Elford NumBum Race 9 & 10 - 4/2/2024

 

Elford NumBum Races 9 & 10 – 4/2/2024

Overcast with high light grey cloud and a stiff breeze, none too warm either, as we left Poplar Avenue for the pond at Piddinghoe. On arrival there was some activity with a few boats rigged on the South Bank.

Judd Bramah was RO assisted by Andy Beck and with Darrel Topp and Stuart Terry in the safety boat. With the wind from the southwest at about force four Judd set an x shaped course, as shown below, with  the start line from the east of the second slipway down the south bank. The first leg was a short beat to a mark in the south west corner of the pond followed by a run across to a mark off the middle of the east bank.

                                Photographs by Bett Simmons

Unfortunately Bett’s camera malfunctioned and thus there are no pictures of the start and most of the first lap and thus the writer has to rely on the record on the lap sheet. However to add to the ‘story’ both Alan Simmons (Streaker) and Jo Bruggenworth (Laser Radial) went afloat and decided that, as the wind had strengthened with very heavy gusts, Racing was not for them at least in the first race.

The area to the south of the Island saw a batch of capsizes with Bill Wates (Laser Radial) and Matt Springall (Laser Radial) both taking a dip, to be shortly followed by Will Apps (Quba). At the end of the first lap Sean Beevers (Laser Radial) was in the lead 10 seconds ahead of Ed Thorburn (Finn) with Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) in third place. Matt, having led the fleet early on was now in 4^th place, swimming not having helped. Dave Murley (Laser Radial) was 5^th, Bill 6^th and Will 7^th.

Lap 2 and Sean had stretched out to lie 48 seconds ahead of Ed with Michael 3^rd 17 seconds astern. Matt was by then 26 second further back in 4^th place still. Dave, Bill and Will remained in that order.

Lap 3 Sean continued to pull away from Ed, now a minute 27 seconds in the lead with Michael a tad further behind and just 4 seconds ahead of Matt. There were no place changes between the three other boats.

Lap 4 and no place changes at the front but Ed cut down Sean’s lead to 20 seconds as Matt went ahead of Michael by the same amount. Again no place changes behind the top four boats.

Lap 5 Sean appears to have stretched out again ahead of Ed whilst Matt retained third place ahead of Michael. Again there were no place changes behind and Will was finished here.

Lap 6 Sean was first across the line a minute and a half ahead of Ed with Matt still ahead of Michael and Dave ahead of Bill who was then finished.

Lap 7 the final lap had Sean cross the line a minute 10 seconds in font of Ed. Matt was third, Michael fourth and Dave fifth.

With the calculations done the winner of the race was Sean with Matt second, Ed third, Dave fourth and Bill fifth.

Results:-

Race 9 - 04/02/2024

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1150	43.24	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Matt Springall		1150	48.03	0.04.39	2.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	44.34	0.04.59	3.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1150	51.26	0.08.02	4.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150	45.29	0.08.17	5.0
Menagerie		RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	48.32	0.09.03	6.0
Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260	43.47	0.09.49	7.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128	DNS		9.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	164421	NSSC	Jo Bruggenworth		1150	DNS		9.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	217834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1150	OOD		20.4
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160	OOD		26.4

Race 10 was to be sailed over the same course, with the wind possibly a trifle weaker, enough for Alan to hoist sail again and go afloat.

Once again the camera failed at the start but those closest to the south bank, Matt, Sean and Ed, were better off whilst Michael was just ahead of Alan close to the pin end mark. Bill, Dave and finally Will set off from the middle of the start line. 

On rounding the windward mark Sean and Matt went left down the run with Ed further to the right. Ed was first to the mark off the east bank with Matt next and then Sean. 

On the beat back up the south shore Sean and Matt were in close contention, to the point where Matt nearly capsized on to of him, recovering to set off down the run. The order at the end of the lap was Ed in first place with Sean second, Matt third, Michael fourth, Bill fifth, Dave sixth, Will seventh and Alan eighth. Jo did not go afloat for this race and Alan decided against continuing here and retired ashore.

 

Lap 2 with Ed in the lead there were no place changes as Sean and Matt vied for second place with just 12 seconds between them.

 

Lap 3 more of the same with Ed in top spot, with Sean 30 second astern and Matt9 seconds behind him. The order behind remained unchanged from laps 1 and 2.

Lap 4 the fleet remained as in the previous laps with Sea now 8 seconds behind Ed and Matt 30 seconds further back. Bill went ahead of Michael with Dave behind them and Will last man standing and being finished here.

 

Lap 5 Ed crossed the line 16 seconds in front of Sean with Matt 40 seconds behind. Michael regained his lead over Bill, by 13 seconds. Dave decided he had had enough and retired ashore.

Lap 6 and the order remained unchanged with Ed first across the finish line followed Sen 17 seconds later and then Matt 29 seconds later. Michael crossed in 4^th place with Bill behind him.

With the results calculated the winner of the race was Sean, with Matt second, Ed third Bill fourth  and Michael 5^th.

Resuts:-

                                                Race 10 - 04/02/2024

 

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	46237	NSSC	Sean Beevers		1150	33.32	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Matt Springall		1150	34.01	0.00.29	2.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	33.15	0.02.40	3.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	26	NSSC	Bill Wates		1150	38.20	0.04.48	4.0
Menagerie		RS 200		NSSC	Michael Veale	Mike Rosier	1046	37.57	0.07.27	5.0
Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260	42.00	0.17.30	6.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128	RET		8.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1150	RET		8.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	217834	NSSC	Darrel Topp		1150	OOD		20.4
Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160	OOD		26.4

 

It had been two very tying/tiring and hard fought races with plenty of thrills and spills with lots of energy used (and plenty of swimming) but none the less fun for all (nearly all) those racing. If the weather follows its current course the breeze will be lighter for next Sunday11th Feb – more to the writer’s liking. Whatever come down to Piddinghoe to watch or sail.

Alan.S 1832

PS. There were three or four Wingsailors active on the pond near the east bank and Bett.S took some photos some of which will be 'posted' on the Piddinghoe clubhouse boards - please take!