David Houghton

22nd June Summer series

The summer weather attracted lots of visitors to the beach but not so for the sailors, with a smaller than expected turnout. However, the day provided near perfect conditions with a warm F2-3 offshore wind for the first race building to a F3-4 for the third race.

Heading to the leeward gate

Race 1 – Ed, sailing his A Class quickly left the fleet behind. Dave & John hooked onto a good shift approaching the windward mark to lead the rest of the fleet. The shifty wind proved difficult for the two 400’s as Richard, sailing his Solution actually gained on them to the leeward gate on lap one. Over the next two laps the 400’s pulled away from the others and, with the A Class, got to do an extra lap.

Ed and Lifeboat

The Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Lifeboat motoring pass during the race on a routine Sunday morning exercise run. Apparently with a guest crew aboard, the Mayor.

400’s enjoying some close racing

Race 2 – The ebb tide now slacking with a noticeable difference at the offshore and inshore marks. The 400’s led the fleet after lap one with Richard & Angus four seconds ahead of Dave & John. The A Class a little way behind with Solution Richard only twenty seconds behind. On the next beat Richard & Angus played the shifts well and built up a good lead. The A Class took the lead on the fifth lap to take line honours.

Richard and Phil

Race 3 – a sprint race of three laps for the ‘leading’ boats and two laps for the rest. Richard & Angus again mastered the shifty conditions to lead by nearly a minute after lap one. Contender Phil appeared to have saved himself for the last race, followed the A Class by just a few seconds. Richard & Angus managed to stay ahead of a charging A class to take line honours. Phil must have ‘peaked’ on lap one as Solution Richard managed to pass him on the second lap.

Ed heading to the windward mark

On corrected time Solution Richard had kept close enough to the 400’S to easily take the win in race one. Richard & Angus then won both race two and three.

Many thanks to the race team, Richard, Darcy and Jamie for managing a lovely days racing, despite the challenge of ‘gear selection’ !

Full results on the club website http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2025/2025Summer.htm

More pictures on the club Flickr site

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/

15th June Summer Series starts

Summer has officially arrived at Gorleston with the start of the Summer series. Despite some very grey clouds above they stayed clear of Gorleston so we enjoyed a warm, occasionally sunny and rain free day.

There was an eclectic mix of classes ranging from a Minisail to an A-Classs catamaran. 12 boats joined the days racing with the Contenders and Solutions the ‘biggest fleets’, with two boats a piece!

An offshore wind provided plenty of variation throughout the day with the occasional complication of a competing sea breeze. With HW at 12.30 there was a good flood tide flowing.

The start of ‘Summer’ sailing

Race one – a reasonably consistent F3. A-Class Ed and Jordan & Nathan in the RS400 quickly pulled away from the rest of the fleet to lead by over a minute after lap one. Behind Solution Paul led Streaker Roger by one second.

Where’s Ed ?

On lap two the RS400 was still out in front with Vareo Dave now in second, closely followed by Paul and Roger. At the finish Jordan and Nathan claimed line honours, Ed recovered from an eventful second lap to finish second with Dave third.

Start 2

Race two- and many snakes and ladders with the sea breeze attempting to make its presence felt. RS700 Adam found his form to lead with the RS400 after lap one, two minutes ahead of the A-Class and three minutes ahead of the rest led by Dave, Roger and Solution Richard. Lap two and the A-Class now ahead with the RS400 just in front of the RS700.

Race 2 – approaching the finish line

Behind, Dave was fending off the Streaker and the two Solutions who were enjoying a close battle. The A-Class took line honours, the RS400 had a difficult final lap with Adam managing to pass to finish second. The two Solutions were neck and neck all the way down the final run with Paul managing to hold off Richard by two seconds.

Race 3 start

Race three- Wind now around a F2. One of the local seals made a brief appearance, popping its head up just before the start. A-Class Ed opened up a large lead on the whole fleet and managed to lap a couple of boats. Behind Vareo Dave led the rest after lap one, closely followed by the RS400 and RS700. Nearly a minute behind was Phantom Phil with the two Solutions one second apart. As the fleet approached the windward mark on lap two, the wind died. The leading boats struggled to make way between the windward and spacer marks resulting in the rest of the fleet gradually catching up. Eventually a light breeze picked up and the fleet slowly made their way down the run to the finish line. The RS700 took line honours (although the cat was on an extra lap) followed by the RS400. The race team were kept busy with recording race times as all bar one boat finished within minute.

