Streaker Ramblings - Numbum Race 15 - 24/02/2013

Solid, High, grey cloud, a cool easterly breeze was the theme as we left Hove for Piddinghoe for the final race of this year’s Elford Numbum series. It was not exactly inviting but a few hardy souls turned up for the race.

The course started just off the clubhouse, between a pair of buoys, with a beat down the west side of the pond to the turn off the Fisherman’s bay. The following leg to a mark in the centre of the pond was a short but broad reach flowed by another windward leg to a mark midway along the eastern shore. After this there was a run behind the island to a mark in the southern corner of the pond before a gybe and broad reach up the southern side to the inner mark off the clubhouse.

Ten boats took to the water, including Zoe McCaig (NSSC) sailing in a Pico and first across the line at the start was Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200 – NSSC) with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) in second position close to the pin end mark and Roger McCall (Laser full rig – Pevensey Bay SC) a little to leeward of Michael. Alaq Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) was just behind this bunch, again close to the pin but soon tacked off towards the centre of the pond to maintain clear air. Paul was first round the windward mark and stayed out in front throughout the seven lap race. Behind Alan was Julian Dobson (Laser full rig - NSSC) then David and Aiden Murley (Pico – NSSC) followed by Bill Wates (Laser full rig –NSSC). In the rear three Dan Ford (Pico – NSSC) led Zoe and Jasmin Sayed (Topper – NSSC).

By the end of the second beat – towards the east shore from the centre of the pond – Alan  had just overtaken Michael.V and was close on Roger’s stern. At the gybe after the leg behind the Island Alan lost it all when he went for a swim. He also did not duck low enough and had a goodly crack on the head from the boom, enough  to raise blood..Further more the dagger-board fell out warranting a second swim round and when he got the boat upright and was back aboard he had lost at least two minutes in the first lap. Apart from that his fingers were numb – with or without his gloves on – and he was unable to hold on to the mainsheet properly. A bit further back down the course Zoe had also managed to fall over and partially lost contact with her boat. The safety boat having ascertained that Alan was OK sped off to her assistance.

As far as can be ascertained from the lap sheets the next two sailors who had problems, in lap two, were Jasmin who dropped back two minutes and Julian who retired cold – he forgot to bring a spray top and with the wind chill found it too cold to continue. Alan having started sailing again pulled back two places to fifth but decided not to continue having just crossed the line at the end of his second lap. When attempting to get back ashore he finally managed to stop at the bank but was unable to release his main halyard – no feeling in his fingers – but was eventually hauled ashore by Laurence Venus and Rupert Smith. Following a hot coffee and a change of clothing he began to come back to life.

The wind was blowing a good force four, lower end, ensuring a very lively reach up the south side of the pond which caused Bill a problem in his fifth and final lap and, from the lap time, he spent a few minutes inspecting his dagger-board  - from the underside. This allowed Dan through to fifth place on the water. Among the front runners Paul was out ahead by about half a minute for most of the race and by a full minute by the finish. Michael was able to pass Roger eventually in lap 4, these two having had quite a duel with the gap opening up in the final lap – a dip for Roger is the likely cause for that state of affairs.

David  and Aiden sailed a blistering race, staying in fourth place on the water from lap two to the end of lap 7. Jasmin also sailed very well and went to 7^th on the water behind Dan but in front of Zoe.

With the handicaps applied the winner of that final race was David and Aiden Murley  in their Pico with Paul taking second spot and the two Michael.V and Mike.R home in third. Roger.M was fourth, Dan.F was fifth, Jasmin sixth and Zoe seventh.

As far as the Series is concerned Paul Ryan was the overall winner with Alan second and Michael third. Steve Duncan was fourth overall, Roger fifth and Jasmin sixth with Dan seventh.

In the parallel Cadets series, with results extracted from the main racing, the overall  - worthy - winner was Jasmin Sayed with Dan Ford the runner up. These two went out in all wind conditions.

