Streaker Ramblings - Weston SC Streaker Open 22nd May 2011

In the middle of the night there were several almighty gusts of wind- nearly strong enough to knock us out of bed in our'Penthouse' suite. The morning looked a bit kinder with a fiar bit of blue sky but as we set off for the Solent I was rather doubtfull that I would go afloat today. The tops of the trees were bending almost to the ground. On arrival at the club we spotted at least one other Streaker, hitched to a rather large wagon that I did not recognise. A qiuck dash to the clubhouse - for a bit of light relief - found quite a few bodies there already.
Saturday had been the first of what was to be a two day event for Lasers, Supernovas, Lightnings and Europes - as we were to learn later they all managed three races in a nice top end force 3.
So there was yours truely, Gary Hogan from Haversham SC  and Helen Audsley from Hill Head SC and like the rest assembled no one was that keen to sail. The reports were for gust up to 30 knots and the steadier breeze of 17/18 knots. Using my hand held device I registerd up to 15 knots at the sea end of the slipway adjacent to the clubhouse. Shortly after 12 noon the race officer, have taken a straw poll, decided that there would be no sailing and that other than waiting for the Saturday's racing prizes, we could all go home.
There were quite a few yachts going up and down Southampton water

 - including this tall ship - quite a large proportion under foresail only. On reaching Lancing  SC - to repark the boat - we learned that there had been no sailing either in the Laser Open planned for the day.
Hopefully we shall have more suitable weather for the next meet on the Calandar at Ouse ASC.
Alan.S 1700

Streaker Ramblings - Bough Beech SC 26.03.2011

Sorry that this is a bit late coming but apart from failing to bring home the results on the day we have been off on the Trent & Mersey canal for a week’s break – even got suntanned!

There was a grey overcast sky and no breeze as we set off from Hove, on 26th March, to take the ‘country’ route up to Bough Beech for the opening Streaker Southern Area Paddle event. On arrival, for this meeting held in conjunction with a Laser event, we found seven other Streakers present – Ian Bradley (Ouse ASC) finally arrived, just in the nick of time. There was just the hint of a breeze blowing from the launching area straight across the lake – east to west – with the committee boat moored on the far side. A slightly strange course was laid with an initial beat followed by a short run back towards the start - but short of it – then a further beat and two reaches.

Most of the nine strong Streaker fleet started towards the port end of the line but Alan Simmons(Lancing SC) was at the committee boat end and tacked off on the starboard side of the beat to arrive at the top mark just ahead of Frank Catt (Downs SC). Unfortunately he then headed for the wrong mark at the end of the run - the real one was partly obscured by Lasers on their way back up to the top mark - and ended up losing three places from which he never recovered. Ian Bradley ended up chasing Frank Catt and Veronica.Falat (W&OB YC) who had all slipped through Alan.S. Ian.B eventually caught and passingFrank C and Veronica.F to take first place across the line at the conclusion of two laps – this after recovering from a capsize and inversion when he got caught up in his mainsheet.

Race 2, back to back, started with Ian.B taking an early lead and pulling away from Veronica.F who was having her own tusssle with Alan.S. Frank.C meanwhile had an early case of 720 degree turns and then got caught out by the wind shifts finishing in 5th place behind Steve Garrett (BBSC). It was ian who took top spot once more.
Race 3, after a break for lunch and in little better breeze, was delayed whilst the somewhat over anxious Lasers had a general recall and they had to re-start before the Streaker fleet. Ian.B soon took the lead followed by Frank.C just ahead of Veronica.F. Matthew Whitield (Tamworth) slipped in to 4th spot with Alan.S left in 5th in the very slightly stronger breeze.

