Wednesday 28 December 2011

Streaker Ramblings - Freeman Iceberg Race 8 26.12.2011



The drive to Piddinghoe Boxing Day  morning was grey overcast, a light drizzle and just a whisp of breeze. Windguru for Seaford had been forcasting a force 4 westerly for the day but it did not develop. The breeze was certainly westerly but with a good bit of southerly in it too.
Thirteen boats took to the water on an unusual figure of eight course starting with a tiny windward leg in front of the clubhouse and then off on a very broad reach across to the east side of the pond. A gybe or a hardening up – depending upon which tack one approached from – led to a very close reach across behind the island to the south east corner. From there it was a beat up to the mark off the flag pole and then a reach to North east corner before turning westwards to beat back to the club house and start mark. The  breeze was somewhere between force 2 and 3 with occasional gusts just about in the force 4 area – the occasional plane was possible.

At the start gun, of the thirteen strong fleet,  three Lasers were first away - Matt Springhall (Laser full rig, NSSC) then Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC) and last of the set Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC). Just behind them were Alice Smith (Topper, NSSC), Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) and then Tim Cox (Laser full rig) with Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) trailing him.

By the end of the first lap Matt.S on his first outing of the year led Ed.T with Paul.R in third position just 2 seconds behind. In fourth spot Jonty.F was in front of Alan.S  who, in turn, was one second ahead of Rupert Smith (Laser full rig, NSSC). Alan and Rupert had a battle throughout the first half of the race changing places regularly and rarely more than 10 seconds apart at the end of a lap. It was lap six before Rupert really began to pull away.

By the finish of  lap 2 the order had settled to Ed.T , Paul.R,  Matt.S and Jonty.F.


During lap 4 Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC) who were coming up behind Alan.S – then in 6th place – but suddenly dropped well back. It was afterwards discovered that the Jib had been incorrectly rigged and words with the crew resulted in near mutiny. It was a long and slow recovery to get up to 10th on the water by the end of lap 7. Also in this lap Matt.S having just gone on to the reach across to the north east corner had a sudden falling out with his boat an equally sudden falling in to the water. This slowed him down rather as First Jonty, then Rupert and then Alan all passed him and he was unable to recover to better than 6th place on the water.

Another  event occurred at one of the turning marks when a Laser loudly called for water, to which allegedly, he was not entitled. The was quite a bit of returning loud calls and the threat of protest but as far as the writer is concerned had not happened by the time of the prize giving.

One boat was afloat in a very curious garb, namely a Laser II (Hull) with a sail bearing a Scorpion insignia and a dubiously high sail number. Mike Rosier and crew Chris (NSSC) had sailed in a number  of craft in this series but this was the strangest to date. They did manage to stay ahead of Jack Turner and James Bovington (Laser II, NSSC) in their conventionally rigged boat, who had had a bit of an up and a down race in the light breeze and just about able to stay ahead of Alice.S in her Topper.

Tim.C was consistant in the full rig Laser, he had borrowed from Bill Wates, only dropping from 7th (on the water) in lap 3 when Steve.D – who had been tied with him at the end of lap 2 – briefly got ahead. Steve’s problems, mentioned above, then allowed him back into 7th spot.

Bill Wates, having loaned his boat to Tim.C went on to crew for Michael Veale  (in his RS 200, NSSC). They did manage to fly the spinnaker but it did them no good in the light conditions. Dan Ford and Becca Gibson (Magno, NSSC) fought their way gamely around the course with, as far as was seen , just one capsize – the reason for this is unknown but it could be that Becca is not getting her weight onto the side deck at exactly the correct moment.

At the finish of this final race of the series, after some nine laps, the order was Ed.T, Paul.R, Jonty, F, Rupert.S Alan. S, Matt.S and Tim.C the remainder of the fleet finishing at least on the previous lap. With the handicaps calculated the winner was Alan with Jonty 2nd and Ed in third spot.



Results – Race 8 (unofficial/unchecked) :-

1st.Alan Simmons,  2nd Jonty Freeman, 3rd. Ed Thorburn, 4th. Paul Ryan, 5th Rupert Smith, 6th. Matt Springhall, 7th. Tim Cox, 8th Alice Smith, 9th. Mike Rosier, 10th Dan Ford and Jack Turner, 12th. Michael Veale, 13th Steve Duncan.



