert went back up to 5^th ahead of Zoe. Michael moved up a place passing Dave on the way. Adam stayed in 9^th place and Bill.W and Jamie crossed the line on equal time. Alan clawed another place back, climbing to a lofty 12^th ahead of Bill.H, Sam, Daisy and Colin. Adam and the above last two finished their race at the end of this lap.

 

Lap 4 and again no change at the front with Matt still leading however Laurence caught up with Roger and crossed the line on tied time at the end of the lap. Michael also managed to catch and pass Zoe to lie 6^th but there were no further relative place changes in the rest of the fleet.

Lap 5 and Roger just managed to pull ahead of Laurence – by 3 seconds – and Rupert passed Jazz to lie 4^th. Michael made up ground a little to go ahead of Zoe as did Dave and Jamie climbed ahead of Bill.W with Alan finishing behind him in 11^th place. Zoe, Jamie, Bill and Alan finished at the end of this lap.

Lap 6 and only 7 boats remained on the water, with Matt still a minute and a half out in front of Roger,  who in turn was half a minute ahead of Laurence and Jazz another minute and a half back behind him but with Rupert in between.

With the handicaps applied the clear winner was Matt, with Laurence second and Jazz third, Roger 4^th, Zoe 5^th and Dave 6^th.

 

Race 12 was held over the same course but with a slightly depleted fleet of fifteen starters. At the gun it was Roger once again first across the line about half way down its length. Next away, but a bit nearer the pin end, was Laurence and closest to the mark was Jazz  with Alan a bit further down the line and Zoe right in near the shore.

Half way up that first beat Alan capsized again and sought help to get back aboard before deciding to head for the shore. Roger once more led round the windward mark with Matt not far behind. By the end of the lap Roger was just 2 seconds ahead of him with Rupert third to cross the line. The next three boats, Jazz, Laurence and Michael all crossed the line on equal times. Jamie was 7^th, Bill.H 8^th, Zoe 9^th, Bill.W 10^th and Dave 11^th. Colin and Charlie also crossed the line in tied times with Sam (now in a full rig Laser) 14^th and last. Sam decide to then go ashore – perhaps the wind was a (good) bit too strong.

Lap 2 and Matt quickly overtook Roger to lead the race whilst Jazz got herself ahead of Rupert and Michael went ahead of Laurence. Zoe climbed up two places to lead Jamie and Dave also moved up two. Bill.H meanwhile dropped back two positions toile 10^th ahead of Bill.W and Colin.

Lap 3 had Matt extending his lead over Roger as Jazz hung on in behind and just ahead of Rupert. Behind these four Laurence was having a duel with Michael and for the second time they crossed the line simultaneously. There wer no place changes among the second half of the fleet.

Lap 4, Matt still leads Roger and Rupert again gets ahead of Jazz as Laurence also passes Michael. Further back the fleet stays in the same relative positions with no place changing..

Lap 5 and the top positions remain unchanged but Jamie drops from 8^th to 10^th and Dave moves up one place to 8^th. Leaving Bill.W also in front of Jamie.

Lap 6 , the final lap has Matt in the lead from Roger still followed by Rupert and then Jazz as Michael once more leads 6^th placed Laurence. Zoe, Dave, Bill and Jamie remain 7^th to 10^th.

After applying the handicaps the order is Jazz in first place with matt second, Laurence 3^rd and Roger 4^th. Rupert is 5^th and Michael 6^th.

Results :-

R11

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
LASER	153670	NSSC	Matt Springhall		1088		34.27	0.00.00	1.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		36.20	0.00.03	2.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		OOD		3.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		OOD		3.0
LASER 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		1185		37.40	0.00.09	3.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		36.00	0.01.33	4.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Emily Simmons	1064		36.40	0.02.59	5.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		41.10	0.05.38	6.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		38.42	0.05.25	7.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		36.32	0.05.16	8.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		35.05	0.05.29	9.0
LASER	133416(26)	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		37.00	0.08.17	10.0
TOPPER		NSSC	Bill Hudson		1322		36.12	0.08.18	11.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		39.35	0.11.29	12.0
OTTER	981	NSSC	Colin Cryer		1385		35.16	0.13.20	13.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		DNF		19.0
LASER RADIAL	172305	NSSC	Adam Lansley		1122		DNF		19.0
PICO	No No	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		1335		DNF		19.0
RS VISION	434	Plumpton	Liah Hunter	Daisy Davis	1080		DNF		19.0
PICO	red	NSSC	Sam Turner		1335		DNF		19.0

R12

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	BCE	Points
LASER 4.7	206330	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		1185		36.52	0.00.00	1.0
LASER	153670	NSSC	Matt Springhall		1088		34.32	0.00.41	2.0
STREAKER	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		1146		36.56	0.01.17	3.0
RS 200	285	NSSC	Darren Field	Louise Currell	1051		OOD		3.0
MIRROR	5	NSSC	Stuart Ford		1385		OOD		3.0
LASER	191067	Pevensey Bay	Roger McAll		1088		35.34	0.01.43	4.0
LASER RADIAL	64200	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1122		38.10	0.03.16	5.0
VAGO	808	NSSC	Rupert Smith	Chris Turner/Emily Simmons	1064		36.32	0.03.26	6.0
TOPPER		NSSC	Bill Hudson		1322		38.10	0.03.54	7.0
LASER4.7	2063	NSSC	Jamie Smith		1185		41.10	0.04.18	8.0
RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1051		36.54	0.04.12	9.0
LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1122		39.30	0.04.36	10.0
LASER	133416(26)	NSSC	Bill Wates		1088		40.30	0.06.39	11.0
OTTER	981	NSSC	Colin Cryer		1385		40.10	0.11.26	12.0
AERO 7	1150	Lancing SC	Alan Simmons		1065		DNF		17.0
LASER RADIAL	83663	NSSC	Carolyn Turner		1122		DNF		17.0
PICO	No No	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		1335		DNF		17.0
LASER	85296	NSSC	Sam Turner		1088		DNF		17.0

 

With the breezes starting at about top end four and increasing once racing commenced to a middle five with force six gusts it made for some difficult but exciting sailing. The author was not , by far, the only competitor to capsize or retire ‘hurt’. The safety boat crew, Stuart Ford and Emily Simmons, did some stirling  and hard work helping boats upright and crews back on board.

 

If one could stay vertical, the long reach along the south side, it was particularly invigorating with almost continuous planning conditions. Well done to all who took part and especially to those who completed both races. This coming Sunday looks as though the breeze may be a bit lighter.

Alan.S 1700