These three races constituted the Paddle races but there was to be a fourth race back to back with the third and yet again it was Ian.B who soon took and held the lead to the finish. Second and third places were hot contested between Frank.C and Veronica.F who finished in that order whilst Ian Whitfield (Tamworth) took 4th place ahead of son Matthew and Steve.G leaving Alan.S to plod home in 7th.
It had been a pleasant if somewhat trying day with very shifty conditions which left the two remaining competitiors, Jeremey Daniel(BBSC) and Gary Hogan (HavershamSC), somewhat adrift at the back of the fleet although Jeremy.D did get a 5th place in the first race of the day.

Results:-
1st. Ian Bradley, 2nd, Frank Catt, 3rd Veronica Falat, 4th Alan Simmons, 5th Matthew Whitfield, 6th Steve Garrett, 7th Ian Whitfield, 8th Jeremy Daniel, 9th Gary Hogan.

My next report/blog should have been for Tamworth on 9th of April but we did not attend, being not too far away but on the canal near Burton on Trent. You should find a report on the Streaker web site or on the Yachts and Yachting site (http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=156554)
Alan.S 1700
PS. Rooster Sailing are sponsoring the Southern Area Paddle series and a new sail is to be won in the free lottery for which a ticket is given to each competitor in each race sailed – the more races sailed the greater the chance of winning.
The next event on the Southern Calendar is Weston SC (Southampton Water) on Sunday 22nd May – watch this space.

Elford Numbum Race 9 -27-02-2011

Bluish Skies with 80% high grey clouds, not very warm in a Norterly breeze as we headed off to Piddinghoe for the final race of this year’s Numbum series.
Kay set the course, in a breeze of force 2 to 3, with the first leg along the northern side of the pond (more like a close fetch) to a turning buoy in the north east corner – by the bay – followed by a run to the south of the Island. Turning the mark there it was a beat back towards the north east and turning that mark it was off, east of the Island to the south east corner. From there to the finish it was a beat – one legged for the most close winded boats.
With the start in the shadow of the club room it was a bit ragged at the gun, only Roger McAll (Laser full rig- NSSC) was actually going in the correct direction and carrying enough momentum. Next off was Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) and then , a little to windward, Michael Veale and Mike Rosier in their RS200 (NSSC). Bill Wates (NSSC), sailing a full rig Laser for a change was next ahead of Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) and bringing up the rear was Chas Humphries (NSSC) sailing his Laser also with a changed rig – the Radial one this time.

Paul.R had a lot of catching up to do and it was not until lap 4 that he finally caught and passed the leader Roger.Mc. In the meanwhile Darren.F was having a battle royal with Michael.V in the RS 200 – using his spinnaker on the two downwind legs – first one then the other ahead until lap 5 when Darren began to pull away.
The pair at the rear were also having a bit of a ding dong with Bill ahead of Chas initially, being passed in lap 3 and then losing out again on the following lap.
Having passed Roger, Paul began to pull away at the front of the fleet but in the final lap his mainsheet block decided it had had enough and pulled out of it’s swivel fitting on the deck. This slowed Paul down quite a bit but he just managed to hold Roger off at the finish. Next home was Darren with Michael a little way behind, then Chas and finally Bill. No capsizes in this race although there were a couple of near misses but not from Bill this time, so that Alan.S in the safety boat had little to do.

Result (Preliminary/Unofficial) :-

1st. Paul Ryan, 2nd. Roger McAll, 3rd. Darren Field, 4th. Michael Veale, 5th.
Chas Humphries, 6th. Bill Wates,

At the prize giving which followed the racing it was Alan Simmons (Steaker – Lancing SC) who took the overall 1st Prize – the Elford Numbum Trophy - ahead of Paul Ryan in 2nd and third place went to Michael Veale who just pipped Bill Wates.

Bill, who ended out of main the prize list was a very worthy competitor (and Novice), having entered all nine races, only missing out a position in one when he failed to cross the finish line in error. Was awarded the RO’s special Trophy for his valliant efforts.

