Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 9 & 10 - 05.02.2017

Overcast, Grey, Damp but not raining and with a bit of breeze as we set off for Piddinghoe and Races 9 & 10 of the Elford Numbum Series.

On arrival there was a good force 3 blowing from the north east. The entry for the day was twelve dinghies – although Penelope Duncan (Laser Radial) had second thoughts and did not go afloat - plus Jazz Sayed with her sailboard. Chas Humphries (Laser full rig) was scheduled for RO and Emma Briggs acted as ARO whilst Tom Taylor (Laser full rig) and Phil Claire crewed the Safety Boat.

A course similar to last week's was set, albeit in the opposite direction and omitting the mark on the east side of the Island – as shown below – and by the time of the start the breeze had moved a bit to the north and increased to a mid force four – planeing was just possible on the reaching legs

The start was a bit ragged, with Roger McCall (Laser full rig) well over the line as was Rupert Smith (Streaker) and Charlie Rigg and they had to return to start correctly. This meant that Chris and Charlie Foster (Laser II) were first to start legally as was Roan Briggs (Topper).

Next away were Dave Murley (Laser Radial) then Bill Wates (Laser full rig). Laurence Venus (Streaker) started close to the pin, pushing Alan Simmons (Streaker) out at the last minute although they were both a good bit behind. Going up the beat, towards the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay Chris led from Dave although Julian Dobson (Laser full rig) was to weather and Charlie not far astern.

With clear air Laurence charged up the beat soon passing Julian and hot on the heels of Chris. By the time the two leading boats were on the broad reach back to the south west corner mark Laurence was 4 seconds ahead of Chris. Julian was lying third ahead of Dave with Rupert 5^th and Alan 6^th. Roger was close behind Alan (by four seconds) at the conclusion of lap 1 and Bill.W lying 8^th (a further four seconds astern) ahead of Geoff Sheridan (Byte original rig). Charle was leading Roan with Jazz at the rear.

Lap 2 saw a continuing scrap between Chris and Laurence with the latter only extending his lead by one second. Rupert overtook Julian and Dave to stand in third position and Roger passed Dave and Alan to lie 5^th. But there were no place changes lower down the fleet.

Lap 3 and Laurence pulled slightly away from Chris (10 seconds at the line). Julian just managed to overtake Rupert to cross the line 3 seconds ahead. But there were no changes behind these two.

Lap 4 and Laurence was still in front of Chris with the distance between them now 20 seconds. Roger now overtook Rupert and Julian as Rupert himself went ahead of Julian once more. Behind them there were no place changes but Dave pulled back a bit of his lead over Alan.

Lap 5 Laurence pulled away a trifle from second placed Chris – the gap at the end of the lap 33 seconds but no places changed behind this pair.Charlie, Roan and Jazz having finished at the end of lap 4. Alan pulled back on his deficit from Dave to cross the line 8 seconds behind.

Lap 6 Laurence had lost a few seconds of his lead over Chris to cross the line 24 seconds ahead. Rupert overtook Roger to cross the line 12 seconds in front  but Dave pulled away from Alan to cross in 6^th place  21 seconds ahead. Geoff brought up the rear behind Bill.W with these two finishing at the end of this lap.

Lap 7 – the final lap had Laurence maintain the lead to finish28 seconds ahead of Chris with Rupert having caught and passed Roger to cross the line 12 seconds ahead. Julian crossed the finish in 5^th place with Dave 10  seconds behind him and with Alan bringing up the tail in 7^th place where he had spent all but the first lap.  With Handicaps applied Laurence was the winner, Rupert second, Dave third, Alan fourth and Roger fifth.         

R9       

Class	H Cap	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Streaker	1137	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		47.20	0.00.00	1.0
Streaker	1137	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		48.35	0.01.15	2.0
Laser Radial	1136	142208	NSSC	David Murley		49.38	0.02.20	3.0
Laser Radial	1136	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		OOD		3.0
Laser	1095	176813		Tom Taylor		OOD		3.0
Streaker	1137	1700	Lancing S C	Alan Simmons		50.00	0.02.40	4.0
Laser	1095	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		48.47	0.03.12	5.0
Laser II	1065	10594	Lancing S C	Chris Foster	Charlie Foster	47.48	0.03.28	6.0
Laser	1095	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		49.28	0.03.53	7.0
Topper 'c'	1341	27531	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		43.25	0.03.32	8.0
Laser	1095	26/133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		44.47	0.05.43	9.0
Topper 'c'	1341	58082	NSSC	Roan Briggs		46.33	0.06.40	10.0
Byte (origl)	1179	671	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		49.33	0.07.29	11.0
Wind Surfer	1080	No No	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		49.46	0.24.04	12.0

Race 10 was held over the same course with the wind having eased a little, to low force four, although the direction was much the same.