The Gorleston trolly dolly’s await the arrival of the OOD

Carl, sailing his vintage Minisail was never far behind in all three races and on corrected time managed to record three race wins, although race two was tied with Dave. Streaker Roger put in a consistent set of results with three thirds.

Many thanks to the Race team, Tamsin, Anna and Jamie for a lovely and at times testing days sailing.

Full results on the club website http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2025/2025Summer.htm

More pictures on the club Flickr site

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/

Carl sailing his Minisail

1st June Spring Series

It was an overcast start to the day but improved throughout the day with mainly sunny conditions

An offshore, force four wind brought with it some big shifts and gusts but the sea state was smooth. The flood tide was still much in flow with HW at 13.50.

A good mix of classes with 4 x RS400’s, 4 x Lasers and one A-Class, Phantom, Contender, Europe and a RS Vareo.

Rigging underway

Race one. After a rare for Gorleston General Recall, the fleet got off on the second attempt. Phantom Nick, normally ‘Quick Nick’ in these conditions lived up to this and after making the best of the start had a small lead up the beat and led round the windward mark, maintaining this to the line. Richard & Rosie led the chasing pack of RS400’s. The Lasers were having a close tussle with six seconds separating Simon and James after two laps. Just behind another close battle between Contender Phil, Europe Steve and Laser Nathan. On lap four Nathan read the shifts perfectly to move ahead of Simon and James. At the line James just pipped Nathan with Simon a few seconds behind. The big gusts and shifts caught a few out resulting in some capsizes during the race and eventually a few retirements

Race three start

Race two. The wind had picked up a tad by this time making conditions a little more testing. No general recall this time but now eight starters. Richard & Rosie moved up a gear leading the race from start, finishing two minutes clear of Nick who was second.

Nathan led the charge from the three remaining Lasers, with Simon and James just a few seconds behind after two laps. On the third lap Nathan managed to open up a twenty second lead which he held to the finish. Steve and Vareo Richard were not too far behind after lap one but could not maintain the pace of the Lasers.

Heading to the windward mark

Race three. Now only six starters, Adam & Jordan nailed the first beat to lead Richard & Rosie after lap one. However the Phantom, Lasers and Europe were close behind with only fifty seconds between the first and last boat. Lap two, Adam & Jordan still out in but Nick hot on their heels. Further back James led the charge of the Lasers with Simon four seconds behind, Europe Steve another four seconds, followed by Nathan. A rare moment for the good ship Custard who gracefully revealed her bottom to the world, leading to a retirement for Richard & Rosie.

Lap three, a good one for Simon who opened up a thirty second lead on James, with Nathan and Steve a little way behind. Lap four, Adam & Jordan led across the line, having maintained their lead throughout the race. Nick crossed second, just nine seconds behind. A ‘stonking’ final lap for James saw him pass Simon to finish just nine seconds behind the Phantom.

Rarely much between these three all day

On corrected time it was a clean sweep for the Laser 6’s, taking the two top spots in every race. Nathan beating Simon in race one and two with Simon taking race three. The Lasers almost took all the podium places with James taking third in races one and three in his Laser 7. Richard & Rosie flew the flag for the other classes taking third in race 2.

Thanks to the race team who were keep busy throughout the day, with several capsizes and course tweaking.

Today was the final outing of the Spring series. Three different classes in the top three positions, Congratulations to Steve, sailing his Europe to overall honours, with Dave & John second in their RS400 and Phantom Nick third.

Note – next week is the first of the Hopton race series.

Full results on the club website http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2025/2025Spring.htm

More pictures on the club Flickr site

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/

A rare sighting of the yellow and white hull

1st May Thursday evenings begin

Inland the temperature was approaching 30 degrees but at Gorleston it was a more typical for the year, 19. However, the sun was out and a warm F3 from the south greeted the early birds arriving at the club for the start of the Thursday evening series.

Phil A was contemplating as to whether to rig his usual vessel of choice but was persuaded to opt for a club Laser instead. Having persuaded Phil in this direction Dave felt duty bound to do so as well, so both club Lasers would be racing.

Lets go racing

By the time race one was underway the wind had dropped to a F2. The ebb tide was still just present with LW around 19.00. Laser Phil was just a bit too eager at the start and found himself the wrong side of the line, and quite a bit over the line it has to be said ! Phantom Phil led the fleet up the beat rounding the mark just ahead of Adam, swapping his manageable Streaker for his not so manageable RS700.

And the racing begins

Laser Chris managed one lap before his traveller fairlead broke, forcing an early return to shore. On the second beat Laser Kyle overtook both Adam and Laser Dave. Phantom Phil stretched out his lead crossing the line a minute and a half ahead of Kyle.