Our gratefull thanks were expressed to Kay our indefatigable (and long suffering) Race Officer (and Time Keeper) for her sterling efforts every week – since the beginning of last November - and she was presented with a floral tribute and a bottle of wine.
So that is the end of racing at Piddinghoe until next November. This series, unlike the pre Christmas Freeman Iceberg, had been Ice free, no races lost to foul wind or weather although some what stiffer breezes in the majority of races.

Alan.S 1700

PS. Those of you who have been kind enough to read my incessant spiels may be pleased to know that you are in for a short break – until the Streaker Southern Area Opens start with a meeting at Bough Beech in late March.
This blogsite was started initially, to cover my exploits/visits to away ‘games’ on the Streaker circuit to keep his fellow members at Lancing SC aware that there was life beyond the club boundaries.It seemed appropriate, however, to incorporate the summer and winter events at NSSC that he visited each year.

Elford Numbum Race 8 - 20.02.2011

Totally grey and fully overcast as we left Hove this morning. The Seaford Windguru was forecasting an easterly force 3 to 4 and for once this proved to be the case on arrival at Piddinghoe. It was cold but it stayed dry through the racing.
The course, starting at the twin buoys off the clubhouse consisted of an initial beat to the north east corner thence off on a run to the southern side of the Island. Following this there was a second beat, leaving the Island to starboard, to a mark towards the north east corner and then a second run to the south east corner of the pond to a a yellow mark. The final leg was a long fetch/reach up the southern side of the pond to the start mark.

Six boats went afloat and at the start it was Michael Veale (NSSC) sailing single handed in his RS 200 at the shore end with Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) to weather and Roger McAll (Laser full rig – NSSC) at the pin end - all in a line. Just behind were Laurence Venus (Streaker –NSSC), Darren Field (Laser Radial - NSSC) and Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC).
By the end of lap one Roger.Mc had taken the lead with Alan.S behind and Laurence.V very close behind with Darren.F in fourth spot.
By the end of the second lap Laurence had passed Alan and was in hot pursuit of Roger and after three laps caught and passed him on the second run. He also caught a bit of breeze and began to pull out a goodly lead leaving him unchallenged to the finish.
Meanwhile Alan kept catching up with Roger on the offwind legs only to lose out again upwind, where the Laser pointed so much higher, with Alan getting ahead in lap 4 only to drop back in lap 5, but finally climbing back in front for the critical laps 7 and 8.

Just behind, by mid race, Darren.F was being challenged by Michael.V but again the gap between them kept varying. Michael was using his Spinnaker but things did not always go quite right and he nearly had a spill in the final lap allowing Darren to pull well out ahead of him.
Bill W was plugging away in the background – no capsizes this week – and is gradually getting the hang of things, the lighter breezes of the day being much to his liking.
At the close of the race it was Laurence.V some 3.1/2 minutes out in front followed by Alan.S with Roger.Mc ½ minute behind him.
Results:- 1st Laurence Venus, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd. Darren Field, 4th. Roger McAll,
5th. Michael Veale, 6th Bill Wates.
A very enjoyable race, not too much effort needed to keep the boats going – not exactly survival conditions – and time to concentrate on tactics a little. The breeze did begin to drop off a little as the race progressed so that the odd spurt no longer became possible.
Next Sunday – 27th February – is the final race of the series. – and Prizegiving.
Yours truly will be in the Safety boat.
Alan.S 1700.

Elford Numbum Race 7 - 13.02.2011

100% overcast, grey and with a sharp Southerly breeze blowing as we left home for Piddinghoe this morning. On the final approach there was a brightness in the sky to the south but it came to nothing and then we had rain during the racing. The breeze was forecast – Winguru – as force 5 but apart from in the gusts it was a, more manageable, top end 4.

The course was a short beat to the twin buoys off the club house in the north west corner (Entry Gate area) of the pond followed by a long fetch (should have been a reach but the wind changed after it had been laid) with a gybe round a mark south of the Island. Thence it was off on a dead run northwards, leaving the Island to starboard, to a mark well up the east side. Rounding that began a beat back, leaving the Island to port this time, to a mark in the far south corner of the pond. After another gybe round that it was back to the far north east corner and then a single sided beat back to the double buoy finish.