The series this year has had more strong wind than in the previous couple of years meaning that the younger, fitter helms have benefitted more than some of the old-uns (the writer included in that group) but the turnouts have been good and a few new faces have turned up. As always the Race Officer, Kay Young , has done sterling work – setting up the courses and recording the lap times – in all kinds of weather, although fortunately no snow this time round and was given a small token of appreciation at the prizgiving. Some 29 boats entered the series and completed at least one race – some helms used a variety of boats which did not necessarily help their overall results.

When the overall positions in the series were calculated both Ed and Jonty had 11 points (subsequently resolved via the last race result making Jonty the winner) whilst Alan had 13 and was thus 3rd overall. Paul Ryan was 4th, Rupert Smith 5th, Darren Smith 6th, Michael Veale 7th, Dan Ford 8th,  Laurence Venus 9th, Tom Taylor 10th, Jack Turner 11th, Alice Smith 12th & 13th (Topper and Laser II), Graham Hardy 14th and Bill Wates 15th

Alan.S 1700

PS. The New Year’s day race starts at 2.00pm on Sunday 1st Jan and the Elford Numbum series commences on Sunday 8th Jan at 11.00am – we hope to see you there, if only spectating from the bankside.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Streakerramblings -Freeman Iceberg Race 7 - 18th December2011

What a change, blue almost cloudless skies this morning on our way to Piddinghoe with just a hint of breeze. On arrival it was still bright and sunny but with a deep frost on the boat cover and a cool breeze from the west, perhaps a force 3.
Fourteen boats entered this race and all were on the water for the start. By then the breeze had dropped to a force 1 to 2 and it stayed thus throughout – the sun stayed out too.
The course was an old familiar, start near the flagpole and a short beat to the corner near the clubhouse followed by a reach along the north side. Thereafter it was a close reach back towards the flag pole and a gybe round the former start mark and off to the east side and another gybe. The final two legs were a reach behind the island and then a long beat up the west side to the clubhouse but inside the start line limit mark.

At the gun there were a couple of boats, Laurence Venus (Streaker, NSSC) and Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC) close to the bank and off on a port tack flyer whilst the rest of the fleet were coming up the line on starboard. At the pin end Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) tried to get in by the limit mark but was prevented by Michael Veale and Andy Walker (RS 200, NSSC). Alan had just enough speed however to tack away on port and then return on starboard at the mark to turn in third place.

By the time Laurence.V had reached the north east gybe mark Alan was 2nd and Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC) third with Darren 4th. Laurence immediately began to draw away on the reach whilst Ed overtook Alan before the end of the leg. At the end of lap one the order was Laurence.V, Ed. T, Alan.S, Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC) and then Rupert Smith (Laser full rig, NSSC). The following group were led by Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC) then Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC), Darren.F and Bill Wates (Laser full rig, NSSC).


In the second lap Steve.D blitzed his way past Rupert.S, Jonty.F and Alan.S. Paul.S using a borrowed bottom mast section (after last week’s breakage) also climbed up past Rupert and Alan to be fourth on the water and Ed.T scraped past Laurence.V to take the lead by ten seconds. By the end of lap 4 the top order was established as Ed.T, Laurence.V, Paul.R, Steve.D, Rupert.S Jonty.F, Alan.S and then Darren.F.
Slightly further back Graham Hardy (Laser full rig, NSSC) and Bill. W were having their own private battle with Chas Humphries (Laser full rig, NSSC) and Michael – who found their boat somewhat sticky in the light wind. Bringing up the tail were Mike Rosier with crew Chris Rosier (Topper Magno, NSSC) ahead of Alice Smith (Topper, NSSC). In the light breeze Alice was suffering from lack of momentum and unable to repeat her performance as last week.
Ed.T was first across the line ahead of Laurence.V, but well behind on handicap although holding an adequate margin on Alan.S who came home in third spot.
This week Dan Ford volunteered to crew the safety boat – hence his apparent absence from the race.

Results (Unofficial, Unconfirmed) :-
1st. Laurence Venus, 2nd. Ed Thorburn, 3rd. Alan Simmons, 4th Paul Ryan, 5th.Darren Field, 6th. Jonty Freeman, 7th. Rupert Smith, 8th. Graham Hardy, 9th. Chas Humphries, 10th. Bill Wates, 11th. Steve Duncan, 12th. Mike Rosier, 13th. Michael Veale, 14th. Alice Smith.

