Monday 22 February 2016

Streaker Ramblings – Elford Numbum Race 15 & 16 – 211/2/2016


With a forecast for strong, force 6 plus, winds, and a prospective buyer for my Aero 7 coming down from Norfolk we decide not to go to Piddinghoe on Sunday. As a result the report below is courtesy of Laurence Venus and the photos are ‘salvaged’ from race 11, last week.

Furthemore I am pleased to inform you that the Aero has gone to a new home – the front lawn is, temporarily, free from a dinghy.

Laurence's Report :

The weather on arrival was gusty F5 WSW wind, cloudy but dry. With the forecast for stronger winds to come and with some powerful gusts whistling through the rigging several decided not to sail. Eventually we had enough boats for a race. I decided to use my reefed down Wavesail. The RS 200 went out early and capsized a few times. Then the wind seemed to drop as some drizzly mist came in but there wasn’t sufficient time to change back to the full Wavesail which as it turned out was just as well as the wind did increase again during the race with some vicious F6-7 gusts and large wind shifts.




The course was a basically a diamond shape with a sausage across the centre. It consisted of a very short beat from the start line next to the windsurfer slipway to the corner mark opposite the clubhouse then a short broad reach parallel to the south bank, around the ladybird mark then a long hairy run to the white mark very near the far bank. Next was a beat back up the sausage to the ladybird mark followed by a broad reach parallel to south bank to the dirty yellow mark in the southeast corner, pass the far side of the island to the far bank white mark then parallel with north bank to the spiral mark in fisherman’s bay then a beat back to the ODM and then on to the corner mark opposite the clubhouse for the finish line.




Micheal Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) were first across the start line followed by James Cuxson (Radial) then my Streaker with its tiny reefed Wavesail. James got into trouble trying to tack around the first mark which allowed my Streaker to overtake James Radial. The RS200 lead down the run followed by me but James caught up overtook the Streaker to round the white mark in second place.


With the increasing winds the Radial couldn’t pull away from the Streaker then James found a huge gust on the beat back to the ladybird mark too much and capsized allowing my Streaker back into 2nd spot again.

In the meantime the reefed RS Vision sailed by Katy Wilfort and Phoebe Godin was having great problems especially long the north side of the pond where the winds were at their strongest and capsized a few times before retiring. Toby Wride sailing a Topper capsized several times then finally retired after capsizing on top of the ladybird mark. The rescue boat crew couldn’t free the mark and ended up towing the Topper and mark back to the south bank and then managed to entangle it which caused a few problems for me as I was heading up the beat looking for the ladybird mark to round. Toby decided enough was enough and also retired.
At the back of the fleet was Charlie Riggs battling on in these very trying conditions but eventually he managed to do two laps and finish the race despite lots of capsizes.  The RS 200 was well out in front and gradually extended their lead throughout the race and succeeded in sailing the whole race without capsizing although they had been over a few times before the start. James did manage to overtake my Streaker again only to succumbed to yet another capsize and eventually finishing 1 minute 50 seconds behind me. Micheal and Mike were the only boat to manage to sail 4 laps and deservedly won what was a very tough race. My Streaker and James Radial sailed 3 laps and were 2nd and 3rd respectfully. Charlie did well to finish and was 4th on handicap.



Not enough boats wanted to sail for a second race so only the one race today.

Laurence Venus.

R12 - 14.2.16

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank
Boat
Class
SailNo
Club
HelmName
CrewName
Elapsed
BCE
Points
1
Hot Toddy
RS 200
582
NSSC
Micheal Veale
Mike Rosier
33.24
0.00.00
1.0
2
Mistyblue
Streaker
1706
NSSC
Laurence Venus

29.47
0.02.33
2.0
3
Donna Lee
Laser Radial 'c'
174808
NSSC
James Cuxson

31.37
0.04.28
3.0
4

Topper 'c'
27531
NSSC
Charlie Riggs

37.57
0.16.35
4.0
5

RS Vision
258
NSSC
Kathy Wilfort
Liah Hunter
DNF

7.0
5

Topper 'c'
15693
NSSC
Toby Wride

DNF

7.0

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum Races 13 & 14 - 14/02/2016

Bright with patchy dark cloud and a fresh breeze, as we departed Hove this morning. On arrival at the pond the breeze was still brisk but not too much to sail in for me so I took my gear to the changing room and then set about getting the boat uncovered for rigging. The forecast was not good, with the north easterly direction making it feel very cold, and to increase towards 26 knots by midday. Within a few minutes what had seemed sailable for me became too much and the cover went back on again. A few hardy souls arrived and Laurence Venus (Streaker) decided to use his smaller ‘Wave’ sail.