Five boats went afloat and at the start it was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) first away. At the double buoy Paul Ryan (Hardway SC) in his full rig Laser made a timely (just) tack onto starboard as Alan, also on starboard by then, had left just too much room. Just behind this pair Michael Veale with crew Mike Rosier (NSSC) in their RS 200 were up to windward but ahead of Roger McAll (NSSC) in his full rig Laser with Bill Wates (NSSC) in his Laser Radial bringing up the rear.
Paul.R led down the first fetch, in some very telling gusts, just ahead of Alan.S – who was in control of his boat some of the time – with Mike.V by then close behind. All three boats were initially on Port tack necessitating a gybe to round the next mark.

As this was being approached Paul.R gybed and snapped his tiller extension, leaving only 8” or 9” to handle his boat with. He headed for the south shore to try to find a replacement. Meanwhile Michael.V was also in trouble and gybed more than once before rounding the mark to start up the beat. Alan.S had no problems at this point and went into the lead. The gusty breeze also played havoc with both Roger.Mc and Bill.W who were both laid flat near the mark on this downwind leg.
Paul R found a replacement tiller with extension and re entered the race, having been effectively lapped by the rest of the fleet.
It was on the same leg and at the same mark that the next ‘incident’ occurred when Alan.S, in lap 2, having gybed onto Starboard to round the mark was almost attacked by Michael. V charging in on port tack. These two boats rounded the mark in very close proximity with Alan, obviously a bit miffed at the intrusion, calling for Michael to do turns - he not having right of way.
The boats separated, Alan holding on on Starboard, before tacking to pass the Island on its starboard side. Michael also tacked, a bit higher to windward but a bit further back, and fell in, leaving Alan to pull away and allowing Roger.Mc to also pass the RS 200.
This windward leg appears to have been Alan’s nemesis too as Roger.Mc , being able to sail a bit closer to the wind, passed him in lap 5 to take pole position, albeit 25 seconds ahead . Roger continued to pull away and was first to cross the line after 8 laps, some 1.1/2 minutes ahead. Alan also had a fright when a big gust nearly had him swimming on the penultimate fetch.

Alan was next home followed by Paul.R – Kay (RO) having taken mercy upon him and finished him at the end of his 7th lap – and then Michael.V. Last to finish was Bill.W but he reckoned that he could count his capsizes on one hand, rather than two last week.

Results (Unofficial/preliminary) :-

1st. Alan Simmons, 2nd. Roger McAll, 3rd. Micheal Veale and Mike Rosier, 4th. Bill Wates, 5th. Paul Ryan.

An enjoyable, if blustery race, a bit short on support entry wise but as usual excellently run by Kay and with Ian Lambert doing a great job single handedly on the safety boat.

With two more races to go in the series Alan.S is in the lead by 7.6 points from Paul.R with Bill.W in 3rd place ahead of Michael.V

Alan.S 1700

Elford Numbum Race 6 - 06.02.2011

At 9.00 am, normal leaving time for the trip to Piddinghoe, it was completely grey overcast and a stiff breeze was blowing from the South West. The ‘Windguru’ forecast for the day was 19 knots (a good top end force 5) and it was raining lightly, not an auspicious start. On arrival at the pond the safety boat crew were there and one other ‘potential’ sailor, Bill Wates. Alan Simmons fetched out his anenometer which read up to12 knots by the flagpole but one could see the gusts across the water and it was not inviting and he was not convinced that sailing, for him, was a good idea.. A hot coffee was called for and then Rupert Smith arrived – ‘but I haven’t got a boat’ were his first words. Just before 10.30 Paul Ryan arrived and it did appear that the wind had eased so there was a rush for the four of them to rig and sail.

