Autumn Edition October 2013

Transcription

1 Autumn Edition October 2013 Commodores senior moments Those of you who read the last mainsheet will have noticed my calling it Sailing week special and then omitting the sailing week results. However as only I appeared to notice my mistake we'll pretend I was just doing market research into reader awareness. At the time of writing I have put a laptop at the clubhouse, cost me 4 at a car boot, it has Cadet week photos and some 'Through the ages' photos put together by Michelle. The laptop can be linked to the TV and a slideshow run. Please feel free to add your own photos to the desktop. The idea is to have some sailing pic's on show, last night it was being watched and enjoyed. Check out the events for October and November, lots going on this Autumn and winter series to look forward to. Please get your bookings in for the laying up supper on 26th October by 19th should be a good night. We welcome Steve and Udo the new bar managers, they have already been tidying and sorting the bar area. Check out opening times and have a go behind the bar, it gets you duty points and is a great way to meet people and socialise. We say thank you to Andrew Barns who has stepped down as principal of the sailing school and welcome Ed Hall to the role. I am sure most of you know Ed, he has always helped out with the cadets and is an active sailor at both Seaford and the pond. Ed won the river race this year ahead of Joe and I, one more lap and we'd have got you Ed. I am sure I have said before we are a volunteer based club and do need the members to do duties and help out, so don't be shy come and have a go. We will run race officer courses and other training through the winter, come along and have some fun and learn or improve a skill.

2 The club officers eventually need a rest or a change and we are looking for a new Treasurer next year, I have mentioned this before, Michael has done three years, so is due for parole for exceptional service. If anyone out there would like to find out what is involved have a chat to Michael, he has got things well sorted. Three cadets travelled to the Zone Championships 28th and 29th September accompanied by Ed and Alex and visited by Matt. They are Bea, Nia and Jazz and they were sailing club toppers, out of a fleet of 53, Jazz came 13th, Nia 17th and Bea 28th, an excellent performance and well done all. I am sure they can be persuaded to write something for the next mainsheet. I have been making all the article fonts in mainsheet Arial 12pt, but Zoe informs me, she's a teacher now, that Comic Sans MS 12pt is the one to use, so please all enjoy reading this educationally correct, font wise, edition. Ian Johnson Commodore Laying up supper Saturday 26th Oct Menu Canapes. Starter Seafood pasta. Main course Lamb shank with a red wine sauce Sweet T.b.a. Or Cheese and biscuits No bookings can be taken after the 19th October. Cost : per head Let somebody know please We have come across a few bits and pieces of club equipment damaged in use recently, Rib aerials, elephants trunk, locks etc. Nobody will be chastised or rebuked if something gets damaged, it happens, you would be surprised by the list of those who have snagged anchors. Accidents happen, but if nobody tells us then next time we try to use the kit, usually a Sunday or Wednesday evening it is too late to sort out. So don't worry if something gets damaged, caught or broken let a Race Officer, Rear Commodore, Bosun or other officer know please.

3 Streaker Ramblings - Sailing Week at NSSC - 5th to 9th August One of the most successful Sailing Weeks in recent history was held between the 5 th and 9 th August at Newhaven & Seaford Sailing Club. The weather was fine and warm with but one overnight session of rain, to the annoyance of the campers and breezes varying from almost dead calm to a frisky mid force five on the last day. It was on the last day only that the two morning races, the Cadets and the Adult Fun races, were not held due to a strong breeze and lots of white horses and even that abated a little by lunch time. Three Cadets had decided to sail but were dissuaded by parents and no adults looked likely to go out. The car park/camping area was packed and a total of 36 boats (including two visitors) entered at least one race. The Cadet series, for the Miller Cup, was convincingly won by Alice Smith with three bullets and a second place sailing a Laser Radial. In the morning Fun Races Penny Springall and Carolyn Turner sailing in the only Squib entered took home the honours. The overall winner of the week, the afternoon race series, were Rupert Smith and Chris Turner in their Fireball with four first places, two thirds and three fourths. The results for the Fast and Slow fleets were extracted from these races as below. The Fast Fleet Trophy went to Rupert Smith and Chris Turner in their Fireball with an almost perfect score of eight firsts and a third out of the nine races sailed. The Slow Fleet trophy went to Laurence Venus in his Streaker (using the club handicap of 1148) with four firsts, a second and a third, from the six out of nine possible races that he sailed in. Of the two visitors Alan Simmons (Streaker LSC) finished 5 th overall (and 4 th in the Slow Fleet) whilst Alan Hall and Ruth Watson (Enterprise) were 31 st overall (18 th in the Slow Fleet). Top Catamaran of the week was a Dart 18 sailed by Ian Johnson/Steve Turner and Trevor/Ian Fen coming 12 th overall and second in the Fast Fleet. With so many races/ series it is not possible to record all the lap positions but I will try to give a few occurrences. For instance on Tuesday morning the cadets sailed off towards the harbour and all but two Toppers rounded the mark at that end of the bay. Alan Simmons was first away in the Adult Fun Race, on the same course, but as he approached the mark the wind died to nothing. He had to sail past the mark and the Toppers who were close to it. All three started to drift down tide towards the harbour whilst the rest of the adult fleet arrived by the mark in a bunch. Fortunately for Alan he caught the merest sniff of breeze and was able to sail out to sea, clear of the rest and the bear off for the Seaward mark off the Clubhouse, establishing a goodly lead which he held to the finish only to be beaten into second place by Zoe McCaig in her Laser Radial.

