Streaker Ramblings – Freeman Iceberg Race 17 – 26 Dec
2015
Not
a good forecast for Boxing Day – south westerly force 5 or 6 (22 to 26 Knots)
at Seaford according to Windfinder. Ever the optimist we none the less set off
for Piddnghoe under grey skies, not a hint of the sun. On arrival there were a few
people Rigging so yours truly joined
them and got the boat uncovered and ready to launch before going off to put on
the dry suit.
Laurence
Venus was RO for this the last race (race 17) of the Freeman Iceberg series and
given the strength of the breeze he set a rather testing course. Louise Currell
decided to stay ashore and to act as ARO/Recorder for the morning. As start
time approached yours truly had second thoughts and feeling that a dip or two
was likely made the decision to stay ashore and immediately started to pack the
boat away again, much to Bett’s relief. Had I brought the Wave sail with me I
might well still have joined in the race, in spite of my lack of mobility.
The
start was a bit ragged with no one really high enough to round the corner mark,
by the clubhouse in one tack but it was James Cuxson (Laser Radial) first
across the angled back line on port tack. A little behind but up wind were
Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) and between the pair Rupert Smith
(Streaker). Not far astern Matt Springall (Laser full rig) had enough height and
speed to get to the mark in the lead, although he was pushing his luck with a
port tack approach and James coming in on starboard. The pair then charged off
down the (first) reach to the mark midway along the southern side of the pond
with third rounding Rupert in hot pursuit.
Michael made a hash of that first
leg but finally got onto the reach with Gennaker quickly hoisted. Next to round
was Dave Murley (Laser Radial) with Alice Smith (Topper) next and Tim Cox
(Laser Radial) behind her. At the next mark there was a gybe – the first of
three each lap - which most navigated safely, another broad reach and then
another gybe across the near side of the Island and then the last gybe in the
south east corner before yet more reaching to a mark at the Fisherman’s bay
area. This last gybe saw Matt and James both take to the water allowing Rupert
to blast into the lead. Michael also took advantage of the two ‘swimmers’ to
pull through to second place. At the end of the lap Rupert was already ¾ minute
in front with Michael second and a recovered James14 seconds away in third. Fourth
to finish the lap was Dave followed by Jamie Smith (Laser 4.7). Tim sixth, Matt
seventh. Alice was in eighth, Bill Wates (Laser full rig) ninth, Zoe McCaig
(Laser radial) tenth and Bill Hudson eleventh. Penelope Duncan (Laser Radial) and
Richard Beal (Lasr full rig) both failed to complete the lap and after several
dips called it a day and headed ashore.
Lap
2 saw plenty more spills and thrills with both Michael and James managing to
miss out the penultimate mark of the course, possibly partly due to a spectacular
capsize when Michael, on the first reach of the course and whilst just outside
James near the first gybe, went over with a vengeance and James went in too a
second or so later.
Rupert stayed well in the lead from Matt,
nearly a minute ahead, who took advantage of the aforesaid errors. Dave was
also up to third, in spite of being passed by Matt., with Tim not far behind.
Alice gained four places to lie fifth ahead of Zoe, Bill and Jamie all of whom
had had a swim (or two).
Lap
three saw the gusts keep coming, a good mid force 6 at times, and again not
everybody stayed up-right or moving forwards. Rupert held the lead from Matt,
who had also had another dip, now over 2 minutes in front. Dave was still third
and Michael crossed the line in fourth, however this was effectively only his second
lap. Tim was fifth, Alice sixth, Zoe seventh, Bill.W eigth and Jamie tenth.
James missed the same mark again.
Lap
4 and, in spite of the odd ‘going about’ in lieu of ‘Gybing’ Rupert succumbed to
a capsize – his first in a Streaker so we learnt as he came ashore after the
race – allowing Matt to reduce his deficit to 1.1/2 minutes. Dave remained in
third place with Tim in fourth. Fifth to cross the line was James, but having
missed the same mark on two laps, he was only on his second lap. Zoe had managed
to pull back and pass Alice to go 6th and Michael missed that same
damned mark once more.