The course Kay set was another figure of eight, similar to last Sunday, starting with a short beat (3 metres?) and then a run across the pond to the eastern side – dead downwind – to a mark just off the shore but north of the Island. The next leg was a beat to a mark in the southeast corner of the pond, followed by a very brisk reach towards the north east. The lap concluded with another beat along the northern side to the finish just off the clubhouse.

The start sequence commenced with Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC) capsizing between the five and one minute sound signals. He recovered in time for the off but nobody else was really ready for it anyway. The first boat actually away was Rupert Smith (NSSC) sailing single handed in his Mirror but within seconds Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) had passed him and was off on the run. Just behind them was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) and bringing up the rear was Bill.W.The breeze, at first reasonable, soon began to build again and the gusts came fast and furious from ever changing directions. This made both the upwind and downwind legs quite twitchy.

Paul R began to pull away from Alan.S who was struggling to keep control of his boat most of the time but somehow succeeded in staying upright until the last beat of his 6th lap. He never saw the gust that tipped him in and whilst attempting to recover went over again. By that time Paul.R, who had been sailing each lap in about 7 minutes, lapped him but on his own final lap he too suffered a knock down from which he quickly recovered, although he had more than enough time to beat Alan, the only other finisher.

Rupert .S who had been in 3rd spot on the water suffered a broken Kicker during his fifth lap and rapidly retired ashore – too dodgy to go downwind without that. Bill .W who had suffered his first invertion before the real start continued to practice this acytivity, was seen in the reeds at least once, could not remember if it was 8 or 10 capsizes in total and then missed out the finish mark – so he learnt after coming ashore - but still bore a grin from ear to ear.

Results (Unofficial/Preliminary) :-

1st. Paul Ryan, 2nd. Alan Simmons. Both Rupert Smith and Bill Wates did not finish.

The consensus was that this had been a very hard race and that it was time to go home for a recovery snooze.

Alan.S 1700.

Elford Numbum Race 5 - 30/01/2011

By 9.00am the sky was blue from edge to edge, a few tiny clouds on the horizon, with the sun ‘blazing’ down. A fresh north easterly was eddying around the house and the windscreen required de-icing and upon starting out it was barely 2°C.
At the pond the boat cover was frosted over and there was a lot more breeze on the pond side than in the car park. A wind check showed about 10 knots from the eastern side of the water. Shortly afterwards white horses appeared on the water and the wind was whistling through the rigging (force 6?).

Alan Simmons (Lancing SC) prepared his Streaker but looking at the ‘waves’ and, on his 73rd birthday, he was keeping his options open as to whether to launch or not.

Kay (RO) soon arrived to set the course with the help of Rupert Smith who was on safety boat duty with daughter Alice. An extra buoy was laid just off the Clubhouse to get a good windward start and it was then off to a yellow mark midway along the eastern bank. From there it was a run/reach to the southern corner east of the Island.
A gybe followed with a close reach back across the pond to a pink mark in the north east corner, finish off with a reachy run to the twin buoy finish line. It was effectively a figure of eight out to the corners of the pond.

Eventually six boats came to the start, Including Alan who reckoned he could start and then almost immediately retire to the comfort of the clubhouse since it blowing a good force 4 to 5.

The actual start was rather confused when most of the boats attempted to use the twin buoys as the ODM resulting in a general recall. The real start was not a lot tidier but it was Matt Springhall (Laser full rig – NSSC) to get away first with Alan.S and Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) not too far behind.
The first lap was fairly uneventfull and it did seem that the breeze had eased a little – well Alan reckoned he could cope – provided he did not capsize and decided to continue racing. Tim Cox (Laser Radial – NSSC) was hot on his heels and beginning to close up. Behind these four Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 2000 – NSSC) were finding out the problems of a wide, slippery, hull in the gusty wind and were shortly to take a dip when Michael lost his grip on the tiller. Bill Wates (Laser Radial _ NSSC) had tipped in once before the start – well it was windier then anyway.

