The fine summer weather was still with us for Act 2 of the autumn series. 23 degrees and a warm F3-4 from the SSE providing perfect conditions and another great day on the water for the 12 crews competing.
The race team set a good sized windward leeward course. Whilst the sea was relatively flat inshore there was a noticeable swell offshore. The flood tide assisting the upwind legs and providing more time ‘surfing’ downwind back to the leeward gate.
Race one – Ed & Will, sailing the Spitfire soon raced away from the fleet completing five laps in just over forty three minutes. Mid fleet, the 400’s, 700 and D-One managed four laps and not being lapped by the Spitfire. The slower singlehanders, comprising of Lasers, Vareo’s and a Europe managed three laps and the view of the Spitfire sailing past. However, on corrected time the singlehanders took all the podium places with Steve (Europe) beating Carl (Laser) by six seconds for first place and Richard (RS Vareo) third.
Race two – the wind had increased by the start of the race and the sea offshore quite ‘lumpy’. This provided some exciting off wind legs, particularly for the asymmetrics, and also provided a few capsizes too! Ed & Will again raced away but appeared to have problems on lap two which put them back with the chasing pack led by Dave & John (400). Behind, Steve and Carl were having a close battle with just a few seconds between them throughout the race. On corrected time it was another win for Steve, Dave & John second and Carl third.
Race three – both sea and wind abated during the race which saw Ed & Will back on form and lapping all bar Phil in his 700 and impressively managing to hold their time by thirty seconds on handicap to win the race. Quite an achievement for a catamaran sailing a ‘round the cans’ course.
Phil (700) led the chasing pack with Dave & John holding off Nick (D-One) for the first two laps but succumbed to his superior downwind speed on lap three. The battle between Steve and Carl resumed but this time they were joined by Richard (Vareo), after lap one, two seconds separated the first two, lap two just two seconds separated all three of them and on the final lap Richard managed to ‘pull ahead’ finishing seven seconds ahead of Carl! However Steve was not too far behind and on corrected time beat Nick by four seconds for second place, with Phil just two seconds behind Nick.
Heading back to shore there was not so much excitement this week as last week as the tide was high and sea flat!
Thought(s) of the day
Never chuckle at someone else capsizing, it can happen to you – just ask Dave & John
Make sure the wheels on your trolley are secure – just ask Phil
Thanks to the race team for a great day on the water, they were kept busy at times with a several ‘customers’. They were also busy taking photos of the racing with over a hundred now on the club Flickr site.
Chef Brown was back on form providing ‘roasties’ to accompany the pies and veg, consumed sitting outside on the prom – long may this fine weather continue!
Pictures – GYGSC’s albums | Flickr
Full results – http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2022/2022Autumn