4 On Wednesday, Alan once more on the safety boat in the morning, left the berth and got out into the harbour main channel when the engine cut out. The breather plug on the fuel tank had been done up so tightly it was impossible to release and although the main tank cap had been eased it was not enough to prevent the tank going under vacuum. Fortunately Ark was close at hand and had spare fuel tanks aboard and a transfer was achieved swiftly in mid channel. Thereafter the safety boat behaved as good as gold. It was good to see the club Toppers being used by the younger club members but in some cases even the light breezes in the first part of the week proved that the Sea is as yet perhaps an adventure too far and had to be shepherded back to the beach as they were making little or no progress around the courses. A special mention should be made of Nia Hall sailing a Laser 4.7 who finished third in the Miller cup but sailing in the PM series finished 7 th overall, scoring two third places amongst the adults and came 6 th in the Slow Fleet. In the PM races it seemed that Mark Lambert sailing his father s full rig Laser had a very goodly turn of speed with a lowest position of fourth and claiming third overall and second in the Slow fleet not to mention being one of the few who did not capsize all week. Fast though he was he could only beat Laurence in two races. Alan Hall and Ruth Watson in their Enterprise had one ignominious race when they approached the windward mark on port just as a bunch of faster boats were piling in on Starboard. Somehow they got half way across this bunch, who were screaming that they were not right of way boat, and then they proceeded to capsize in the ensuing melee. In another race, but again at a mark down at the harbour end of the bay, Michael Veale in his RS 200, tried to force his way between Alan.S and the mark. Alan saw this projecting Asymmetric Spinnaker Pole coming straight at him and pinging through his rigging whilst unable to bear away due to the proximity of a Catamaran sailed by Dave Robertson. Although he did not capsize he did lose several places. In one of the morning races, Alan on the Safety boat attended a Cat that had capsized and after several attempts finally got it righted. Had it been fitted with righting lines the crew, even though not heavy weights, could have probably up ended it on their own. On Thursday afternoon in the second race, at the westward end of the beat to the windward mark Laurence Venus capsized when tacking. He lost grip on the newly replaced tiller so he said later. He righted his boat only to see it flip again by which time Alan.S was breathing a sigh of relief, not to be behind as usual. By the final lap however he had caught up with Alan and then proceeded to wrongly call starboard on the Miracle sailed by Kathy and Roger Thomas they were on starboard and about to round the windward mark correctly. Both he and Alan having rounded outside the Miracle Laurence then worked his way inside Alan by the next mark and then flew away on the final two legs to finish ahead.

