Elford NumBum 2024 - races 1 & 2 - 07/01/2024

 

Elford MumBum 2024 – Races 1 & 2

Blue skies with a few light white clouds, a light cold breeze but no rain upon leaving Hove for Piddinghoe. Must have been early as there was little apparent activity upon arrival. Julian Dobson was RO for the day assisted by Phil Naylor and with Bill Wates and Jo Bruggenworth in the safety boat.

Julian set a course, in an ‘M’ shape – as below – with start line from just south of the first slipway on the south bank.

                                    Photographs by Bett Simmons

The wind was from a northerly direction with a strength of a good force 3, giving a broad reach towards the mark to the south of the Island.

At the gun everyone wanted to be first away so there was a good bunch by the pin end mark. The honours go to Jazz Turner (HANSA) by a gnats whisker with Alan Simmons (Streaker) below her and just about level with Mark Ramsay (Supernova). Ed Thorburn (Finn) was, probably, next somewhat closer to the south shore.

Ed managed to get into the lead at the end of the long broad reach, rounding the south mark to tack off on a short tack towards the east bank. After another tack there was a longish beat to the west and then another short tack to the mark in the middle of the east bank. On this side of the pond Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial), Mike Rosier (Laser Radial) and Rupert Smith (Laser Radial) went ahead of Mark and Alan. Dave Murley (Laser Radial) soon caught up Alan and overtook at the end of those windward sections.

On the downwind leg to the mark in the middle of the pond Rupert caught and passed Zoe to lie in second place.

By now the breeze had freshened to a good middle 5 strength with Planeing on the reaches.

On the beat back to the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay Ed continued to lead Rupert with Zoe behind him. Mark was behind in fourth place with Mike and Dave ahead of Alan.

The order at the line was Ed in first place, Zoe, Rupert, Mark, Mike, Dave, Alan, Jazz, Bex and lastly Will - who had had a very late start.

Lap 2 saw Ed still out front with Zoe next and in very close combat with Rupert. Mark was still fourth with Mike close behind as Dave pulled away from Alan. Next across the line in eighth place was Jazz with Bex astern of her and Will still back marker.

Lap 3 had Ed in the lead with now Rupert in second place having just passed Zoe by 2 seconds – these two still going hammer and tongs. The order behind the top three was unchanged as Dave continued to stretch ahead of Alan.

Lap 4 the final lap saw no place changes as Rupert crossed the line 3 seconds ahead of Zoe, Jazz, Bex and Will having been finished.

With the calculations made the winner of the race was Jazz with Rupert second, Zoe third, Ed fourth and Bex fifth.

Results:-

Race 1 - 07/01/2024

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Menagerie		HANSA	No No	NSSC	Jazz Turner		1580	32.15	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	179808	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1147	32.39	0.01.26	2.0
Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	46	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147	32.42	0.01.29	3.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	31.16	0.02.43	4.0
Menagerie		HANSA	1477	NSSC	Bex Foulshan		1580	36.02	0.03.47	5.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	61663	NSSC	Mike Rosier		1147	35.10	0.03.57	6.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147	35.37	0.04.24	7.0
Menagerie		SUPERNOVA	526	NSSC	Mark Ramsay		1077	35.45	0.06.26	8.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER		Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128	38.33	0.07.51	9.0
Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260	32.49	0.15.40	10.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Jo Bruggenworth		1147	OOD		10.0
Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1098	OOD		10.0
Menagerie		TOPPER		NSSC	Phil Naylor		1358	OOD		10.0
Menagerie		SOLO	4084	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1142	DNC		21.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	OOD		21.

Race 2 was to be held over the same course with the wind if anything a touch stronger and coming from very slightly more to the East.

At the gun it was Mark, near the shore who was first away with Jazz next close to the pin end. Zoe was third with Ed just to windward of her and Rupert above him. Alan was well back but not quite as far back as Will.

Zoe was first to reach the far east mark (south of the Island) with Ed just astern.

By the time they reached the mark off the middle of the east bank Ed was out in front with Rupert next and Zoe just behind him. By the time the fleet began rounding the mark in the middle of the pond Mike was lying fourth ahead of Mark with Dave moving up and to windward of him. Alan was behind this group with Jazz behind and Todd Grady-Gales (Solo) behind her. Todd missed the first race having had to re-rig his halyard and was further delayed in the first lap of this race when his Mainsheet block/cleat and fixing pulled out and he had to make a bit of a lash up to continue.

