Freeman Iceberg Races 11 & 12 - 10/12/2023

 

Freeman Iceberg 2023 – Races 11 & 12

Grey overcast, Dry and a slight breeze – instead of the 20+ knots forecast – as we left Hove for Piddinghoe. On arrival it seemed fine with a slight breeze. Whilst changing Bill Wates came in with the news that  the breeze was increasing. After unpacking the boat and rigging it still seemed a possibility for the writer.

Laurence in his usual guise as RO set yet another ‘X’ shaped course with the start from the small jetty north of the clubhouse with the finish from the clubhouse to a mark in the southwest corner - no gybes were included!

                                    Photographs by Bett Simmons

At the gun Rupert Smith (Laser Radial) was first away close to the pin end mark, Second off was Sean Beevers (Laser Radial) a little to weather but a little behind. Third to start was Alan Simmons(Streaker) followed by Bill Wates (Laser Radial). Then it was Andy Beck (Ligthning) followed by son Thomas  (Laser Radial).

After the short first leg there was a run to a mark off the middle of the east Shore.  Sean went ahead of Rupert whilst Alan followed  some way astern – and as he put it barely in control due to the frequent massive gusts experienced. Whilst Bill was a bit further behind Alan Thomas was soon ahead of Andy on this leg.

Rupert gained an inside berth approaching that east bank mark and was first off towards the mark in the south east corner, beyond the Island. The order was retained on the next – ‘screaming’ reach across to the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay. Rupert and Sean were having their own battle  but up the beat to the finish line Rupert stayed ahead. Alan was overtaken by Bill up this leg as Thomas stayed ahead of Andy.

Lap 2 had Rupert still having a battle with Sean but staying ahead to cross the line 18 seconds ahead. Alan was still not comfortable on the leg to the east bank and even less so on the final beat back along the west bank as Thomas overtook him but having missed the ODM decided to retire. Alan decided that ‘survival’ conditions were not to his liking and retired ashore but in anticipation that last weeks wind drop between race might happen again just lowered his sail.

Lap 3 saw Rupert continuing to hold the lead from Sean -  by 19 seconds – with Bill further back some 3 minutes later and Andy crossed the line another two minutes later.

Lap 4 and Rupert continued to hold off any challenge from Sean hitting the line  27 seconds ahead. Bill was still third and Andy fourth and not making any gain. The latter pair were finished at the end of the lap.

Lap 5 and only Rupert and Sean were still racing, until Sean had a capsize, got his mast stuck  in the pond mud and had to be freed by the safety boat. Having gotten the boat taking the second place gun about three and a half minutes later.

Calcs done with handicap applied the result was Rupert 1^st, Sean 2^nd, Bill 3^rd and Andy 4^th.

Results:-

Race 11 - 10/12/2023

 

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	179808	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1150		29.40	5	0.25.48	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beavers		1150		33.23	5	0.29.02	0.03.43	2.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150		28.00	4	0.30.26	0.04.16	3.0
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160		32.31	4	0.35.02	0.08.35	4.0
Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				5.0
Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128		RET				31.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	176742	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1150		RET				31.0
Menagerie		BYTE CII		NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		OOD				31.0
Menagerie	The Final Bash	STREAKER	1832	LANCING	Alan Simmons		1128		RET				31.0
Menagerie		BYTE CII		NSSC	Geoff Sheridan		1144		OOD				31.0

 

Race 12 was to be sailed over the same course with the wind having appeared to drop off a mite – the writer thinks this was actually the calm area in the south west corner.

Alan none the less rigged and launched but  collided with Andy, whom he had not seen and then  capsized. Of  course the mast went down into the mud and he was unable to get it upright. After what seemed like an age the safety boat arrived and Mike and Geoff managed to right it and pull him back on board. By the time he was in control again the start sequence had concluded. As he found out later, just to add to the agro, his wrist/starting watch had disappeared.

Being nowhere near the start line for the beginning of race 12 the starting order is impossible to be sure of but it is believed that Sean got the better of Rupert, and after the initial short beat, led down the leg toward the east bank. Just to make everything a bit more interesting it had begun to rain steadily. At the end of the first lap Sean crossed the line 25 seconds ahead of Rupert with Thomas next, then Bill and lastly Andy.

Lap 2 Sean continued to hold the lead from Rupert crossing 23 seconds ahead with Thomas next five seconds ahead of Bill and with  two minutes later.

Lap 3 Sean pulled away from Rupert to cross the line 46 seconds ahead with Bill back ahead of Thomas and Andy still in the rear and being finished here.

Lap 4, the final lap with Rupert struggling to catch Sean saw his luck change as the latter capsized again and got his mast in the pond mud having to be freed by the safety boat. Having gotten the boat upright again he continued to sail the rest of the lap taking the second place gun about 5 minutes later.

Maths done the result was Rupert 1^st, Thomas 2^nd, Bill 3^rd Sean 4^th and Andy 5^th.

Results:-                                 Race 12 - 10/12/2023

 

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Finish	Elapsed	Laps	Corrected	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	179808	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1150		24.03	4	0.20.55	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER 4.7	No No	NSSC	Thomas Beck		1210		26.50	4	0.22.11	0.01.32	2.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150		27.04	4	0.23.32	0.03.01	3.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beavers		1150		29.52	4	0.25.58	0.05.49	4.0
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160		38.04	4	0.32.49	0.13.48	5.0
Menagerie	Hot Toddy	RS 200	582	NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046		OOD				5.0

To say that it was a vigorous pair of races it to somewhat understate the conditions existing. There were not too many capsizes but those that did happen had quite an effect on the results - especially race 12. The writer will not speculate - nor list the forecast - for next Sunday. He recommends that all just turn up - to race or watch will give you some interesting sailing come what may.

Alan.S 1832

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