5 On the final day, as stated above, there was no sailing in the morning and then by lunch/launch time the breeze dropped from about 15 to 10 knots. By then however there was a good steep sea running and help was required from the younger, fitter, competitors to launch through the surf. Once afloat the breeze began to build again until it was a mid force five or so. The course included a very long dead downwind run over waves which were up to five feet or so high. At the end of this leg Matt Springall, sailing a full rig Laser, capsized at the Gybe mark allowing Alan.S to catch up. With not more than a boat length between them they sailed the next leg to the finish line and half way up the ensuing beat. Matt tacked off to seaward and Alan then also tacked and capsized while so doing, much to his annoyance. On the third lap Alan failed to bear off enough and ended up on a screaming, out of control, broad reach and unable to let off anymore sail. The last time round he went dead down wind. At the other end of the bay Dave and James Robertson, sailing a Hobbie 16, had a spectacular capsize fairly close inshore. They were unable to right the Cat and at one time had both safety boats in attendance. Once finally ashore it was obvious that the mast had suffered a banana bend as Dave put it. Overall it was the most successful Sailing Week in recent years, with the weather being extra kind. The organisation was up to the usual high standards with plenty of volunteers for RO, ARO, Ark helms and crews, Safety Boat Helms and Crews, both in the mornings and afternoons. The Galley crew, Jane, Clive and helpers, did an excellent job keeping all well fed and the bar crew more than adequately keeping up with the thirsts of those present, the Club can be proud of its efforts. Alan.S 1700 Evening classes NSSC plan to run courses through the winter, depending on interest. Race Officer free Day Skipper (shorebased) 165 minimum 6 on course 12 weeks Yachtmaster (shorebased) 165 minimum 6 on course 12 weeks Bar and Till familiarisation free Splicing and ropework 5 for materials 4-10 people Course setting free Tuning a boat free Flags, Rules and dilemmas free VHF 45 minimum 6 on course 3 nights Contact Bill Giles, Training Director trainingdirectornssc@nssc.org.uk

6 Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club Cadet Week 2013 Cadet week this year was a great success. We had good weather and most importantly good wind. It was lovely to see lots of cadets that had only learnt to sail this year racing and enjoying cadet week for the first time. I want to say a big thank you to all the adults who helped out either by going out on the safety boats, working in the galley or helping to run the racing. A special thanks should go to Ian Johnson and Stuart Ford for making sure everything ran as it should (especially as I was sunning myself in Egypt for the first two days). I also want to say how wonderful the cadets were. There were smiles from ear to ear every day. Cadet week consisted of Topper and Oppie racing in the morning. Team games and a fun race in the afternoon. Cadets also played a range of games with Mary in the Hut and messed around on the paddle boards. Topper Results Place Name of Cadet Points 1st Nia Hall 7pts 2nd Adam Lansley 14pts 3rd Archie Oram Dow 34pts 4th Josh Smith 35pts 5th Joseph Jupp 43pts 6th Fynn Hall 46pts Nia Hall Winner of the Topper class

7 Oppie Results Place Name of Cadet Points 1 st Charlie Newns 4pts 2 nd Tom Leviston 5pts 3 rd Joel Penrose 7pts Charlie Newns Winner of the Oppie class Fun Race PM Place Name of Cadet 1 st Nia Hall 2 nd Tom Leviston Tom being awarded his certificate For me the moment of the week was when I was watching the Oppie racing on the Thursday. Tom Leviston had been in the lead for most of the race but Charlie caught up and overtook Tom on the closing lap. As they both raced towards the finish, with Charlie about to take first place, Tom congratulated Charlie on his win. This show of sportsmanship was outstanding and meant that Tom Leviston received a special award for excellent sportsmanship. It was lovely to see so many families and members of the sailing club come down to enjoy cadet week. Our oldest cadet being Jack Baker who took a spin out on a sport 14 and I hope you agree, looks like he really enjoyed it All of the pictures from sailing week are on the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club website in the gallery under cadet week. Or follow the hyperlink below. You can download the pictures to keep. Please let me know what you liked about cadet week and if there is anything you would like to change for next year. We are thinking of allowing camping throughout the week and would greatly appreciate some feedback on this idea. Please feel free to contact me on zoemc25@sky.com or