The order at the end of lap 1 was Ed 1^st, Rupert 2^nd, Zoe 3^rd, Mark 4^th, Mike 5^th, Dave 6^th, Alan 7^th Jazz 8^th, Todd 9^th, Will 10^th and Bex 11^th.

Lap 2 had Ed crossing the line in the lead by 35 seconds from Rupert who was 9 seconds ahead of Zoe. Dave was next to round the finish mark with Mark next followed by Alan. Mike had had a problem (hit a mark?) as he was now astern of Alan, and Todd pulled back a place to lie behind Mike.

Lap 3 Ed was now 57 seconds ahead of Rupert whilst Zoe was a further 8 seconds astern. Dave retained 4^th place as Todd rose to fifth ahead of Alan and Mark dropped back to 7^th with Mike also dropping one place to lie 8^th. Jazz, Bex and Will were finished here.

Lap 4 no place changes in the leading four boats but Mark went back head of Todd and Mike passed Alan to lie 7^th. All bar the top three boats were finished at the end of this lap.

Lap 5 and the relative positions of the three remaining racing stayed the same with Ed crossing the line one minute and 50 seconds ahead of Rupert who was 5 seconds ahead of Zoe, these two having battled it out around the five laps with just a cats whisker separating them.

With the calculations made the winner of the race was Jazz (once more) with Rupert second, Zoe third, Ed fourth and Bex fifth – all as in race 1.

Results:-

Race 2 - 07/01/2024

Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Elapsed	BCE	Points
Menagerie		HANSA	No No	NSSC	Jazz Turner		1580	31.37	0.00.00	1.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	179808	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1147	38.34	0.00.19	2.0
Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	46	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1147	38.39	0.00.24	3.0
Menagerie		FINN	595	NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	36.44	0.01.45	4.0
Menagerie		HANSA	1477	NSSC	Bex Foulshan		1580	35.20	0.03.43	5.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	142208	NSSC	Dave Murley		1147	34.23	0.03.47	6.0
Menagerie		SOLO	4084	Lancing	Todd Grady-Gales		1142	35.10	0.04.42	7.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL	61663	NSSC	Mike Rosier		1147	35.39	0.05.03	8.0
Menagerie		SUPERNOVA	526	NSSC	Mark Ramsay		1077	34.53	0.06.09	9.0
Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER		Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128	40.22	0.10.16	10.0
Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260	35.50	0.10.37	11.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Jo Bruggenworth		1147	OOD		11.0
Laser Hull		LASER	7	NSSC	Julian Dobson		1098	OOD		11.0
Menagerie		TOPPER		NSSC	Phil Naylor		1358	OOD		11.0
Laser Hull		LASER RADIAL		NSSC	Bill Wates		1147	DNC		21.0

A bit too breezy for the writer’s comfort but ideal for the Laser Radials who had some great sailing and on the water battles. There were a few ‘upset’ – as above – but few capsizes meaning that the safety boat crew were not too busy. The forward weather forecasts are for a High Pressure zone over the UK for this week which, if it lasts to Sunday 14^th, could see slightly less breeze – but don’t hold your breath.

Alan.S 1832

New Years Day 2024 - Laurence Venus Trophy.

 

New Year’s Day 2024 - Laurence Venus Trophy

Grey and overcast but bright with a tiny ruffle of breeze but no rain or drizzle as we left home for Piddinghoe at noon on this New Year’s Day 2024. On arrival, which was a might early there were several car in the park but, bar Zoe McCaig who was already afloat, no other signs of boats getting rigged.

As this was the Laurence Venus trophy race Laurence was present as RO for the race and was setting up the course – as below- with an ‘M’ shape and an unusual start line, between a pair of marks off the south bank to the east of the first slipway. Alice Smith was ARO and Judd Brammah (vice Commodore) with Simon as crew in the safety boat.

                                Photographs by Bett Simmons

The start, in a very light breeze, was a bit of a shambles as half the fleet failed to realise that the line was between the two offshore marks, some where over the line anyway and had to return to start correctly.

 At the gun Andy Beck (Lightning), Rupert Smith (Laser Radial) and Jazz Turner (Hansa) were all over the line. Alan Simmons (Streaker) was early and hemmed in by Ewan Hamilton (Oppy) and sandwiched between him and Andy Hamilton (Laser full rig) and carried below the inshore line mark. 

Ed Thorburn (Finn) was well below the line on port tack. The rest of the fleet were coming down the line on Starboard from the offshore end mark but moving very slowly. This gave Ed.T the chance to get through and head off for the windward mark whilst Zoe (Laser Radial) was down wind of the mark with Alan was upwind of the same mark.