 

 

The same eleven boats and Jazz with her sailboard went afloat and at the gun it was Geoff who had his bow first across the line. Chris was next to go with Dave a trifle ahead of Rupert. Laurence was out towards the pin end once more but hidden from the shore by the former noted boats. Alan, well back at the start made up ground on the beat to the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay.

 

Chris was first to round with Rupert next and Laurence third followed by Roger. Roger went ahead of Rupert on the next windward leg – from the mark in the centre of the pond to that near the east shore with Laurence next and Alan not far behind. On the reach up the south shore Rupert and Laurence were having an intense battle with Laurence crossing the line at the end of the lap just one second ahead and with Alan five seconds behind. Julian crossed in 6^th place with Dave next and Bill.W behind him. Geoff was lying 9^th with Charlie next , Roan behind him and Jazz bringing up the tail end.

In Lap2 on the following beat, back to the Fisherman’s Bay mark, both Laurence and Rupert headed for the west shore before tacking back towards the east bank. In their final tack to round the F/Bay mark  Rupert reckoned that he had gained the inside berth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a clash of boats and after further calls from Rupert Laurence did his ‘turns’. Meanwhile Alan snuck into fourth place behind Rupert, Chris and Roger in front of both of them. By the end of the lap Chris was still in the lead some 49 seconds ahead of Roger. Rupert was 32 seconds further back with Alan another four seconds astern and Laurence five seconds behind him. Bill.W passed Dave to lie 7^th and Roan went ahead of Charlie.

 

Lap 3  And Chris continued to lead the fleet with Roger maintaining a similar distance astern. In the Streakers, Laurence went ahead of Alan, to cross the line seven seconds behind Rupert and two seconds ahead of Alan. There were no other place changes further down the fleet, although Roan was pulling away from Charlie having been just 2 seconds in front at the end of Lap 2. Jazz was finished at the end of this lap, by then rather a long way behind the rest of the fleet.

Lap 4 No change at the front, in position or time difference and Laurence closed in on Rupert to cross the line just two seconds astern, Alan dropped back and crossed in 6^th place behind Julian. No more place changes occurred in the rest of the fleet as Roan extended his lead from Charlie to 57 seconds as both of the Toppers were finished along with Geoff on his Byte.

Lap 5, the final lap was led by Chris with Roger behind, now having slipped back a bit so that Rupert had closed in on him, just 7 seconds at the finish line having gained 13 second in the lap. Laurence was still  8 seconds behind Rupert with Julian crossing next. Alan crossed the finish in 6th place with Bill.W in 7^th and Dave in 8^th place.

With Handicaps applied it was Roan who won the race, Rupert second, Laurence third, Charlie fourth and Chris fifth.                                

R10

 

Class	H Cap	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Topper 'c'	1341	58082	NSSC	Roan Briggs		33.12	0.00.00	1.0
Streaker	1137	1681	NSSC	Rupert Smith		35.52	0.00.41	2.0
Streaker	1137	1706	NSSC	Laurence Venus		36.00	0.00.49	3.0
Laser Radial	1136	175741	NSSC	Chas Humphries		OOD		3.0
Laser	1095	176813		Tom Taylor		OOD		3.0
Topper 'c'	1341	27531	NSSC	Charlie Rigg		34.09	0.00.57	4.0
Laser II	1065	10594	Lancing S C	Chris Foster	Charlie Foster	34.12	0.01.14	5.0
Streaker	1137	1700	Lancing S C	Alan Simmons		37.00	0.01.49	6.0
Laser	1095	191067	Pevensey SC	Roger McCall		35.45	0.01.52	7.0
Laser Radial	1136	142208	NSSC	David Murley		37.15	0.02.06	8.0
Laser	1095	7/176670	NSSC	Julian Dobson		36.19	0.02.26	9.0
Laser	1095	26/133416	NSSC	Bill Wates		37.08	0.03.15	10.0
Byte (origl)	1179	671	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		32.19	0.03.08	11.0
Wind Surfer	1080	No No	NSSC	Jazz Sayed		38.41	0.18.38	12.0

 Although a good strength breeze there were no reported capsizes and no gear failures noted. An enjoyable sail for all, with the current forecast for next Sunday a trifle stronger.

 

Extra Crew was spotted aboard the safety boat - wearing a life Jacket as required it should be noted

Alan.S 1700