Heading upwind

The F2 wind just about stayed with us for race two. Laser Dave lead the fleet up the beat and was just ahead of Phantom Phil after lap one. Up the second beat Phil judged the line to the mark perfectly, overtaking Dave in doing so and remained ahead to the finish. Dave crossed in second place although Kyle had closed the gap slightly on the final lap. Vareo Adrian found the fast mode on the final lap putting in the quickest lap of the race.

Start 2

On corrected time, Kyle took race one with Dave just edging out Phil for second place. The first two positions were reversed in race two with Adrian third, one second ahead of Phil.

Thanks to Richard and Ed, our race team for the evening. And a big thanks to Hugh, who kindly offered his invaluable assistance in pulling the rescue boat back up the beach ….. in the form of his quad bike.

Full results on the club website http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2025/2025Thursday.htm

27th April Spring series Act 2

The second outing of the season was more like summer than Spring as the area enjoyed a pro-longed spell of good weather. A good turnout of RS400’s made up for the small turnout from the rest of the classes.

The race team set a reasonably sized windward leeward course and given the light F2 from the east it proved to be just right.

Rounding the windward mark….not forgetting the spacer mark

Race one saw both Dave & John and Richard & Jamie early at the start leaving Steve, sailing his Unit and Adam & Jordan leading the fleet up the windward leg. After lap one Dave & John and Richard & Jamie had recovered and had a small lead on the others with just five seconds separating the next three boats led by Phil & Lorna.

After three laps Dave & John crossed the line just ahead of Richard & Jamie with Steve just holding off Adam & Jordan.

Once away most boats kept inshore hugging the shore to avoid the tide, although there were several light patches. Two boats risked the tide and ventured out looking for more wind which proved not to be the fastest route.

Custard fast away at the start

Race two saw a little more wind which had shifted slightly southwards. Richard & Jamie nailed the start to lead after lap one closely followed by Adam & Jordan and Dave & John. After three laps of nip and tuck sailing Dave & John crossed the line a few seconds ahead of Richard & Jamie.

RS400’s round the windward mark in formation

Race three, wind now eased a tad. Dave & John led after lap one. Close behind were Richard & Jamie with Adam & Jordan and Steve rounding the leeward gate together. These positions remained unchanged to the line although Adam & Jordan managed to open up a minute gap on Steve.

Heading towards the leeward gate

On corrected time Dave & John won all three races. Steve pipped Richard & Jamie for second in race one however, they were second in the next two races.

Many thanks to the race team for a very pleasant day on the water. Next week’s forecast is for more wind but the temperature expected to drop to lower teens, more spring-like.

Full results on the club website http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2025/2025Spring.htm

More pictures on the club Flirkr site https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/

Dave & John

Start of Season

There were many early arrivals keen to get back onto the sea for the Start of Season event. A chilly breeze from the NE made for a cold start to the day but the sun was out and it did get a bit warmer as the day progressed. Sailing was delay a tad when the Race Team had to turn their hands to outboard mechanics following a dodgy battery connection on one of the RIB’s.

Eight crews made ready to race with two RS400’s and the rest singlehanders. With high water around 14.00 the tide was flooding during all three races and the wind averaging around F2 from the NE, or thereabouts. The race team set a windward – leeward course with a spacer at the windward mark. A long start line allowed room for all with the fleet spread along the entire length at the start.

Start 1

Rounding the windward mark required good judgement as the tide was strong and many had to do extra late tacks to get round. Phantom Nick led after lap one with the two 400’s hot on his heels. Heading back to the windward mark Phil and Lorna hooked onto a good lift near the mark and momentarily took the lead but Phil and Roger managed to sneak in at the mark. These two then has a close tussle down to the leeward mark, with Phil and Roger eventually taking line honours thirty seconds ahead.

After a quick tweak of the course as the wind had shifted a tad race two got underway. Nicks racing came to an end when his tiller snapped. Phil and Lorna almost completed two laps before heading for shore as they had a grandchild’s birthday party to attend in the afternoon. This left Phil and Roger well ahead of the remaining fleet. After lap one Vareo Dave held a small lead over Laser Harry and Solution Paul with Contender Phil and Vareo Richard a short way behind. The fleet were split as to which end of the leeward gate to head for with most of the singlehanders opting for the committee boat, which appeared to pay. Dave held on to lead the group across the line with Paul just behind and Phil putting in a late spurt finishing next.

Start 2

With the tide now easing race three got underway. Phil and Roger shot off opening up a good lead and sailed an extra lap, again. Racing amongst the rest of the fleet was close with a few seconds separating the leading four after lap one. At the line Dave led Paul with Phil and Richard a minute behind.