After the final series race a fun race was held whilst the results were worked out – but being otherwise occupied Alan did not see this event and is therefore unable to report. He believes there were no more than four boats envolved, two Picos, a Topper  and the RS200 - perhaps the winner can advise?

The weather for this early 2013 series had had a bit of a strong wind bias - more so than in the recent past – but it does give a fairer chance for the heavier crews.
Three races were lost to adverse (or forecast adverse) weather out of the 15 programmed. A total of 32 boats entered the Numbum, although some only sailed one or two races. It could have been a little hectic had they all come on the water on the same day.

Readers of this blog may now have a few weeks of peace as the next item on the agenda is the Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace  – 2^nd and 3^rd March – and a short gap to the first Streaker Open Meeting – 23^rd March at Tamworth or alternatively at Bough Beech. Sea sailing starts at Lancing on  31^st March.

Alan.S 1700

For the official results go to :- http://www.nssc.org.uk/results/2013/numbum.htm

Streaker Ramblings - Numbum Races 13 & 14 - 17/02/2013

Nice bright Sunshine, cool after a light frost and next to no breeze as we left home.

Once on the Brighton By-pass and going up the hills there was a heavy mist/fog which persisted all the way to Piddinhoe. There was a light breeze  coming from the north across to the south, the boat rigging, side and there were signs that the sun was up there somewhere. At first visibility was down to 30 to 40 yards with only the clubhouse mark visible but as boats got rigged and on the water the last of the mist vanished and left a nice light sunny breeze.
Laurence Venus, RO for the day, set a course from  a line off the clubhouse – between a pair of adjacent marks – with a beat into the north west corner (Fisherman’s Bay). Rounding that there was a broad reach to a mark midway along the eastern side and then a closer reach to the south side of the Island. Next came a turn back to a mark in the middle of the pond – north west of the island and then a further reach to the mark off the clubhouse.

Some sixteen boats, lured out by a reasonable forecast, came to the start area but between the 4 minute gun and the 1 minute gun the breeze shut off almost completely and boats were virtually drifting across the line at the start. First to start was Jasper Thorp (Topper – NSSC) – who happened to be the only boat on the line at the gun – then a group of three Lasers Full rig) namely Roger McAll (Pevensey Bay SC, Bill Wates and Terry Jones (both NSSC). At the pin end Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) moving a tiny touch faster (on the windward side) thought he had enough motion to get between Steve Duncan (laser full rig – NSSC and Paul Ryan (Laser full rig  - Hardway SC)  and the mark – in spite of their calls. He did get round the pin ahead but in hardening up was bumped on the stern by Steve. When clear of the line he found a tiny bit of breeze and took the penalty. In so doing he ended up furthest away from the west bank than the rest of the fleet, who were now a good bit ahead. Within seconds the breeze came in from the starboard side – southerly – whilst the fleet was still on port. Alan was the only boat to benefit from this change and carried it to the end of the beat with only Bill still turning the mark.

Thankfully Bill had left a bit of room on the inside and Alan saw the chance and took it. This allowed him to establish a substantial lead on the first lap. Paul clawed his way through the fleet and by the end of the lap was in second place (1 minute 20 seconds behind Alan. Next up was Bill with Roger in fourth place, Terry fifth and Julian Dobson (Laser full rig – NSSC) sixth. Jasmin Sayed (Topper – NSSC) was seventh, Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200 – NSSC) eigth, Steve at ninth and Graham Hardy (Laser full rig – NSSC)  tenth. At the rear of the fleet Alice Smith , having borrowed Laurence’s Streaker , was lying 11^th, Zoe McCaig (Gull – NSSC) was 12^th, Dan Ford (Pico – NSSC) 13^th, David Murley (Pico NSSC) 14^th,

Jasper.T 15^th and Quentin Thorp (Mirror – NSSC) 16^th.

