Elford NumBum Races 9 & 10 - 23/01/2022

Elford Nunbum Races 9 & 10 – 23.1.2022.

Bright and Sunny but with no breeze as we left for Piddinghoe this morning. On arrival there was not much more in the way of wind – the forecast had been for 3 to 5 mph – but a few boats were getting ready to take to the water. In the end there were 13 boats that came to the start line.

Michael Veale was RO for the day, assisted by A Borradaile, with Mike Rosier and S Hamilton in the safety boat. Michael, in spite of an almost complete lack of breeze, set a course around the outside of all the marks in the pond with the start and finish from the west bank near the board sailors ramp – as below.

Photos by Bett Simmons

At the gun first to cross the line was Ed Thorburn (Finn) at the shore end , with Thomas Beck (Topper) next to go. Thomas Harland-Smith (Laser Radial) was on a par with them and Duncan McDonald (Streaker)  was level with Alan Simmons (Streaker). Lorien McDonald (Oppy) , near the pin end was tucked away but on a par with this group.  

On the windward leg it was Thomas H-S who made it first to the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay with Duncan close on his stern and thirdly Ed.T two or three lengths behind and Alan somewhat further back. 

By the end of this first lap Duncan had pulled out ahead of Thomas H- who was pipped to the post by Ed.T with Alan in fourth spot. Julian was 5^th to cross the line with Geoff Sheridan (Byte CII) 6^th, Lewis Johns (Laser full rig) 7^th, Dave Murley (Laser Radial)  8^th, Andy Beck (Laser Radial) 9^th, Lorien 10^th, Thomas.B 11^th, Alisdair Fortune (Laser Radial) 12^th ad Darrel Topp (Laser full rig) 13^th. With the very light and very variable direction of the breeze the two windward legs were extremely difficult in this and all the subsequent laps.

Lap two saw Duncan leading Ed.T and these two pulling away from Alan now a full minute behind Ed.T, Alan having overtaken Thomas H-S. Following Thomas H-S Julian, Geoff and Lewis retained their relative positions as Andy got ahead of Dave. The rear group, Lorien, Thomas.B, Alsidair and Darrel stayed in their previous lap positions.

Lap 3 has Ed.T still unable to pass Duncan and pulling further ahead of 3^rd placed Alan who in turn pulled away from Thomas H-S with Julian also slipping back a bit. Lewis went ahead of Geoff with no changes back down the fleet but with with Darrel remaining in last place and being finished.

Lap 4 and the tussel between Duncan and Ed.T continued with the gap opening up in Duncan’s favour but the pair still increasing their lead over 3^rd placed Alan. Thomas H-S dropped two places as Julian and Lewis passed him and Andy went ahead of Geoff. Dave and Lorien retained their relative positions but Alisdair passed Thomas.B and were finished.

Lap 5 had Duncan cross the line, still in the lead and Ed.T now just 9 seconds behind. Alan also closed up the gap to cross 40 seconds behind Ed.T with Lewis next, having overtaken Thomas H-S, next came Andy. Julian dropped back to 7^th with Geoff behind him.

The calculated results credited Lorien McDonald with the race win with dad Duncan McDonald second, Alan Simmons 3^rd, Lewis Johns 4^th and Andy Beck 5^th.

Results:-                         Race 9 - 30/01/2022 at 10.30

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie		OPTIMIST	6497	NSSC	Lorien McDonald		1642		47.54	4	0.36.28	0.00.00	1.0
2	Menagerie	Chops	STREAKER	2102	NSSC	Duncan McDonald		1128		41.53	5	0.37.08	0.00.45	2.0
3	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		43.14	5	0.37.42	0.01.25	3.0
4	Menagerie		STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		42.42	5	0.37.51	0.01.34	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		43.02	5	0.39.07	0.02.55	5.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Andy Beck		1147		45.48	5	0.39.56	0.03.59	6.0
7	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		42.02	5	0.40.04	0.03.47	7.0
8	Menagerie		BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		47.02	5	0.41.07	0.05.19	8.0
9	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147		38.55	4	0.42.25	0.05.27	9.0
10	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		46.41	5	0.42.26	0.06.34	10.0
11	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		51.35	4	0.47.14	0.11.46	11.0
12	Laser Hull	Yellow Tak	LASER	85185	NSSC	Alisdair Fortune		1100		47.59	4	0.54.32	0.15.54	12.0
13	Laser Hull		LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1100		38.05	3	0.57.42	0.14.01	13.0
14	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				42.0

                         After a coffee break, race 10 was sailed over the same course. The breeze had shifted a little but it had not increased in strength nor steadiness in direction.

