Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Race 15 - 26.12.2016

Blue Sky and Sun, almost clear of cloud – just high whisps – and a light breeze as we left home for the 15^th (programmed) race on Boxing Day morning.

As he had to score the race and then work out the overall results, Laurence Venus had taken on the duty of RO for this last race of the series. With Bill Giles and Penny Springall in the safety boat he set a complex course, as shown below, with a start to windward – just. The breeze was a good top end force three, coming from the west with a touch of north.

 

The keen starters assembled, with just a few seconds to the gun, close to the mark at the pin end of the line. At the gun Matt Springall (Laser full rig) was first away with Dave Murley (Laser Radial) next to cross the line a little behind and to leeward. Next to go was Rupert Smith (Streaker) who found some breeze from quite well back and powered through passing Alan Simmons (Streaker) who was just to windward of Charlie Rigg (Topper).

 

The first leg, from the start near the middle slipway on the south shore, to a mark off the clubhouse – not the one right in the south west corner – was almost possible to make in one tack. And Matt was first to round with Michael Veale and Mike Rosier in the RS200 second, Dave third and Rupert fourth.

The next leg was a tight fetch to a mark off the Fisherman’s Bay where the mark required a gybe. This was a tricky area with some very nasty gusts coming out of the bay and almost put Matt in the water, he recovered from a very dubious gybe to maintain his position at the head of the fleet.

The next leg back towards the clubhouse was a slightly broader leg but still a bit too close for Michael to fly his gennaker properly and Dave and Rupert passed him. By the time they reached the mark off the clubhouse Rupert was also ahead of Dave. There was another gybe at this mark as all set off for a mark off the middle of the east shore and yet another gybe there before a fast reach to a mark on the far side of the Island. The lap conclude with a long beat up from the South east mark along the southern shore. Again the leg needed but a short hitch to port to make the top mark. The positons at the end of the lap were Matt 1^st, Rupert 2^nd 13 seconds astern, Michael 3^rd, Dave 4^th, Julian 5^th and Alan 6^th. Next in 7^th place was Chris Rosier (Laser Radial), Chas Humphries (Laser full rig) 8^th, Charlie 9^th, Penelope Duncan (Laser Radial) 10^th, Roan Briggs (Topper) 11^th, Richard Beal (Laser Radial) 12^th, Harvey Jenkins (Oppie) 13^th and Toby Holmes 14^th.

Lap 2 saw a few more ‘dips’ – there was one at least even before the start of the race. Matt stayed ahead of Rupert by nine seconds and Michael held on to third place but now 30 seconds behind Rupert as Alan passed both Dave and Julian to lie fourth. Behind those two Chas had gotten ahead of Chris.R with Roan going up to lie 9^th ahead of Penelope and Charlie . Richard stayed in 12^th place in spite of a dip and Toby went ahead of last placed Harvey.

 

Lap 3 As Matt and Rupert came to round the mark off the clubhouse a call for water from Rupert did not achieve a lot of room from Matt and he ‘fell in the water’. He soon recovered but Matt had pulled away and extended his lead over Rupert  (to 45 seconds). Michael also closed up on Rupert  but was still half a minute adrift. Alan lost out on a tack close to the clubhouse when he lost the wind and Julian went into fourth place. Dave also passed Alan at this point. Chris.R went back ahead of Chas  and Penelope overtook Roan as Richard also went ahead of Charlie now 12^th. Toby drew well ahead of Harvey who finished at the end of this lap.

Lap 4 and Matt continued to pull away from Rupert but with Michael unable to make any gain behind him. Alan, still behind Julian and Dave, suffered a knock-down as a large gust caught him at the gybe off the Fisherman’s Bay.

Although he eventually righted the boat he was unable to reach in for the toe straps and pull himself aboard. With the safety boat alongside he was initially unable to get onto that either but finally made it and quickly got back on the Streaker. Once sailing again he decided to call it a day and headed for the shore. At the end of the lap Penelope was lying 7^th behind Roan having passed Chris.R and Chas. Richard had also made big gains now lying 8^th with Chas dropping back to lie 9^th and Charlie 10th as Chris.R dropped to 11^th (capsize?) with Toby 12^th and finishing at the end of the lap.

Lap 5 Matt continued in the lead, 76 seconds ahead of Rupert at the end of the lap, with Michael not making any gains on either of them. Dave went ahead of Julian (another capsize?) as Roan, Penelope and Richard remained in the same relative positions as in the previous lap. Both Charlie and Chris.R went back ahead of Chas (another dip?).

Lap 6 was down to just five boats, the others having already finished. There were no place changes but Matt had now pulled out a two minute lead from Rupert with Michael thirty five seconds behind him. Dave and Julian were having a battle to the finish with just twelve seconds separating them at the line.

For some reason Laurence made Matt do another lap but this did not have any bearing on the results once the handicaps had been applied. Matt was the winner, Rupert second, Roan 3^rd and Dave 4^th.

R15

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Class	H Cap	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Laser	1095	153570	NSSC	Matt Springall		41.00	0.00.00	1.0
Streaker	1137	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		36.42	0.00.13	2.0
Topper 'c'	1341	58082	NSSC	Roan Briggs		36.07	0.00.15	3.0
Laser Radial	1136	142208	NSSC	David Murley		38.43	0.02.15	4.0
Topper 'c'	1341	27531	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		38.43	0.02.51	5.0
RS 200	1047	582	NSSC	Micheal Veale	Mike Rosier	36.55	0.03.19	6.0
Oppie 'c'	1665	6232	NSSC	Toby Holmes		39.13	0.03.36	7.0
Laser	1095	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		38.45	0.03.36	8.0
Laser Radial	1136	81	NSSC	Penelope Duncan		36.14	0.05.51	9.0
Laser Radial	1136	43382	NSSC	Richard Beal		37.35	0.07.12	10.0
Laser Radial	1136	66163	NSSC	Chris Rosier		40.11	0.09.48	11.0
Laser	1095	138193	NSSC	Chas Humphries		40.17	0.11.00	12.0
Oppie'c'	1665	6019	NSSC	Harvey Jenkins		37.20	0.10.37	13.0
Streaker	1137	1700	Lancing S C	Alan Simmons		DNF		15.0

The overall results for the series clearly show that it was very tight contest. The Winner by just half of one point was Tiger Cox (Topper) - 24.5 points, second place went to Rupert Smith - 25 points, Third place was earned by Ed Thorburn – 25 points (did not sail the last race) and fourth place to Alan Simmons – 26 points. For details and all other results go to the NSSC web Site via this link:- http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2016/freeman13.htm

The Cadets race for a separate trophy which this year was won by Harvey Jenkins (Oppie) with Charlie Rigg (Topper) second, Roan Briggs (Topper) third and Harry Quinn (Oppie) fourth

For the full Cadet results use this link :- http://www.nssc.org.uk/cms/images/nsscdocs/results/2016/cadwint12a.htm

Alan.S 1700

PS. Good weather all through the series with only one Sunday blown off. At times the breeze could have been a tiny bit stronger but light conditions demand the maximum concentration and feel for the zyphrs.

Sunday next is the New Years Day Race – a stand alone event – which starts at 2.00 pm (1400 hours) just to let one get over the hangover  from the previous evening.

Sunday , the week after, the Elford Numbum series kicks off – 10.30am starts are declared at this time!