In lap two there were no changes to positions of the front four boats, Towards the end of that lap Alan approached the mark in the middle of the pond on starboard tack with three port tack boats ahead – Jasper, Quentin and David. Alan had to pass astern of Jasper but was ahead of the other two who came rather close to one another and as a consequence Quentin capsized and was still being assisted by the safety boat when Alan came past the same mark on his following lap. Julian overtook Terry as did Michael as both he and Steve behind him passed Jasmin. Jasmin was also passed by Graham and Alice as the breeze began to fill in. The back four remained unchanged but Quentin retired before completing one lap.
Lap three saw Roger overtake Bill for third spot  and Steve overtook Michael in what was to become something of a duel. Both Graham and Alice moved ahead of Terry and Jasmin led the rear end of the fleet, David, Dan Zoe and Jasper.
The only change in lap 4 was when Michael went ahead of Steve In the final lap, Alan maintained his lead at the front although with the building breeze Paul pulled it back down to 50 seconds or so.
In the final (5^th) lap Paul closed up on Alan to be just 20 seconds behind at the finish. Roger was home in 3^rd place, Bill in 4^th and Michael, having overtaken Julian in this last lap, was 5^th. Although Steve  caught  up with Julian he could not make up the deficit of 11 seconds and finished 7^th with Alice 8^th and Graham 9^th.
With the handicaps applied the leading order was Alan 1^st, Paul 2^nd, Roger 3^rd, Bill 4^th and Alice 5^th.

For Race 14 the RO changed the course and sent the fleet round the pond in the opposite direction but just outside all the outside marks, starting with a beat down the south side towards the Island southerly mark.

 

With the wind now at about top end force three coming from the South East a staring berth close to the bank seemed to be a good idea and Alan managed to get it although he was a bit late and Steve, at the pin end , led Paul down the pond. A bit closer to the shore but still well ahead of Alan were Michael and Mike in the RS200 whilst Alice was just down to leeward of Alan. By the time the leaders got to the windward mark the order was Michael, then Paul, Alan then Alice with Julian and then Graham behind him. Paul managed to pass Michael on the final reaching leg – along the west shore - to lead him by 4 seconds. These two were to be joined in close ‘combat’ throughout the seven lap race rarely being more than ten seconds apart. The Spinnaker on the RS200 was flown at every opportunity with the planeing of the Laser on the long close reach being the compensation for the lesser sail area. Behind these two in lap 1 were Alan in 3^rd spot then Alice 4th, Julian 5^th, Graham 6^th,  Terry 7^th,  Bill 8^th, David 9^th, Jasmin 10^th Quentin (now recovered from his earlier swim) 11^th, Zoe 12^th Dan 13^th and Steve 14^th- the latter having had some problems and gone ashore before returning to the race in this first lap. Jasper capsized up in the Fisherman’s Bay, was assisted by the safety boat and came ashore without completing his first lap. Roger had not sailed this race having had more urgent family commitments to attend to – given the weather conditions he seemed quite torn!

The breeze stayed fairly constant at the top end of a force 3 with occasional puffs in the lower force 4 areas and in lap two the order of the top three was unchanged although Paul gained another 5 seconds on Michael whilst Julian overtook Alice. Jasmin went from 10^th to 9^th passing David on the way and Steve pulled up from last to 11^th ahead of Zoe.
So to Lap 3 and Michael passed Paul to be 9 seconds ahead Alan meanwhile stayed just 23 seconds behind Michael. Julian overtook Alice then it was unchanged for Graham Bill and Terry. Steve however passed Jasmin slowly closing in on Terry while the order of the last three remained unchanged.
Lap 4 saw Michael pass Paul to get 6 seconds ahead but with Alan still holding on just 19 seconds off the lead. Mid fleet positions remained the same with Julian 4^th, Alice 5^th, Graham 6^th, Bill 7^th, Terry 8^th and Steve 9^th. The rest were led by Jasminin 10^th, Quentin 11^th, David 12^th, Dan 13^th and Zoe 14^th.
In lap 4 there were no changes above 10^th place (Jasmin) but Quentin managed to move up two places to 11^th, David slipped one to 12^th, Dan made one place to 13^th and Zoe dropped back to last.
In lap 5 Michael maintained his lead ahead of Paul (9 seconds) and Alan dropped back a tad but pulled out a little on Julian. Alice failed to un-cleat the mainsheet whilst tacking up the southern shore and went for a swim. She spent quite a while having the boat go over twice again when she had gotten it upright and finally the safety boat came along to help. She continued racing but had dropped from 5^th to 8^th place on the water. Graham, Bill, and Terry all moved up one ahead of Alice and Steve also closed to within 14 seconds of her. The last four positions remained unchanged from the previous lap.
Lap six, the penultimate lap saw Paul slip ahead of Michael once more  and pull out a touch on Alan in third place whilst he extended in front of Julian a little. Bill, Graham and Terry remained behind Julian whilst Steve passed Alice to get up to 8^th with Jasmin still sailing and bringing up the rear in 10^th position on the water.
The seventh and final lap was led home by Paul 20 seconds in front of Michael and 35 in front of Alan, 4^th was Julian then Bill in 5^th, Graham in 6^th and Terry in 7^th.
With the handicaps applied Alan was the winner – for the second time this day – with Paul 2^nd, Michael 3^rd, Julian 4^th and Jasmin 5^th.