Alan.S 1700
PS. I repeat my message from last week - for those of my readers who missed it - I wish you all the seaons greetings for a Happy Christmas and Prosperous,Eventfull and Interesting New Year in 2012.
PPS. The next - and final - Race of the 2011 Freeman Iceberg will take place on Boxing day , Monday 26th December and hopefully I will be there to take part and/or report.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Streakerramblings -Freeman Iceberg Race 6 - 11th December2011



Grey, totally overcast and breezy as we set off to Piddinghoe. As we got closer the sky did seem to be brightening up to the south and whilst above the cloud the sun may well have had his hat on he did not come out to play.
Kay set the same course as last week, except that with a south westerly wind, we went round in the opposite direction. The start was by the clubhouse with just a few yards to the first mark and then a hairy reach down the long southerly side of the pond. At the end there was a gybe and another reach behind the Island thence onto a beat to a mark just off the shore by the flagpole. From there it was another very broad reach back to the north east corner and a final beat back to the start mark.

Some fourteen boats took to the water in a good ‘top end’ force 4 – the gust were, as usual at Piddinghoe, horrendous and close on mid force 6. At the start it was Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC) tight on the line with Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC) tucked in behind and Rupert Smith (Laser full rig, NSSC) a little to windward. The next group of four were Nathan Bloss (Laser Radial, NSSC), Edward Thorburn (Finn, NSSC), Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC) and Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC).
  The long reach, with the occasional violent gust, sorted out the order at the gybe into Ed.T as leader then Jonty.F followed by Rupert.S , Alan.S and  then Nathan Bloss Paul.R had dropped back a touch as had Michael.V who had problems lowering his spinnaker for the next leg. The next beat, back towards the Pole, allowed these two to pull back through ahead of Alan. At the ‘Pole’ mark it was either a tack or bearing off – depending upon which tack the mark had been approached – but gusts caught out the unwary. Also at the North east mark the gusts were coming fast and furious giving some competitors a dip.

By the end of the first lap Ed.T was in front, ahead of Jonty.F by 10 seconds, then came Rupert.S  just ahead of Paul.R. Next up was Michael.V then Alan.S followed by Jack Turner and James Bovington (Laser II, NSSC).
  Next up was Alice Smith sailing a Topper(NSSC) ahead of Nathan.B and then Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC). Bringing up the tail were Alex Stonard in a Topper (NSSC), John Smith (Pico, single sail, NSSC) Dan Ford and Becca Gibson (Magno, NSSC) and finally Josh Smith (Topper, small sail, NSSC) - this group had all been well off the start line at the intial gun. Josh.s  having capsized fairly early on in lap 1 got rather cold and retired to the bank side.
In lap 2 Jonty.F got ahead of Ed.T on the long reach – and stayed there until overtaken in lap 4. Paul.R also overtook Rupert.S whilst Alan.S, having nearly been forced into the bank by an out of control RS200 on the long reach, just escaped to move  into 5th spot with Jack.T behind him.  Michael V having finally regained control dropped back to 7th.
In lap 4 Alan.S capsized just after leaving the ‘Pole’ mark and had his mast stick in the bottom mud. After the Safety boat had had a couple of attempts to right the boat Alan floated off – or the boat did  and was ‘cornered’ by Rupert.S who had himself been upside down for quite a time. When eventually aboard the Safety boat the Streaker was righted but Alan had lost best part of a lap in time.  The Pond Rules allow for assistance by the safety boat and then continuation of racing. This lap also saw Nathan.B retire having spent a good time in the water and Jack.T and James.B also retired when one of their trapeze wires broke  - shades of Steve Duncan last week.

Lap 5 saw Paul .R, who had been in third position, suffer a broken mast and had to be towed ashore. This time Ed.T and Jonty.F crossed the line at exactly the same time but then Ed went back in front to finally finish some 16 seconds ahead.

Few but the two leaders and  Alice Smith – who sailed a blistering race - stayed upright throughout  the event. Most of those spoken to afterwards could not recall how many times they upended but mostly sem to have enjoyed their outing.


Results (Unofficial, Unchecked) :-
1st. Jonty Freeman, 2nd. Ed Thorburn, 3rd. Alice Smith, 4th John Smith, 5th. Darren Field, 6th. Rupert Smith, 7th. Alan Simmons, 8th Michael Veale, 9th Alex Stanard, 10th Dan Ford,
DNF. Paul Ryan, Nathan Bloss, Josh Smith and Jack Turner.