On corrected time Dave won race one with Nick second and Roger & Phil third. However, Phil and Roger made good in the next two winning both and with it the SOS trophy. Dave was second in both with Harry third in race two and Paul third in the third race.

Many thanks to the race team for excellent course and multiple mark relaying to ensue it stayed that way.

Full results are on the club web site Sailwave results for GYGSC SOS Regatta at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Sailing Club 2024

13th October End of season

As if we needed any reminding that it was the ‘End Of Season’ event, there was a wintery chill in the air at Gorleston on sunday. There was an offshore F3 wind with the forecast suggesting it would gradually ease throughout the day. The sea state looked a little ‘lumpy’ and launching required the now well rehearsed teamwork in order to get everyone underway. Seven boats rigged, all single handers. Thanks to Phil who helped everyone to launch and having rigged his Phantom then decided to undertake some velocipeding !

With low water timed for 12.45 the tide would be ebbing for most of the racing.

Race 1- The well balanced line saw boats starting at both ends. Contender Jamie and Laser Carl opting for the port end. There was quite a tussle for the starboard end which saw two boats hitting the mark. Jamie and Carl headed straight inshore, the others stayed offshore using the stronger tide. However, it was Jamie and Carl who rounded the windward mark clear ahead picking up a nice lift as they tacked across to the mark. After two laps Jamie led with Carl in second and Solution Paul leading the rest. On the final lap it was Carl who took line honours with Paul second and Laser Dave third.

Race 2 – with a similar starting pattern to race one but this time everyone got clean away. The shifty offshore wind saw more tacking to the windward mark. Paul managed this well and held twenty second lead after lap one, followed by Vareo Richard and Carl. After lap two Paul had opened up his lead with Dave now second with Richard third. On the final lap Paul took line honours with Dave five seconds behind and Richard just holding off Jamie

Race 3- Despite the chill, everyone was enjoying the close racing and opted for a third race. Jamie held a small lead after lap one with twenty seconds separating the rest of the fleet. The two Lasers took the lead after lap two with Dave just ahead of Carl with Vareo Richard next. On the final lap Dave managed to open up a small gap to take line honours. It was a very close finish for the next four boats with just ten seconds between them, Vareo Richard finishing second followed by Carl, one second ahead of Paul.

Many thanks to the race team, Richard and Rosie, for a great days sailing, excellent course and close racing. A lovely way to end the season.

Once safely ashore Chef Brown served up piping hot butchers pies which were soon eaten by the grateful recipients.

On corrected time there were three different winners with Carl taking race one, Paul the second and Dave the third. Once the numbers were ‘crunched’ there was one point between the top three. Congratulations to Paul who wins the EOS trophy on count back, and also clinched the Autumn series in the process.

Interestingly, each of the three Sunday series, Spring, Summer & Autumn and the Thursday evening series has a different winner. This shows the spread in the talent we have in our little club.

Full results are on the club web site

Autumn series results

EOS results

Pictures on Flickr

Paul wins the EOS trophy

Well that’s it for the year, at least on the water. Please note the following dates for onshore activities !

19^th Oct -Work Party, clubhouse @ 10.00 am

8^th Nov – Prize giving Dinner, Pier Hotel @ 7.30pm

11^th Nov – AGM, clubhouse @ 7.30 pm

GYGSC’s very own ‘Butch Cassidy’.

29th September Autumn series

It’s beginning to feel like Autumn with the temperature just in double figures. With the forecast predicting some strong winds mid afternoon everyone was keen to get on the water promptly in order to complete the days racing before it arrived. One problem….there was no wind. Reluctantly we waited a short while and eventually a light breeze filled in resulting in one of the quickest launches of RIB’s and dinghies ever.

Where is the wind

The RS400 teams kindly helped the single handers to launch so they were the last in. By the time they reached the start line the wind had picked up considerably and the sea state had upped a few levels resulting in some full on conditions.

Eleven boats started race one, after two laps six had retired! Phantom Nick took an early lead, closely followed by Phil & Roger in the club RS400. These two managed to open up a good lead, completing an extra lap to the others. Solution Paul led the remaining pack.

A much reduced fleet for race two. Curtis managed to tame the RS700, leading after lap one just ahead of Nick with the RS400 and Solution in hot pursuit and Laser Carl not far behind. On lap two Nick had snuck ahead but the RS700 and RS400 were close behind. On lap three they were separated by less than twenty seconds and again at the finish line.