For the official results see the NSSC web site, Results page :-

http://www.nssc.org.uk/results/2013/numbum.htm

 Alan.S 1700

PS. Bett and I have created CDs/DVDs of the exploits on the pond for the Numbum series. We hope to complete the ‘picture taking’ next Sunday 24^th Feb but will therefore not have them completed for the last race and Prize Giving. Will the following please let me have their postal addresses :-

John and Jasper Smith

Jasmin Sayed

Michael Veale

Roger McAll

Steve Duncan

These pictures are warts and all and you may need a magniftying glass to see yourself but – if you were in the picture – it will be on the CD/DVDs

Streaker Ramblings Numbum races 11 & 12 - 10/02/2013

Dark grey skies, pouring rain, and quite a strong Southerly wind was blowing as we set off for Piddinghoe. Lots of puddles on the roads but no floods on the way down. Altogether not a very enticing/appealing situation but having changed and rigged a few others came to the water – six in all.

Rupert Smith RO for the day set a vaguely figure of eight course, in the force five wind, with a start line just off the Fisherman’s bay on the west side. From there there was a beat up to a turning mark off the clubhouse and a very tight fetch to a mark mid way down the south side of the pond. Bearing off from there it was a very broad reach/run to a mark mid way along the east side of the pond followed by a windward leg east of the Island to a mark in the south east corner. There followed  a very broad reach/cum run back to the starting mark in the northwest corner. Rupert had intended to anchor off but the wind was so strong he had to beach the ‘committee boat’ in the corner of the bay and ‘anchor to the reeds’.

At the start Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) was first cross the line on starboard tack just ahead of Roger McAll (Laser full rig - Pevensey Bay SC) . However having a better appreciation of the wind direction both Paul Ryan (Laser full rig - Hardway SC) and Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200 – NSSC) although a length or so behind at the gun were very soon ahead and on course. Steve Duncan (Laser full rig – NSSC) was late to the line and even later up the first leg and off to the run. Bringing up the rear Jasmin Sayed (Topper – NSSC) had already had several capsizes before the start and in the very strong winds continued in similar vein throughout the race.

Michael.V was first to round the windward mark with Paul.R close up astern and followed down the fetch and onto the run across the pond. Alan.S held on to 3^rd place until Roger.M passed him on the long run across the pond and began to pull away up the next beat. Paul.R led the fleet by the end of the first lap stretching out in front of Roger.Mwho had also overtaken Michael.V Steve.D was seen to head for the bank – presumably having suffered some gear failure and did not enter the second race.

In lap 2 Alan.S got a bit too close to the Island, hit the pudding with his daggerbaord and ended up on ‘beach’ (Brambles largely). He finally got off with the aid of the safety boat crew – Stuart and Dan Ford – but at the end of the lap had fallen five minutes behind Paul.R. Roger.M and Michael.V continued to battle it out through the rest of the race until Michael came out ahead in the final lap when Roger had a partial capsize at the beginning of the final beat.