 Ed.T rounded first and set off on the run towards the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay with Alan second on this leg and thenj Rupert having sneaked past Zoe. 

She was in a tight group just ahead of Andy.B, Will Apps (Quba) and Chris Turner (Hansa – following his hip joint op.)  

After the next broad reach and tight fetch behind the Island Ed.T was in the lead followed by Alan, with Rupert, then Zoe and Andy.B, Andy.H, Mark Ramsay (Supernova), Will, Ed.Horne, Jo, Chris, Jazz and Ewan. This was the order as the fleet completed its first lap except that Jazz went ahead of Chris to cross the line 11^th.

Lap 2 saw Ed.T cross the line some two minutes ahead of Alan with the breeze now beginning to increase in strength. Rupert was next 23 seconds behind Alan with Zoe 11 seconds later. Andy.H was still 5^th and Mark went up to lie sixth as he overtook Andy.B.  Ed.Horne also went ahead of Andy.B to  lie 8^th. The order behind remained unchanged with Will, Ed.Horne and Andy.B all in close ‘combat’.

Lap 3 had no place changes among the front six but Rupert was now just 38 seconds behind Alan. Will dropped down the fleet to 10^th place with Ed.Horne moving up  lie 7^th with Andy.B and Jo behind him and Ed Hamilton staying ahead of Pete.

Lap 4 with Ed.T still well in the lead the increasing breeze enabled Zoe to pass both Rupert and Alan, dropping him to 4^th, to take second place. No places changed amongst the next four boats as Will went back to 9th ahead of Jo. The back four relative places remained unchanged and these four were finished.

Lap 5 Saw Ed.T hold his lead but Zoe closed the gap a trifle and increased her lead over Rupert and Alan. The order remained unchanged for the rest of the fleet. With Ed.T going on to sail another lap as the remainder were finished.

With the handicaps applied and corrections made the results were a win for Jazz, Chris second, Ewan third, Ed.T fourth and Zoe fifth.

Results:-

 

Rank	Fleet	Boat	Class	SailNo	Club	HelmName	CrewName	PY	Race 1 01/01/2024	Total	Nett
1st	Menagerie		HANSA		NSSC	Jazz Turner		1630	1.0	1.0	1.0
2nd	Menagerie		HANSA		NSSC	Chris Turner		1630	2.0	2.0	2.0
3rd	Menagerie	Heatwave	OPTIMIST	6231	NSSC	Ewan Hamilton		1635	3.0	3.0	3.0
4th	Laser Hull		FINN		NSSC	Ed Thorburn		1049	4.0	4.0	4.0
5th	Laser Hull	Bruce	LASER RADIAL	146162	NSSC	Zoe McCaig		1150	5.0	5.0	5.0
6th	Laser Hull		Laser Radial	179808	NSSC	Rupert Smith		1150	6.0	6.0	6.0
7th	Menagerie		RS QUBA	No No	NSSC	Will Apps		1260	7.0	7.0	7.0
8th	Menagerie	TFB	STREAKER	1832	Lancing	Alan Simmons		1128	8.0	8.0	8.0
9th	Laser Hull		LASER	52309	NSSC	Andy Hamilton		1101	9.0	9.0	9.0
10th	Menagerie		LIGHTNING 368	225	NSSC	Andy Beck		1160	10.0	10.0	10.0
11th	Laser Hull		Laser Radial	189952	NSSC	Ed Horne		1150	11.0	11.0	11.0
12th	Laser Hull		Laser Radial	164421	NSSC	Jo Bruggenworth		1150	12.0	12.0	12.0
13th	Menagerie		SUPERNOVA	526	NSSC	Mark Ramsay		1077	13.0	13.0	13.0
14th	Menagerie		PICO	No No	NSSC	Pete Henderson		1358	14.0	14.0	14.0

 

It being a single race the Trophy was presented to Jazz by Judd with congratulation to Chris and Ewan for their second and third place finishes.  In spite of the forecast the breeze held off for the beginning of the race, rising to force 4 in the later stages – promoting planeing on the off wind legs – which some enjoyed after the difficult first lap or two. The few spots of rain mostly held off only to appear in the dark on the way home. However  it was a very good way to start the new year .

Alan.S 1832

PS. I hope to be present (and Sail) in the first race of the 2024 Elford Numbum Series on Sunday next  6^th January 2024 and report thereon.

PPS. When reading the online blog/report if you click on any picture it will enlarge! If you would like any specific photos then email me with a description/location within the blog.