The race team for the morning, John and Anna Freeman with Jonty in the safety boat with Penelope Duncan, set up a course with an extra loop in it as shown below.



Eight boats came to the line for the first race of the day. At the start, which was a bit ragged, Roger McCall (Laser full rig) was first across the line near to the shore end. Next away was Charlie Rigg (Topper) and then Laurence who was just ahead of Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS200) and then Rupert Smith (Streaker). Behind them were James Cuxson (Laser Radial), Bill Wates (Laser full rig) and Dave Murley (Laser Radial).


Roger got caught in the wind shadow from the hut and trees near the bank as it was Laurence who rounded the windward mark, off the Fisherman’s bay in the lead with Roger next and then Rupert on the outside of Michael.
All set off down the reach to the ‘spotted’ mark. Laurence made a crucial mistake however and rounded it in the wrong direction. Having been made aware of his error, by shouts from behind, he corrected his course to round in sixth position. At the end of the ‘return’ beat Rupert was in the lead with Michael behind and Roger behind him. Rupert  had to negotiate an upturned Dave on the ensuing reach to the mark off the middle of the eastern shore and thence behind the Island.

As the fleet concluded the somewhat awesome reach up the south side Rupert was leading with Roger second and Laurence now back up to third just ahead of Michael. Behind these four Bill.W was having a tussle with James.C who crossed the line 4 seconds ahead. Behind them were a now recovered Dave and lastly Charlie.

Lap 2 saw Rupert extend his lead to 15 seconds ahead of Michael who had passed Laurence and Roger, who was also 3 seconds ahead of Laurence. Bill came across the line who was 19 seconds ahead of James. Dave and Charlie remained 7th and 8th respectively.


Lap 3 saw Rupert extend his lead to 54 seconds from Michael  who was 38 seconds in front of Laurence. Roger started the lap in front of Laurence but went into Irons at the beginning of the lap and then decided that it was getting a bit too windy for his liking and so retired. Bill.W was now in fourth and at the line was 16 seconds in front of James. Behind them came Dave and Charlie.


Lap 4 , the final lap, had Rupert cruising to the line to cross 12 seconds in front of Michael who had made up a good bit of ground. Laurence crossed in third position with James next, having overtaken Bill.W who had found the ‘full rig’ a bit much of a handfull and was seen to be sailing well below the course on the second windward leg of the lap. Roger’, having retired and Charlie finished at the end of the previous lap, it was left Dave to bring up the rear.

With Handicaps applied the winner of the race was Rupert with Laurence taking second, Michael third and James fourth.

R11 - 14.2.16

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank
Boat
Class
SailNo
Club
HelmName
CrewName
Elapsed
BCE
Points
1
Scoundrel
Streaker
1681
NSSC
Rupert Smith

26.07
0.00.00
1.0
2
Mistyblue
Streaker
1706
NSSC
Laurence Venus

28.37
0.02.30
2.0
3
Hot Toddy
RS 200
582
NSSC
Micheal Veale
Mike Rosier
26.55
0.02.53
3.0
3

Laser Radial
192842
NSSC
Jonty Freeman

OOD

3.0
5
Donna Lee
Laser Radial 'c'
174808
NSSC
James Cuxson

29.36
0.03.33
4.0
6

Laser Radial
142208
NSSC
David Murley

32.16
0.06.13
5.0
7

Laser
26/133416
NSSC
Bill Wates

31.58
0.06.56
6.0
8

Topper 'c'
27531
NSSC
Charlie Riggs

34.19
0.11.15
7.0
9

Laser
191067
Pevensey SC
Roger McCall

DNF

9.0



Although the safety boat was not too occupied with capsizes the competitors had had a very hard race and were not unduly concerned when the second programmed race was cancelled. Yours truely would have loved to race but had taken a wise decision to stay ashore and watch the high jinks afloat.

Alan.S 1700