Monday 28 January 2019

Streaker Ramblings - NumBum Races 7 & 8 - 27.01.2019

 
Before Breakfast the sky was grey and overcast  and there was a keen breeze at the back of the house. On the way to Piddinghoe the sky started to open up with large patches of blue sky and even some sunshine.
Penny Springall was RO, assisted by Toby Rollestone and with Dave Murley and Geoff Sheridan in the safety boat and she set a course around the shores of the pond, with just the one gybe mark (off the middle of the east bank) missing out only the mark in the south west corner of the pond – off the clubhouse.

Six boats came to the start/finish line, with the shore end just east of the first slipway, away from the clubhouse area, along the south bank – yours truly and Laurence Venus staying firmly on the bankside.


At the gun it was Thomas Harland-Smith (Topper, NSSC) who was first to cross the line on the beat towards the clubhouse. A touch behind but to windward Jonty Freeman (Radial, NSSC) was second away with Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) third and just ahead of Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC). Chris Foster (Laser full rig, Lancing) should have been near the line but realised too late that he had tangle the Kicker and Cunningham controls and failed to sort it out afloat, he subsequently retired.


The last boat in the fleet was that of Ed Rollestone (Topper, NSSC) who was still ashore with a minute and a half to the gun, no sooner afloat than his boat capsized onto the bank. Finally properly afloat, with Dad’s help, he went of towards the wrong mark, had to return and still messed up his start, by which time Jonty had nearly finished his first lap.

 



The wind had started at a good top end force 4 with gusts into force 5 and occasionally force 6! This led to numerous capsizes, although the ‘upside down cup’ was definitely won by the pair in the RS 200 who persisted in flying their Gennaker only to fall over on nearly all laps at the gybe mark. A few gusts also caused ‘dips’ on the reach along the west bank, especially as the boats neared the Fisherman’s Bay area and the gusts' blasted' through.


At the end of the first lap Jonty was in the lead, 12 seconds ahead of Ed.T with Michael and Mike 41 seconds astern. Thomas was fourth and Ed.R fifth. The order remained the same throughout the race as each boat crossed the finishing line each lap.


There were some apparent  place changes between the two Toppers as each in turn spent some time swimming but as Ed was almost a lap behind Thomas, due to his late start, their relative places remained unchanged until the end of the race. The two offwind legs each had some spectacular planes especially for the two leaders.


With Handicaps applied the winner was Jonty with Thomas second, Ed.T third, Ed.R fourth and Michael fifth.

R7

Rank
Class
SailNo
Club
HelmName
CrewName
PY
Elapsed
BCE
Points
1
LASER RADIAL
192842
NSSC
Jonty Freeman
 
1142
40.21
0.00.00
1.0
2
TOPPER
44242
NSSC
Thomas Harland-Smith (C)
 
1358
44.45
0.05.30
2.0
3
FINN
595
NSSC
Ed Thorburn
 
1051
43.11
0.06.03
3.0
3
LASER RADIAL
142208
NSSC
Dave Murley
 
1142
OOD
 
3.0
3
LASER RADIAL
(64200)
NSSC
Geoff Sheridan
 
1142
OOD
 
3.0
6
TOPPER
44422
NSSC
Ed Rollestone
 
1358
40.44
0.10.12
4.0
7
RS 200
582
NSSC
Michael Veale
Mike Rosier
1046
49.58
0.16.22
5.0
8
LASER
171864
Lancing
Chris Foster
 
1098
DNF
 
7.0


The second Race (Race 8) started at 11.30with now just five boats, Chris having packed his boat away.



At the gun the two Toppers, Ed.R and Thomas were first to cross with Jonty below them and Ed.T further down the line and behind.


The RS capsized just before reaching the start line and was consequently way behind by the end of the lap. Ed.T was 17 seconds behind Jonty with Thomas 23 seconds astern of Ed.T with Ed.R fourth and Miichael and Mike over a minute behind.


 

Lap 2 had Ed.T take the lead as Jonty hit the mark in the far south east corner of the pond and have to complete a 360 degree turn but was still just 5 seconds astern at the line. Thomas was third around with Michael having caught and passed Ed.R – while the latter was swimming.


Lap 3 had Ed.T retain his lead and increase it slightly to 10 seconds. Thomas went back a head of Michael who took another dip and Ed.R retired, cold and wet.

 
Lap 4 saw no further place changes but Ed.T moved a triffle further ahead of Jonty to cross the line now 12 seconds in front. Thomas was a good way back with Michael ‘miles’ behind him – more swims – and finishing


Lap 5 the final lap and Ed.T crossed the line in first place 14 seconds astern with Thomas bringing up the rear in third place. After applying the Handicaps Jonty was the winner once more with Thomas again second, Michael third and Ed.T  fourth.

With Handicaps applied Jonty was the winner again  with Thomas second (also again), Ed.T third and Michael fourth.

R8

Rank
Class
SailNo
Club
HelmName
CrewName
PY
Elapsed
BCE
Points
1
LASER RADIAL
192842
NSSC
Jonty Freeman
 
1142
19.36
0.00.00
1.0
2
TOPPER
44242
NSSC
Thomas Harland-Smith (C)
 
1358
24.53
0.01.35
2.0
3
FINN
595
NSSC
Ed Thorburn
 
1051
19.28
0.01.26
3.0
3
LASER RADIAL
142208
NSSC
Dave Murley
 
1142
OOD
 
3.0
3
LASER RADIAL
(64200)
NSSC
Geoff Sheridan
 
1142
OOD
 
3.0
6
RS 200
582
NSSC
Michael Veale
Mike Rosier
1046
23.39
0.09.17
4.0
7
TOPPER
44422
NSSC
Ed Rollestone
 
1358
DNF
 
6.0


Conditions had been very trying, and very cold, really testing the metal of all who took part, most of whom enjoyed their battle with the wind and water. Next Sunday’s forecast, by XCWeather, is currently for a little lighter  breezes but a lot can happen in seven days.

Alan.S 1700
 
PS. If you wish to view any photo at a larger size just double click it.