In lap two Paul.R – having sorted out his Mainsheet and Outhaul intertwining - took a spectacular spill on the final offwind leg .This activity allowed Matt.S to pull away a little only to be overhauled by the end of the following lap.
Alan.S closed up on Paul, after his dip, but was slightly to leeward on the first beat of the next lap allowing Tim.S  to get ahead of Alan. However these two continued to battle it out to the finish, being rarely more than 15 seconds apart.
Likewise Matt.S having been passed by Paul.R in lap 3 continued to harry him - they were rarely more than 8 seconds apart - until he too had a trip- up on the reach from the south east corner in lap 6, but with a speedy recovery, he soon made up the difference and was only 2 seconds adrift at the finish.
 Neither of these two were sufficiently ahead of Alan.S to beat him on handicap – a pleasing ‘present’ for the birthday boy!
Although the breeze began to ease in the later stages, and the temperature reached 6°C in the end, the wind chill was extreme and frozen fingers all too present. The safety boat crew are to be praised for their efforts in the chill conditions.
Results (Unofficial/Preliminary) :-
1st. Alan Simmons, 2nd. Paul Ryan, 3rd. Matt Springhall, 4th Tim Cox, 5th Michael Veale,
6th. Bill Wates.

Alan.S 1700

Elford Num Bum Race 4 - 23/01/2010

Half the sky was blue and sunny and the other half grey and grim with a sharp northerly breeze, 5°C, as we left home. By the time we passed Old Boat Corner the skies were almost all grey and then, on arrival at Piddinghoe, the sun came out to play again. The breeze measured just under 10 knots on the pond bank before the boats were rigged but 10 signed on – although one changed his mind and did not participate.
With the usual RO, Kay, off sick (Flu presumably) it was Rupert Smith who set up the course, complete with ‘committeee’ boat start – to ensure a fair beat to the north east corner mark. From here there was a short broad reach to a point just off the island and then a further beat to the north east. On turning that mark there was a dead run to the southeast corner of the pond and final long reach up the southern side to the finish at the twin buoys in front of the club house.

First to cross the line at the start was Roger McAll (Laser full rig – NSSC) with Steve Duncan (Laser full rig –NSSC) further to windward and Tim Cox (Laser Radial – NSSC) taking a port tack chance against Alan Simmons’s (Streaker –Lancing SC) starboard tack at the same time.

The younger fitter helms – in their Lasers made the early running with Steve.D in front by the end of lap 1, a position he was to hold for the entire race, then followed Roger.Mc and Tim.C.
Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial – NSSC) soon closed in on Tim.C (after a close encounter with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC)) who capsized - in lap2- on top of Julian Dobson (Laser Full rig – NSSC) and in the ensuing muddle Alan.S passed the pair of them. On recovery Paul realised that he was taking water into his hull – in spite of repairs the previous week – and decided to retire ashore and compete no further.

By lap5 Jonty.F had managed to pass Tim.C and also Roger.MC, climbing into second place on the water – a position he retained to the finish at the end of 10 laps. Alan.S was unable to make ground on either 3rd placed Tim.C or 4th placed Roger.Mc but he did have a good race with Julian.D managing to stay just ahead.
Chas Humphries (Laser full rig – NSSC) – 8th at the end of lap 1 stayed ahead of the back marker Bill Wates (Laser Radial – NSSC) but they both enjoyed a brisk sail.
Conditions were not as gusty or strong as last week and it seems that the only casualty was Paul.R Everybody else came ashore with broad grins having loved every minute of the hour long race –especially the swift reach up the ultimate leg of each lap.
The results were calculated Manually (a minor error was picked up when they went onto Sailwave later in the day) but it was an overall win for Jonty.F by 6 seconds over Alan.S and with Steve.D, the fleet leader on the water, in third place 11 seconds behind Alan.