It was hardly necessary to work out the handicaps as Paul was so far ahead at the finish and the only choice was between Roger.M and Michael.V, the former taking second place and Alan.S, even though finishing a lap short, was in fourth place. Jasmin battled on to finish in fifth spot but came to the line again for the second race of the day.

Race two (No 12 in the series) was run over the same course and with Rupert once again attempting to anchor – and failing for the second time – and having to beach. This time it Michael.V first off across the line with Alan.S just behind and a bit to windward. Paul.R was to Leeeward of Alan.S but the greater speed of the Laser soon pulled him past. Roger.M was late getting to the start, having ‘beached’ at the main jetty between the races, so had a bit of catching up to do. Michael.V was first around the windward mark and along the close reach but by the end of the run Paul.R had passed him. Alan.S also passed the RS200 when it capsized at the end of the first run so moving into second place but did not stay there long. By the end of the second main beat – up the western side – Roger.M had  pulled up to a one second advantage   with the RS200  just seven seconds behind.

 

 In lap 2 both Paul.R and Roger.M pulled out in the lead ahead of Alan.S and Michael.V with Alan.S staying just ahead by four seconds.

In lap 3, on the return run from the south eastern mark, Alan.S  himself  capsized in a gust in the Fisherman’s bay. This time it was a dry capsize so he did not lose too much time – enough for the RS200 to get past again and pull out a gap of about a minute and a half and also to catch up with Roger a little. Paul.R was just off and flying. By this time, the end of lap 3 for the fast boats, Jasmin.S had just finished sailing one full lap but with a considerable number of tip ups, some of which were dry events. At the end of the two races, with the amount of work she had put in she must have been exhausted.

Lap 4 was uneventfull in that there were no place changes although Alan.S seemed to drop further back behind Michael.V.

In the final lap 5 it was Alan.S again who featured when on the long run from the south east corner to the Fisherman’s bay he had a spectacular wipe out in one of the many violent gusts. This time he had to swim round from the starboard side to get to the board. Whilst the safety boat stood by he managed to get the boat upright and himself back on board, tacking downwind to reach the penultimate mark and the final beat back to the line.

Again the winner was clearly Paul.R with Roger.M second and Michael.V third. Alan.S  came 4^th and Jasmin.S fifth.

Conditions for these two races were more suited to the young and fit but even for them it was very hard work. This series has had more than its fair share of strong wind – who knows what the final two weeks will bring.

Alan.S 1700

Streaker Ramblings -Numbum Races 9 & 10 - 3rd Feb 2013

Cold, High grey cloud and a light westerly breeze as we left home for the drive to Piddinghoe. On arrival the breeze was a good notch or two higher and the heavy weather sail was rigged on the Streaker.   It did not seem too inviting but Laurence Venus eventually decided to sail, lest he lost too many points by not doing so he said, altogether nine boats eventually came on the water.

Chas Humphries, on his inaugural duty as Race Officer set a figure of eight course. The start, in the force four westerly (with a bit of southerly), was from near the slipway in the middle of the south side and with a windward leg up to the mark just off the clubhouse. On turning this mark there was a dead run across the pond to a mark just north of the Island and close to the eastern shore. After a port rounding another beat followed up to a mark off the Fisherman’s bay turning which led to a ‘Roaring’ reach back past the island to the mark at its southern end and a final beat back up the southern shore.

At the start signal it was Alan Simmons (Streaker – Lancing SC) who was first away from the middle of the line with Paul Ryan (Laser full rig – Hardway SC) the closest having started near the pin. Just astern of Paul.R were Michael Veale and Mike Rosier in their RS200. Further back Steve Duncan (Laser full rig – NSSC) was ahead of Roger McCall (Laser full rig – Bexhill SC) and Laurence Venus (Streaker – NSSC). Bringing up the rear were Matt Springhall (Laser full rig – NSSC) – having capsized just before the start and needing to make his way back to the correct side of the line, then came Dan Ford and young crew (Pico - NSSC) and Jasmin Sayed (Topper – NSSC).