At the gun Ed.T was first away and immediately tacked off on port, in the hope of finding a bit of puff nearer the middle of the pond. Alan was second away and also tacked off whilst Dave and Thomas H-S stayed on port along-side one another. 

It was Thomas H-S who finally rounded the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay at the front of the fleet with Alan behind him and Ed.T behind Alan. You can see from the reflections in the water just how little breeze there was. By the end of the windward leg up the south side of the pond Ed.T was in the lead with Alan lying second, both having passed Thomas H-S, as had Geoff. Julian was in 5^th place with Lewis behind him, Andy in 7^th, Alisdair 8^th, Dave 9^th, Thomas.B 10^th and Darrel 11^th. Duncan and Lorien did not compete in this race.

Lap 2 had Ed.T leading Alan with Thomas H-S back in third place having overtaken Geoff. There were no other changes in the order down to 9^th placed Dave but Darrel went into 10^th place ahead of Thomas.B.

Lap 3 whilst Ed.T held the lead Alan had a massive loss, down to 5^th as Geoff went into second place and Lewis into fourth on the leg along the south shore. Julian also dropped back to lie 6^th. There were no place changes further back in the fleet.

Lap 4 saw Ed.T retain the lead from Geoff as Lewis went ahead of Thomas H-S with Alan still holding on to 5^th place ahead of Julian and held on to 7^th as Dave went ahead of Alisdair who remained ahead of Darrel, Thomas.B having been finished.

Lap 5 and the fleet was now down to 6 boats still racing. Ed.T crossed the line in first place with Geoff 2^nd 63 seconds behind, Lewis was 3rd, Thomas H-S 4^th, Julian 5^th  ahead of last placed Alan.

With the results calculated the race was credited to Geoff Sheridan with Thomas Harland-Smith 2^nd, Ed Thorburn 3^rd, Alan Simmons 4thand Lewis Johns 5^th.

Results:-                                          Race 10 - 30/01/2022 at 11.45

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
1	Menagerie		BYTE CII	2623	NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		53.29	5	0.46.45	0.00.00	1.0
2	Laser Hull	Calimity	LASER RADIAL	72341	NSSC	Thomas Harland-Smith		1147		56.14	5	0.49.02	0.02.37	2.0
3	Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049		52.22	5	0.49.55	0.03.19	3.0
4	Menagerie		STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128		56.47	5	0.50.20	0.04.03	4.0
5	Laser Hull		LASER	179808	NSSC	Lewis Johns		1100		55.48	5	0.50.44	0.04.22	5.0
6	Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1100		56.30	5	0.51.22	0.05.04	6.0
7	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Andy Beck		1147		51.43	4	0.56.22	0.08.49	7.0
8	Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147		53.03	4	0.57.49	0.10.09	8.0
9	Laser Hull	Yellow Tak	LASER	85185	NSSC	Alisdair Fortune		1100		53.42	4	1.01.01	0.12.34	9.0
10	Menagerie		TOPPER	47124	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1365		51.59	3	1.03.28	0.13.42	10.0
11	Laser Hull		LASER	217834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1100		56.49	4	1.04.34	0.15.41	11.0
12	Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				42.0

 

Not perfect conditions by any means, lots of holes in what little breeze there was and massive shifts meaning that places could be gained or lost at the drop of a hat, note the steam/smoke from the Incinerator.  It was bright and sunny and a bit on the cold side but it did mean that everyone competing had a sail. The forecast, at this moment, for next Sunday is looking the exact opposite with WSW direction and Force 5 (18-19 knots) but things can and do change, wait for the day!

They rarely get a mention but thanks must be made for the sterling work in the galley, namely Mary Harland and Michelle Smith, who provide sustenance in all weathers.

Alan.S 1832