Result (Unofficial/provisional):-

Ist. Jonty Freeman, 2nd. Alan Simmons, 3rd.Steve Duncan, 4th. Tim Cox, 5th. Roger McAll,

6th. Julian Dobson, 7th. Chas Humphries, 8th Bill Wates. - Paul Ryan retired.

PS. Steve.D advsed me that I did him an injustice last week – he refutes that he capsized during that race – I humbly apologise!

Alan.S 1700

Elford Numbum Race 3 - 16.01.2011

Grey and overcast, honking around the west side of the house in Hove but mild’ish (at 10°C) s registered in the car on the way to Piddinghoe. The Seaford Windguru was forcasting a solid force 5 for the day so it was a bit’ iffy’ if Alan was going afloat. On arrival at Piddinghoe the cloud was beginning to break and some blue sky was showing. A check on the pond side showed a maximum of 12 knots but there was the occasional ‘whilstling in the rigging’ – usually experienced when the wind is force 6!
A course was set along the northside of the pond with a very short windward leg to the twin marks, bearing off to a yellow mark opposite the flag pole and then back east on a short run across to a turning mark for a second beat. There followed a short reach to the mark in the southern corner of the pond, a gybe and run northwards followed by a broad reach to near the north bank and then the full beat back to the start. As is usual the wind at Piddinghoe comes in lumps, some today were rather hefty gusts.
Some ten boats took to the water, including Alan.S in his Streaker.

He had barely left the shore when one of those lumps of breeze flipped him into the water – not a very auspicious start. Apart from the loss of dignity – in full view of all – he lost his mast head burgee to the pond mud. There was plenty of reaching up and down before the start in the Southerly breeze.

At the gun it was Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) first off the blocks, closely followed by Michael Veale (RS200 –NSSC) crewed by Rupert Smith and behind them Steve Duncan (Laser full rig).

Alan.S was at the back having been caught in a Starboard boat’s call and as a result got into irons.
At the end of the first lap Paul.R was in front – a position from which he remained un challenged to the finish – Michael.V second up but with Steve.D right on his tail. Darren Field and Tim Cox (both Laser Radials – NSSC) were in 4th and 5th spot with Alan.S behind them in 6th. The trailing pack consisted of Alice Smith (Topper –NSSC) ahead of Callum Johnson (Laser Radial) then Bill Waites in his much reefed Laser Radial with Gary Johnson (Pico – NSSC) bringing up the rear.
By the end of lap two Steve.D had passed Michael.V whilst Tim.C had bested Darren. F. The bottom south east corner seemed to be popular swimming location as the gybe caught out quite a few sailors. – not that it was the only spot and most of the ten had a dip (or two) in the course of the race, even Paul.R the leader and Steve.D.
Gary.J gave up quite soon having not only failed to sign on but missed out a mark and Callum.J did likewise not too long after his dad, Callum had found the breeze somewhat more testing than he expected and did not overly enjoy his swims.

By lap 7 Darren.F had passed both Tim.C and Michael.V but came a cropper in the following lap and decided enough was enough. Niether Tim.C nor Alan.S were able to make any headway against Michael.V and in the closing laps (for them) Alan.S did make up some ground but could not gain enough to pass.
At the finish the order was 1st .Paul.R, 2nd. Steve.D, 3rd. Michael.V, 4th Tim.C and 5th Alan.S.
It had been a very gusty race with plenty of spills and for the heavyweights quite fun if somewhat damp. Alan. S was not so sure it had been a wise decision for him to sail after all, but he had stayed upright during the race. Results (unofficial/preliminary):-
1st, Paul Ryan, 2nd. Steve Duncan, 3rd Alan Simmons, 4th. Michael Veale and Rupert Smith,
5th. Tim Cox, 6th Alice Smith, 7th. Bill Waites. – Darren Field, Callum Johnson and Gary Johnson all retired.
Alan.S 1700

Numbum Race 2 - 09/01/2011

A beautiful clear blue sky, lots of sunshine and no breeze at the start of the drive to Piddinghoe. A bank of greyish cloud began to drift off to the south as the boats began to rig and a faint breeze began to blow from the north, just to compliment the near zero temperature which had added a goodly frost to the boat covers.