8 THE FORMULA BOARD. WHAT IS IT & WHY? Many people who have seen my Formula board for the first time often remark on it's size and ask "is it easy to sail? It looks nice and stable to stand on and up haul a sail on." In fact stability is about all it has in common with a conventional large volume learning board, which is what a lot of people relate it to. The Formula board is essentially a light wind race board for sailing up and down a set race course using sails ranging from 9.5 to a maximum of 12.5 meters, choice of sail size depending on the actual wind speed at time of rigging up. The Formula board has a 70cm fin located at the rear of the board where as a learner board will probably have a centre board which is lowered by the sailor to sail up wind in non planing wind conditions. The fin on the Formula board starts to work when the board is up on the plane giving the board directional stability. The reason why the fin is so large is to give the board lateral resistance when using such large sails. I once saw a poor chap who had been apparently sold by a retailer a 12.5 mtr sail to use on his large volume short board, he couldn't understand why every time he powered up the sail he only went sideways. The retailer must have presumed the sailor had a 70cm fin for his board. In fact he only had the standard size fin for that board probably about 38cm which gave him no lateral resistance with such a large sail. When the Formula board is planing with large sails the lift generated by such a large fin will raise the windward rail so to counter act this the foot straps are placed out on the rail enabling the sailor to keep the board flat on the water. The out board position also helps the sailor gain more leverage on the sail and push harder against the fin to go faster.

9 The two outboard straps are used up wind. For down wind legs the front straps and single central strap are used. The nickname for the rear central strap is the chicken strap. This enables the sailor to sail down wind in a more secure position, without it using the outer rear strap you have a big chance of being catapulted over the front of the board in well powered up down wind legs.not nice, can damage the nose of the board and you! The large width of the board gives it the early planning ability in low winds. In profile the board is like a wedge with most of the buoyancy from the mast base back to the rear where the sailor stands. When you tack this type of board the nose of the board will sink so you have to be quick performing this manoeuvre. On a conventional learning board the buoyancy is distributed more evenly making it easy to tack without the nose sinking. The foot straps on these are sited inboard to make it easy to get into when in training mode. With regard to up hauling these large sails, it's something we tend to avoid. water starting is the way to go. I have a 9.5, 10.5 and 12.5 and have no problem flying the rigs and water starting. If you can't get up with this method you either need to use a bigger sail or forget windsurfing and leg it to the bar! Better this than getting a bad back. Talking about bad backs I have had my fair share in the past. I was once catapulted in a big gust whilst going for the rear strap. I was thrown onto the boom winding me really badly. I continued to sail on thinking I was ok. In wasn't until I had to perform another water start that I realised that there was something seriously wrong with by back. When flying the rig I could feel the vertebrae in the middle of my back moving. I stopped sailing and with help from a friend, Alan, we de rigged and loaded up the car with all my gear. I later found out from my osteopath that I had twisted my spine. Fortunately two sessions later with the osteopath I was ready to get back on the water. If anyone needs help with there back I would highly recommend him so please ask me for his details. With these large rigs it is an advantage if you can de-power the rig on the fly, so you will find that most rigs are fitted with a adjustable out haul which flattens the sails profile when pulled on de-powering the rig. Harness lines are adjustable in length and most sailors will opt for using a seat harness as apposed to a waist harness. The seat harness enables you to sit down using your body weight to resist the rig. With a waist harness the pressure on your lower back will get very uncomfortable very quickly. When carrying your kit to the water it's easier on the back to take board and sail separately attaching them near the waters edge. I quite often ask for help from a fellow sailor to carry these large rigs, even in light winds they can be a handful to carry on your own. Getting back to the original question, "is it easy to sail"? I would say it is definitely different from the normal freeride board and rig. Once you start planing you don't feel the weight of the rig anymore, you are aware of the phenomenal lift the fin gives you and the upwind performance of the board and how quick it starts to plane.

10 I would say to get the most out of the board and rigs it does require a degree of commitment which only comes with time on the water so definitely not ideal as board to learn on even though it might seem to have the stability you would like. Anyway as I'm writing this I can see from my window that the wind is getting up which can only mean its time to get back out on that board again! See you on the water soon. Kev. It is that time of year to return your Trophy or trophies, back to Laurence please. If you can get them back before the end of October, thanks. The club trophies below have been missing for ages, any ideas where they may be?? Fleet Tankard Buckle Plate Langton Cup Newman Cup Shearman Cup Graduate Bowl Roy Johnson Cup Gaduate Pennant Points Spoon Eagle Pennant Merlin Rocket Trophy Hawkeye Cup Single handed Trophy Barnes Cannon Starters Salver KGFS Pennant Seaford Salver Malcolm Smith Cup Fireball Trophy Captains Pot Sailboard Shield Windsurfer Tankard