 

At the windward mark Alan.S was still just ahead of Paul.R and pulled out a little on the downwind leg. Behind them were Roger.M with the inside berth and Michael.V – flying the spinnaker. Behind this pair were Steve.D just ahead of Laurence.V with Matt.S some way astern. By the end of the first lap Paul.R was ahead of Alan.S with Roger.M next up and Michael.V lying fourth.
The heat began to turn up in the second lap when Roger.M, on the fast reach from the Fisherman’s bay, had a spectacular capsize and even though he had assistance from the safety boat took so long to recover that he decided to retire. Jasmin.S suffered some gear failure and returned ashore to fix it before venturing out again.

Next to take a dip was Laurence.V, in lap 3, close to the Eastern shore. He was picked up from the ‘vertical’ hull (boat on its side) by the Safety boat and was in some considerable pain having suffered some compression to his ribs. An ambulance was called – the service could not, at first, locate the Pond on their maps – and a Para-Medic arrived within minutes. It was thought that Laurence might have a cracked rib and so was taken off to Hospital for X-Ray. A call, to his wife Ingrid, later Sunday evening revealed that he had the X-rays which fortunately showed no significant damage to his ribs but that his finger was broken. After a couple of hours at the hospital he is now home again but somewhat chastened. We wish him a speedy recovery and return to Piddinghoe. At the end of this lap the order was Paul.R in front then Michael.V with Steve.D next.  Alan.S was in fourth place with Matt.S fifth and Dan Ford 6^th. – the latter having somewhere during  this lap placed his crew ashore.

Lap 4 also had its fair share of capsizes when Michael.V and Mike.R went over near Laurence’s boat. Unsure whether anyone was still attached (or underneath) Michael.V, who was already in the water, swam over to inspect the hull and upon finding no one swam back to the RS200 finally recovering it with Mike.R,s help.

In the final lap (Lap 5) Alan.S suffered a wipe out but fortunately recovered quickly, Matt.S also yet again and So did Paul.R allowing Steve.D into the lead which he maintained to the finish line.

At the finish Steve.D was ahead of  Paul R by some 14 seconds and Paul about 3.1/2 minutes ahead of Alan. With the handicaps applied Steve.D was the winner from Paul.R with Alan.S 3rd ahead of  Michael.V. Dan.F was 5th and Jasmin.S 6th. Alan had hoped for a win to celebrate his 75^th Birthday (on the previous Wednesday) but was none the less happy to survive and finish.

It was not clear, given the conditions – strong breeze (at least top end force four) with even stronger gusts and now rain setting in - whether the second race would take place. Eventually there were six entrants, Paul.R, Steve.D, Michael.V,  Roger.M, Dan.F and Jasmin.S. First away, on the same course, was Michael.V followed by Steve.D and, having to tack away from the shore Paul.R had to duck their transoms. By the time they reached the ‘top’ mark close to the clubhouse Paul was out in front once more with Michael.V behind then Roger.M. Dan.F and lastly Jasmin.S.  Alan.S, Matt.S and Laurence.V (who was otherwise occupied ) had decide not to sail in  this race.

Roger.M did not make the end of the first lap having yet another wipe out and only Paul and Michael.V made it to the end of the second lap – Steve.D capsized close to the ‘clubhouse’ – providing all with a close up view – and had his mast stuck in the mud. After a lengthy wait he was helped to release his rig and headed for shore. After applying the handicaps Paul.R was the winner, Michael.V second and  Dan.F adjuged to finish in 3^rd place with Jasmin.S in 4^th place. Unfortunately Bett’s camera ceased to operate just before the start of race 2 of the day so there are no pics of this race to display.

Alan.S 1700

For the official results follow the link to:- http://www.nssc.org.uk/results/2013/numbum.htm