Freeman Icberg Raqces 9 & 10 - 3/12/2023

 Freeman Iceberg Races 9 & 10 – 3/12/2023

Cold, Grey overcast and a slight breeze on leaving hove, dry though. The forecast was for force 5 to 6 but on arrival there was only a light breeze. Only four boats signed on – others must have read that forecast. However by the time the fleet got afloat the wind was a good bit stronger with some nasty and vicious gusts.

Laurence Venus was RO assisted by Andy Beck with Darrel Topp and Thomas Beck in the safety boat. Laurence set a gybe less ‘x’ shaped course, as below, with the start from the small platform just north of the clubhouse.

Photos by Bett Simmons

At the gun it was Sean Beevers (Laser Radial) who was first away with Alan Simmons (Streaker) next to get off the marks. Bill Wates (Laser Radial) and Will Apps (Quba) were a bit behind but crossed the line together and set off on the short beat to the ‘finish’ mark in the south west corner.

Sean was first to round the corner mark and set off on the run across the pond to the mark off the east shore. Alan followed, but very gingerly, with Bill rapidly closing and Will not far behind. Bill went ahead of Alan on that first downwind leg, Sean being nearly over the horizon. 

Will too went ahead of Alan who was busy spilling wind in the frequent gusts and although Alan went back ahead of him on the final leg to the finish line, he had had enough – surviving is not his idea of enjoyable sailing so he finished the lap and went ashore and packed his boat away- as it happened he was a bit soon as the wind eased off for the second race. 

The order at the end of the lap was Sean first followed by Bill a minute and 54 seconds behind. Alan was third three minutes later and although he crossed the line fourth Will was disqualified for not sailing the correct course.

Lap 2 was lead Sean with Bill behind but suffering at least one capsize with the gap behind increasing to over five minutes and after crossing the line was finished, and disqualified for sailing the wrong course. Alan was by then well ashore but Will continued to sail the course incorrectly, had at least one capsize and had already been disqualified.

Laps 3  was sailed solely by Sean and was finished after 20 minutes and 44 seconds.

The finishing order was Sean first, Bill second and Will third. Due to the disqualifications, Bill and Will, it was unnecessary to apply handicaps.

Results:- 

                                           Race 9 - 3/12/2023

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beavers		1150		20.44	3	0.18.02	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1150		OOD				3.0
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160		OOD				6.2
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150		DSQ				28.0
Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128		RET				28.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	2127834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1150		OOD				28.0

Race 10 had just three boats come to the line as the wind dropped off, much to Alan’s annoyance. Once again it was Sean who was first away with Bill next and finally Will.

Sean completed lap 1 in seven minutes and nine seconds with Bill a minute and 41 seconds later. Will however missed out a mark and was thus not timed for this lap.

Lap 2 had Sean in an unchallenged lead crossing the line a minute and 17 seconds ahead of Bill with Will astern 3 minutes 34 seconds behind. It had been gently raining most of the time but now suddenly there was a real downpour.

Lap 3 Sean continued to pull away from Bill who crossed the line 2 minutes 46 second behind with Will a further five minutes astern.

Lap 4 saw no place changes as Sean made hay at the front some 4 minutes ahead of Bill as Will managed to miss the ODM once more and was finished. Bill was also finished at the end of this lap but Sean had already started lap 5 and was allowed to complete it.

The finishing order was once again Sean first, Bill second and Will third. Again as the the fleet was spread over such large intervals it was unecessary to apply handicaps. A glance at the column BCE confirms why.

Results:-

Race 10 - 3/12/2023

 

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beavers		1150		33.11	5	0.28.51	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150		30.18	4	0.32.56	0.03.45	2.0
Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260		27.37	2	0.54.48	0.13.04	3.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1150		OOD				3.0
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160		OOD				6.2
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	2127834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1150		OOD				28.0

 

It would seem that entries at Piddinghoe were so few due to the forecast – which was partly correct and partly not. However it should be noted that Lancing SC were due to hold their last race of the season and had 6 and 7 foot breakers on the shore which meant no one could go afloat. The XC Weather outlook for next Sunday is a tiny bit less than for this.

Alan S 1832