Alan S 1700

PS. To my reader(s?) I wish you a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous/Joyous New Year

Monday 5 December 2011

Streakerramblings -Freeman Iceberg Race 5 - 4th December2011



As last week it was a grey overcast sky, very high cloud but without a break and just a gentle breeze as we left home.
On arrival at Piddinghoe and whilst rigging the boat there was another westerly breeze of about force 2 – Windguru was forcasting force 4 initial building to force 5 later in the day - this faded to almost nothing until just before the racing started.
The course Kay set was practically as last week with an initial very short beat, to the clubhouse corner, along the northern side followed by a close reach back to the start pole end. A broad reach across to the eastern side then down behind the island before a final beat back up the western side.

Sixteen boats were afloat for the start and Darren Field (Byte CII, NSSC) made off at the shore end ahead of everybody else – just a little too early – and was called back to start properly. At the pin end it was Alan Simmons (Streaker, Lancing SC) who was legitimately first away and tacked off to get what he thought was clear air in the light – force 1 - breeze. At the shore end it was Tom Taylor (Megabyte, NSSC) closely followed by Laurence Venus (Streaker, NSSC) who made it to the turning mark first with Alan.S through next and then Ed Thorburn (Finn, NSSC).

Whilst Laurence, Alan and Ed were scrapping along the northern side of the pond Tom broke away and established a goodly lead on the next reach. By the end of the lap Ed was up to second with Laurence still ahead of Alan and beginning to edge away. Behind this group were Paul Ryan (Laser full rig, Hardway SC), Jonty Freeman (Laser Radial, NSSC)  then Darren.F (having re-started) with Rupert Smith (Laser full rig, NSSC) behind him.

By the end of lap 4 Tom. T was still ahead of Ed .T but Jonty.F  had climbed up to 3rd place ahead of Laurence whilst Alan.S was down in 7th having been overtaken by Jonty, Paul and Rupert, the breeze by then having increased to a good force 4 – planing was possible on some of the reaches. Laurence had a slight collision with Jonty’s stern on one of the reaches when he lost control of his boat and ended up doing a 720 degree penalty.
In lap 6 Tom.T suffered a broken (Carbon) mast – at the site of a previous repair – and had to be towed home, his moments of glory dashed and so Ed.T went into the lead with Jonty.F hard on his heels. This was also the final lap for Dan Ford and crew (the girl) Becca Gibson in their Magno (NSSC) who had embarked on a capsize whilst both were on the wrong side of the boat. Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200, NSSC) had been using their spinnaker on all the reaches and runs in the course and were closing on Alan.S and finally passed him on the final reach of the next lap. Rupert .S had been climbing up the fleet and finally got ahead of Paul.R in lap 6, the most eventfull of the total nine laps sailed.

Alice Smith and Alex Stanard (Laser II, NSSC) also slowly climbed up the fleet from 13th in lap one to 8th in lap 8, one spot in front of Darren.F.
Josh Smith (Topper, NSSC) only completed one full lap before retiring whilst his dad John ( Pico, NSSC) spent a long while with his mast stuck in the mud before the safety boat eventually freed him. Steve and Penelope Duncan (Fireball, NSSC) in their first venture out this year – but not racing, Steve said – followed the fleet round, keeping out of everybody’s way (mostly) and also spent a goodly amount of time on their side when Penelope’s trapeze wire snapped during the main windward leg.
Throughout the race the two full rig Lasers of Bill Wates and Graham Hardy (both NSSC ) had a good tussel half way down the fleet, Bill coming out on top at the finish. The lead held by Ed.T and Jonty.F at the finish was still not enough to beat Laurence.V time on application of the handicap correction.

Results (Unofficial, unchecked) :-

1st .Laurence Venus, 2nd. Jonty Freeman, 3rd .Alan Simmons, 4th .Ed Thorburn, 5th. Rupert Smith, 6th .Paul Ryan, 7th. Darren Field, 8th.Michael Veale, 9th.Alice Smith,10th.Bill Wates, 11th.Graham Hardy, 12th.Steve Duncan, 13th. Dan Ford, 14th.John Smith, 15th. Tom Taylor and Josh Smith.

The series table after 4 races now stands as 1st.Jonty Freeman, 2nd. Ed Thorburn, 3rd. Alan Simmons, 4th.Paul Ryan, 5th. Michael Veale, 6th. Darren Field, 7th. Tom Taylor, 8th. Laurence Venus, 9th. Alice Smith, 10th. Rupert Smith, 11th Dan Ford, 12th Graham Hardy, 13th Bill Wates, John and Josh Smith come in at 18th and 19th place as they keep changing boat class.

Alan.S 1700

PS. The sun finally began to break through as we were half way home.