Lap
5, the final lap and no one as going to catch Rupert who crossed the now
depleted fleet ahead of Matt with Dave behind him and Tim crossing fourth.
Michael crossed fifth but was only finishing his third lap due to his faulty
navigation around the course – he subsequently deigned the offer of a compass
(might have said yes to a GPS).
With
the Handicaps applied Rupert was the winner with Matt placed second, Alice
third and Dave fourth.
R17
Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place
Class
|
SailNo
|
Club
|
HelmName
|
CrewName
|
PY
|
Finish
|
Elapsed
|
Laps
|
Corrected
|
BCE
|
Points
|
STREAKER
|
1681
|
NSSC
|
Rupert
Smith
|
1138
|
29.18
|
5
|
0.25.45
|
0.00.00
|
1.0
|
||
LASER
|
153670
|
NSSC
|
Matt
Springhall
|
1091
|
31.03
|
5
|
0.28.28
|
0.02.58
|
2.0
|
||
STREAKER
|
1706
|
NSSC
|
Laurence
Venus
|
1138
|
OOD
|
3.0
|
|||||
BYTE
CII
|
2941
|
SHOREHAM
|
Louise
Currell
|
1150
|
OOD
|
3.0
|
|||||
TOPPER
|
9
|
NSSC
|
Alice
Smith
|
1340
|
31.14
|
4
|
0.29.08
|
0.03.38
|
3.0
|
||
LASER
RADIAL
|
142208
|
NSSC
|
Dave
Murley
|
1135
|
33.06
|
5
|
0.29.10
|
0.03.53
|
4.0
|
||
LASER
RADIAL
|
158377
|
NSSC
|
Tim Cox
|
1135
|
33.50
|
5
|
0.29.49
|
0.04.37
|
5.0
|
||
LASER
RADIAL
|
64200
|
NSSC
|
Zoe
McCaig
|
1135
|
30.51
|
4
|
0.33.59
|
0.07.28
|
6.0
|
||
LASER
|
133416(26)
|
NSSC
|
Bill
Wates
|
1091
|
28.32
|
3
|
0.43.35
|
0.11.41
|
7.0
|
||
LASER
4.7
|
2063
|
NSSC
|
Jamie
Smith (c)
|
1195
|
33.56
|
3
|
0.47.20
|
0.15.28
|
8.0
|
||
RS 200
|
582
|
NSSC
|
Michael
Veale
|
Mike
Rosier
|
1047
|
34.01
|
3
|
0.54.09
|
0.17.51
|
9.0
|
|
LASER
RADIAL
|
179808
|
NSSC
|
James
Cuxson (c)
|
1135
|
30.08
|
2
|
1.06.22
|
0.18.27
|
10.0
|
||
LASER
RADIAL
|
81
|
NSSC
|
Penelope
Duncan
|
1135
|
DNF
|
14.0
|
|||||
LASER
|
43382
|
NSSC
|
Richard
Beal
|
1091
|
DNF
|
14.0
|
|||||
TOPPER
|
14
|
NSSC
|
Bill
Hudson (c)
|
1340
|
DNF
|
14.0
|
After the final race results Laurence was left to update the overall series places so that the trophies and prizes could be awarded by John Freeman and with Stuart Ford announcing the winners.
Overall Winner of the
Iceberg was Laurence Venus with Rupert Smith in second place and Alan Simmons
in third. Jamie Smith won the Cadet trophy with Natasha Stonestreet second and
Toby Wride third. With a good few Lasers (of various rigs) prizes were also
award to that fleet with Dave Murley taking top spot, Jamie Smith second and
Penelope Duncan third place. Bett was awarded a bottle of Pink wine in recognition
of her Camera skills.
It had been a good series
with 13 of the possible races sailed – just 4 lost to excess breeze – and in
all conditions from Drifting to near gale. 53 competitors were recorded sailing
in at last one race, although the odd bod sailed more than one class of boat
which distorts the figures a tiny bit. Either way it had been a very well
supported event/series. With the Elford Numbum due to start on 3rd
Jan 2016, after the 2.00 pm start of the single race on New year’s day, who
knows how well that series will be supported, one or two will doubtless go into
hibernation.
Alan.S 1700