Kay was able to set a new style of course – from the previous session of north easterlies experienced in the Freeman Iceberg Series. The start was just below the sailing school berths on the south side of the pond up to the twin buoy mark adjacent to the clubhouse. From there it was a very broad reach to the north east corner, right turn to a mark in the middle of the pond and then a close reach back towards the south side before setting off on a run to the gybe mark north of the island. A short close reach behind the island led to a long beat from that southern corner right up the southern side of the pond to the finish mark keeping all the marks on the way up to starboard – lots of tacking.

Some eleven boats took to the water and on the start line there was a bit of bunching. Matt Springhall (Laser full rig – NSSC) was first to start although unfortunately for him just a bit too early and he had to extricate himself from the rest of the hoard to get back behind the line and start properly. Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) and then Steve Duncan (Laser full rig- NSSC) were effectively next across the line and just inside Darren was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC). Having the inside berth at the pin end allowed Alan to also take the lead position at the twin buoy mark and then begin to establish a reasonable lead over the rest of the fleet which he retained until the last few moments of the race.
By the end of the second lap Matt had recovered from his ‘too early’ start and was scrapping it out with Steve. These two continued to pass and re-pass one another until in lap 4 Steve suffered a failure of the flexible joint in his tiller extension and subsequently retired. It was unfortunate in so far as he was on the point of catching and overtaking Alan. On this occasion Matt had dropped back a bit behind Steve leaving Alan still in front.

Tom Taylor (Megabyte – NSSC) had not come out of the start too well although being near the front row, he got a bit boxed in at the start and had to work hard – very difficult in the early light breeze – to get back in the race and in the early laps had to do a ‘few’ turns for both other boats and marks (so it was subsequently learned). During this early part of the race Darren Field (Laser Radial – NSSC) was giving him a good run for his money. Darren also managed to pass Roger McAll (Laser full rig) in lap 2 whilst slipping into 4th spot which he held to the finish.

At one point, in mid race, one capsize occurred when Bill Waites (Laser radial – NSSC) caught a hefty gust along the north side of the pond but it was a dry capsize so he reports.

Michael Veale(NSSC) crewed by Mike Rosier in their RS 200 although able to fly their spinnaker led 5th place on the water in the first couple of laps but then dropped back to 7th until Steve retired and were then 6th to the end of the race.
Callum Johnson (Laser Radial – NSSC) fought out 8th place with Jesica Cox (Topper – NSSC) until she too retired but it was Gary Johnson (Topper – NSSC) right at the rear until he too retired in lap 5.
In the penultimate lap (lap 8) the breeze began to build, towards the top end of force 3, and Tom in his Megabytye began to catch up with Alan having already passed Matt – who decided, whilst on the run across the pond, to do a ‘Captain Cook’ and go exploring on the island with a spectacular roll to starboard. He had, as Steve earlier, been on the point of passing Alan but none the less managed to stay in 3rd spot on the water after his recovery and re-launch.
In the final seconds of the last lap Tom finally got past Alan to cross the line 5 seconds ahead, nowhere near enough to beat him on handicap however.

Results:-

1st. Alan.S, 2nd Darren.F, 3rd. Matt.s, 4th. Tom.T, 5th. Roger.Mc, 6th. Michael.V, 7th. Bill.W, 8th. Callum.J – Steve.D, Jessica.C and Gary.J retired.

Paul Ryan (Hardway SC) did an excellent duty – if a trifle noisy – as safety boat helm, whilst young James Veale gave Kay support in acting as AOD.

Alan.S 1700