Curtis manages to tame the RS700

On corrected time Nick had two bullets with Paul finishing the day with two seconds. With just two weeks left in the season Paul leads the Autumn series with Nick and Dave & John three points behind.

Big thanks to the race team who must have felt the chill while sitting around watching the racing. Once ashore Chef Brown and Sous Chef Ollington served up a much welcome hot meal.

Full results are on the club web site

Autumn series results

Pictures on Flickr

Nick wins both races today

22nd September Autumn series

Despite being just over halfway through the Autumn series the weather was as good as many days during the Summer series. A reasonably steady F2-3 from the east made for a pleasant days sailing. There was quite a mix of classes ranging from a RS700 to a Solution.

With HW at 13.00 there was still some flood tide at the start of race one and a flat sea. Curtis (RS700) and Dave & John (RS400) led after lap one with Phantom Nick and Solution Paul close behind. Following a slow first lap Contender Phil managed to pick up time on the next three, almost catching Nick. Vareo Richard and Phil & Lorna managed to find a big light patch on lap one putting them on the back foot early in the race. After four laps Dave & John crossed the line just ahead of Curtis with Nick third.

Race two – by now there was very little flood tide inshore but still noticeable offshore. The wind eased a little during the race resulting in the longest race of the day. Curtis took an early lead and was looking good with a big lead until lap three when he missed the trapeze hook resulting in a swim. Dave & John took line honours with Nick not far behind. Paul and Phil had a close race with the former crossing the line two seconds ahead.

Race three- by this time the tide had started to turn, the sea state lumpy and the wind up to F3, allowing some opportunities to plane off wind for the asymmetrics. Curtis led from start to finish. Dave & John slowly opened up a good lead of the rest of the fleet which was led by Nick. After lap one Phil, Paul and Richard rounded the leeward gate within a few seconds. Phil then managed to open up a small lead on Paul.

On corrected time Paul and his Solution proved quick, winning the first two races and almost making it a clean sweep but Dave & John won the final race by just six seconds. Nick enjoyed three podium places with a second and two thirds. Vareo Richard proved to be the most consistent finishing fourth in all three races.

Many thanks to the Race team for organising unseasonably good weather and good courses, providing a great day on the water.

Full results are on the club web site

Autumn series results

Pictures on Flickr

Paul and Dave & John, todays race winners

15th September – Autumn series

A warm sunny start to the day and it was great to be back on the water after last week’s ‘surfing’ conditions. With LW at 14.00 all racing would be in the ebb tide. In full flow in race one but gradually eased with little tide by the end of racing.

F2 wind, gusting F3 from the SW to begin but shifting to WSW at times, lots of shifts throughout the day providing testing conditions which saw many gains and losses.

Lovely sunny start to the day although it did cloud over by the time we returned to shore.

Race One – Ed, sailing his A-Class soon led the fleet opening up a big lead, in fact after two laps he started lapping the fleet. Things were a bit closer for the rest of the fleet with Dave & John (RS400) leading after lap one, just ahead of Phantom Nick and Contender Phil. On the second beat Dave & John hooked onto a couple of good lifts opening up a three minute plus lead which they extended on lap three. After lap two Phil led Nick by over a minute, only to fall victim of the shifts on the final lap with Nick crossing the line two minutes ahead.

Pre-start milling and ‘we’re off’.

Race two – the wind eased during the race and at times nearer a F1, but still just as shifty, perhaps more so. Ed again did another horizon job and proceeded to lap half the fleet. There were many place changes on the first beat, with some big gains and losses. Phil played the shifts well and led after lap one, two seconds ahead of Dave & John, with Nick just ahead of Phil & Lorna and James. The second beat wasn’t so kind to Phil with both Dave & John and Nick sneaking past. Positions remained unchanged on the final lap.

Race three. Let’s just say Ed had another lonely race out in front. By his stage most were working the left hand side of the beat where the wind appeared to be more favourable. Dave & John held a small lead over a tightly packed fleet after lap one, with eight seconds separating the main pack led by OK James. After three laps Phil had crept ahead of James, crossing the line nearly two minutes ahead.

Fast ‘Eddy’ enjoying the cat friendly conditions.

On corrected time Dave & John had a comfortable win in race one with James second. James then won the next two races, beating Nick by under a minute in race two and a comfortable win over Dave & John in the final race.

Many thanks to Darell and Curtis who volunteered at late notice to assist Richard on line duty. Between them we enjoyed a good day on the water with shifty, testing conditions.

Full results are on the club web site

Autumn series results

Pictures on Flickr

Dave & John and James, todays race winners