Tuesday 1 March 2016

Streaker Ramblings - Elford Numbum race 13 (17 as scheduled)


Light grey high clouds on the journey to Pidinghoe on Sunday morning with jst a light breeze as we left home.

On arrival at the pond the breeze as a good bit stronger, force 4 and upwards, as per the forecast –which earlier last week had been for lighter winds. With a direction from the north east it was bitterly cold and due to increase in strength. Yours truly made an early decision not to sail – the Wave sail was still in the garage at home anyway. As it was the final race of the season and with the help of Roger McCall (who had left his sailing gear at home by mistake) the boat was hauled to the car park, the mast removed and then packed up for the journey home.

Laurence Venus, RO for the last race of the series (which he had already won but had to work out he overall results) assisted by Jo Whitehead set a course with a windward beat towards the ‘Lady Bird’ spotted mark in the middle of the pond from a start mark off the clubhouse.

Ten boats took to the water for what was to be a hair razing sail and several capsized before the start, Katy Wilfort (Laser Radial) and Zoe McCaig (Laser Radial) to name but two. Zoe got up from her capsize to find that her Dry Suit was leaking so she headed ashore. Dave Murley (Laser Radial) was also seen up against the south bank with the safety boat in close attendance for some while after the gun had gone for the start and one of the two Visions (Plumpton College boats, helmed by Liah Hunter with Amy Hunter as her crew were still on the slipway as the gun fired – not a precision start.

 Just seconds before the gun Matt Springall (Laser full rig) in attempting to avoid Charlie Rigg (Topper), who was heading towards the ODM, managed to fall out of the boat. It seemed as though Charlie had lost the wind and was unable to tack to avoid Rupert Smith (Streaker) who, at the gun, was heading for the line on starboard tack.

The inevitable collision occurred and Rupert stopped dead allowing Michael Veale and Mike Rosier (RS 200) to cross the line into the lead. Bill Wates (Laser full rig) passed Rupert to be the third to start. Rupert eventually got free from Charlie and set off on the beat and rounded the windward mark in second place.
All rounded the windward mark safely, survived the offwind leg on the near side of the Island and that behind it. The next critical point was the mark off the Fisherman’s Bay and whether or not to gybe there or at the end of the leg to the mark off the clubhouse – the end of the lap. Either way it was a hairy downwind leg and provided some further swimming for some.
The end of the lap the order was Michael leading Rupert, by 3 seconds, and Matt a minute behind. Andy Hamilton and Tim Dutson (Plumpton college Vision) were fourth with Liah fifth,  Bill.W sixth, Dave seventh, Charlie eighth and Kathy ninth  with Zoe having already gone ashore.

Lap 2 saw Rupert take the lead from Michael, just, crossing the line 3 seconds in front this time. Matt was still  minute behind and Andy.H dropped back a little. The order behind Andy remained unchanged but Charlie suffered more capsizes, to add to his original poor start and mix up with Rupert and was finished at the end of this lap. Meanwhile Katy missed out a mark and was disqualified after several more capsizes.

Lap 3 Rupert continued to lead the diminished fleet but now 6 seconds in front of Michael. Matt pulled back a little on the lead pair and crossed the line 50 seconds behind Michael. Liah overtook Andy as Bill.W capsized and allowed Dave to overtake.

Lap 4 and Rupert had a spurt, leaving Michael some 53 seconds astern. Either that or Michael had a swim allowing Matt to catch up somewhat to 13 seconds astern. Liah was fourth across the line with Bill now back ahead of Dave as Andy capsized again just off the clubhouse and drifted back into the pontoon before being able to right the Vision, and with a push off from Penelope Duncan, continue with the race. The back four were finished at the end of this lap.


Lap 5 and Rupert continued to leave Michael in his wake crossing the line a minute and five seconds ahead. Matt closed up even more om Michael crossing in third place just 7 seconds later. Both Michael and Matt were then finished leaving just Rupert to set off on a sixth and final lap.

With the handicapping applied Rupert was the outright winner, Matt second and Michael third. Kathy was fourth, Bill fifth.

R13 - 28.02.16

Start: Start 1, Finishes: Place

Rank
Boat
Class
SailNo
Club
HelmName
CrewName
Elapsed
BCE
Points
1
Scoundrel
Streaker
1681
NSSC
Rupert Smith
29.33
0.00.00
1.0
2
Laser
153570
NSSC
Matt Springall
26.00
0.02.24
2.0
3
Mistyblue
Streaker
1706
NSSC
Laurence Venus
OOD
3.0
3
Hot Toddy
RS 200
582
NSSC
Micheal Veale
Mike Rosier
25.53
0.03.14
3.0
3
Topper 'c'
83
NSSC
Natasha Stonestreet
OOD
3.0
3
Laser Radial
1979
NSSC
Jo Whitehead
OOD
3.0
7
RS Vision
258
NSSC
Kathy Wilfort
Liah Hunter
27.19
0.07.41
4.0
8
Laser
26/133416
NSSC
Bill Wates
29.26
0.10.33
5.0
9
RS Vision
545
NSSC
Andy Hamilton
Tom Dutson
31.14
0.11.36
6.0
10
Laser Radial
142208
NSSC
David Murley
30.17
0.15.33
7.0
11
Topper 'c'
27531
NSSC
Charlie Riggs
27.05
0.15.29
8.0
12
Laser Radial
64200
NSSC
Zoe McCaig
DNF
11.0


This being the last race of the series Laurence was left to sort out the overall positions.For the full table see the NSSC web site :-


Stuart Hall (Vice Commodore) and Kay Young presented the prizes with Laurence taking the Elford Numbum Trophy, Michael second place and Dave Murley third. There was a slight error in that third place prize was, at the time, presented to Bill (much to his surprise) with fourth place going to Dave – who was actually awarded a prize for the most capsizes. Bill was just about equally worthy of this latter prize anyway so no harm came of the mx-up.

The series had had more than its fair share of strong winds this year with four of the seventeen planned races not being sailed. That meant more excitement for the braver/hardier competitors but more disappointment and time on the bank for the less experienced (or fit).

Alan.S 1700