14 boats readied themselves for what looked like a lively day on the water. There was quite a mixture of classes ranging from a Mini-Sail (remember them!) to a Spitfire catamaran. With most of the sky covered in various shades of grey cloud, sunshine was to be in short supply but it was quite warm with the temperature around 20 degrees. The mainly SW wind was around F3 with gusts nearer F4 and the sea reasonable flat which combined, provided some great conditions. This proved so as with three races we had three different winners.
The race team set a large windward leeward course which was worthy of a national championship, although the Spitfire Cat was lapping in under thirteen minutes some of the slower boats took around thirty!
Race One start – nice view of Team Custard!
Race one – the ebb tide was in full flow making for a long beat. Phil H (RS700) found a good line at the start and led the fleet until Ed & Keith, sailing the Spitfire took the lead. Adam & Jordan (RS400) got a good start from the pin end and Team Custard (RS400) having a close encounter with the committee boat at the start but still managed to find a clear channel afterwards. As the fleet got nearer the windward mark the wind was noticeably shiftier.
After lap one the Spitfire and RS700 had a good lead over the rest of the fleet. Team Custard was just ahead of Adam & Jordan (RS400) with George (RS Aero) a minute behind.
Phil wins race one
Ed & Keith crossed the line two and a half minutes ahead of the Phil H with the next boat, Team Custard eight minutes later. On corrected time Phil won by a minute with Ed & Keith second and Team Custard third. James, sailing a Laser put in a great second lap, a minute and a half quicker than his first to come forth.
Start two – RS400’s tussle at the pin end
Race two – after a quick course change, moving the windward mark closer, race two got underway. The pin end proved popular with Adam & Jordan (RS400) getting the better of Team Custard off the line. The Spitfire soon took the lead and proceeded to storm away from the fleet to eventually lap everyone bar the RS700. Whilst the Spitfire had a solitary race the rest of the fleet enjoyed some close racing. After lap one fourteen seconds separated the next three boats, the RS700 and the two leading RS400’s. Phil A (Contender) headed the rest of the fleet with George a short way behind.
Whilst the Spitfire sailed four laps most of the fleet sailed three. The RS700 managed to open up a small lead on the RS400’s with Team Custard now in front. On corrected time it was a convincing win for the Spitfire, Team Custard second and a close call for third with George just beating Carl (Mini-Sail) for third.
Ed & Keith win race two
Race three- by the start of the race the ebb tide was easing and also the wind. The sea state however was getting a little rougher. Team Custard won the start at the pin end of the line and had a clear channel. Phil A opted for the committee boat end and also started well and in clear air.
There was a split in the fleet with some opting to go offshore and some inshore. The Spitfire soon took the lead and completed lap one in just over eight minutes. Team Custard was next with Don, sailing the club Laser putting in a great first lap to round in third place, closely following by Phil A and James.
Start three – line shy
After two laps the Spitfire and Team Custard were a long way in front and were rewarded with another lap. Phil A was next to finish with James overtaking Don on lap two. On corrected time only seven seconds separated the first three boats with Team Custard first, Ed & Keith four seconds behind and James three seconds behind them. Don finished forth just ahead of Phil A.
GYGSC 13-08-23 start 3 – YouTube
It was a great if not tiring day on the water, the wind varying between F2 and F4, mainly SW but with some big shifts inshore. Many thanks to Steve, Jamie & Julia who volunteered to help race the days racing. And to Phil for assisting the early arrivals back to shore and to Lorna for preparing lunch.
This was the final Act of the Summer series. The overall results were extremely close with Dave (RS Vareo) first, just beating Steve (Europe) by 1.4 pts (although Steve probably would have won had he opted to sail today and not offer to help on the start boat!). George (RS Aero) was third, just 0.3 pts ahead of Team Custard.
Next week is the Hopton Race and the following week the Autumn series starts, beginning with the Autumn Regatta.
Full results on the club website
Sailwave results for GYGSC Summer Series 2023 at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Sailing Club 2023
The race team doubled up as photographers, several pictures now on the club Flickr site.