Author: David Houghton

It was the first racing of the summer series and this week we had some great sailing with a mixture of light to moderate winds, plenty of sunshine and temperature almost in the twenties, so something for everyone. This was evident in the fact we had three different race winners in three different classes.

Nine boats launched consisting of seven different classes. Phil (Contender) timed his start well in race one pulling off a port end flyer to lead the fleet up the beat.  With the tide still ebbing most boats headed inshore and after the first lap Ed & Mirram (Spitfire) had taken over the lead.  Steve had swapped his trusty Europe for a rear seat in the RS500 with Keith and led the rest of the fleet, closely followed by Phil. These two winning comfortably on corrected time with the RS500 taking first.

There was a generous portion of port bias on the start line for race two but everyone got off to a good start.  Soon the Spitfire was ahead on the water and building a good lead on the rest of the fleet.

Phil & Lorna (RS400) and Steve & Keith had a good race long tussle with the RS400 leading after the first lap, the RS500 after lap two and the RS400 back in the lead on the third and opening up a small lead at the finish line and winning on corrected time with the RS500 second. Behind them four boats rounded the leeward gate closely bunched after the first lap, with Phil just ahead of Don (D-One). On the next lap Don worked the shifts well overtaking the 500 and almost catching the 400 but a capsize on the final lap ended his chase.

For the final race of the day the wind had increased to a F3-4, and with it the sea state. The tide was now beginning to turn which seemed to suit the Lasers. Whilst the faster boats led the fleet after the first lap the slower ones were in close contention. Richard led the Laser charge for the first two laps but Karl slipped through on the third lap and held this to the finish line winning on corrected time with Richard second.

Thanks to the Safety boat crew of Phil & Tom for doubling up as photographers for the day. Photos of the day are on the Club Flickr site

Full results here

Despite conditions more akin to mid winter, nine boats launched with Lasers making the majority of the fleet. Thankfully the NW’erly wind held all evening providing some good close racing.

With the flood tide in full flow jostling for position on the line proved tricky with the risk of being over but race one got underway first attempt. Dave & John (RS400) led after the first lap with Joe, sailing the club Solution just ahead of the closely bunched lasers, led by Ed. After ‘several’ laps Dave & John had managed to lap the lasers. Joe had opened up a good gap on the lasers to finish second and winning on corrected time. It was all change in the laser pack with Richard taking the lead on lap two and Mark slipping past on the fifth to lead at the line.

Race two followed a similar pattern, with Dave & John leading throughout the race. After lap one Ed headed the chasing pack that rounded within five seconds of each other. Joe slipped past on lap two with Mark now the leading Laser.  After lap three Richard headed the Lasers crossing the line third but winning on corrected time.

As we headed back to shore the drizzle started making for a rather damp end to the evening.

With the series now midpoint Mark is holding a good lead over the RS400 of Team Brown.

Thanks to Chef Brown for arranging the great Lasagne and to Curtis for providing a good evening sailing with plenty of spinny hoists and drops for the RS400’s !

Full results here

With several members travelling from Norwich, where it had been warm and sunny with a gentle breeze it was a surprise to be greeted by a F4 from the SSW capped with overcast skies and a temperature more suited to autumn. However, the sea state was fine and after a short discussion everyone was keen to launch. There were a few changes of plan, as Phil and Don swapped Phantom & D-One, teaming up in Phil’s RS400 and Tom Q swapping his RS300 for the club Solution. And with Tom A’s helm away he teamed up with Richard in the Xenon.

By the time racing started the wind had dropped to a comfortable F3 making for a pleasant sail.

The RS400’s of Phil & Don and Team Brown led the fleet up the windward leg with most choosing to stay offshore in the flood tide. Phil & Don led round the windward mark and hoisting their spinny headed offshore again with Team Brown electing to gybe early and ‘hog’ the shore line staying out of the tide which proved the right thing to do. The rest of the fleet were not far behind although Tom was a little way back after having to perform some on the water boat mtce on the Solution when the clew strap came undone. Downwind the Lasers made good progress against the faster boats with Mark just ahead of Ed after the first lap.  Phil & Don were seen heading for shore which we later found out was to re-tie the spinny downhaul!  Team Brown crossed the line first but the lasers were only a minute behind with Ed passing Mark on the final lap to take the race win on his season debut with Mark second.

The wind had decreased a tad at the start of race two. After the cautious start everyone took in race one, fearing the tide would take them over the line it was a close call for some but racing got away first time. Team Brown led the fleet to the windward mark, with everyone staying offshore this time. Unsurprisingly the RS400‘s led at the windward mark but close behind were the Lasers and Solution. Over the next three laps Team Brown built up a good lead crossing the line over two minutes ahead of the Lasers but this was not enough. Mark finished second and the next three boats crossing the line just nine seconds apart. It was another Laser 1,2 with Mark taking the race win and Ed second.

The wind by this time had decreased further and now a pleasant F2 with the sun making an occasional appearance. Despite it now being past Eight o’clock everyone was up for another race. This time prime starting positions were hard fought for with two boats being forced past the line. The race followed a similar pattern to the previous race with Team Brown leading the fleet with the rest close behind with Mark just in front. It was another Laser 1,2 with Mark taking race honours again and Ed second.

As we got back on shore we were greeted by Curtis who was in the process of packing his RS700 in readiness for the long haul to Torbay for the RS Summer Regatta. Good luck Curtis, it should be a great weekend.

There are several photo’s of the evenings racing on the Flickr site

Full results here

It was an overcast and wet start for day two of the Beach Regatta and with the temperature barely in the teens it felt more like autumn than summer. With both the wind and sea state gradually increasing throughout the day the changing conditions suited different craft as there was a different winner in each race

Racing started with a NE’ely F2. With the tide still ebbing boats were close to the line but somehow racing started first time. The fleet split up the beat but arrived close together at the windward mark with Phil (RS700) just ahead of Richard & Mark (RS400). Richard & Robyn (RS400) had a good downwind leg with just one second separating the two leading RS400’s at the gate. Behind, Jonathon (Laser) was almost matching the Phantoms and Contender. Richard & Mark had a great final lap pulling well clear of the other RS400’s to take the race win with Jonathon second and Nick (Phantom) third.

By the start of race two the sea state had increased a tad. Most of the fleet headed offshore with Phil rounding first followed by Richard & Mark, with Simon & Bruce (RS400) close behind, with all three heading inshore. Richard and Robyn stayed offshore and closed the gap on Simon & Bruce and rounding the gate together with Nick  (Phantom) just one second ahead.  For a brief while the sun made an appearance but quickly disappeared again and stayed hidden for the rest of the day. Despite it being the longest race of the day Jonathon managed to stay close the rear of the fleet for the first two laps but this was enough to take the win on corrected time from Nick with Phil in third place.

Despite a forecasted low water time of 11.02 it was still slack water at the start of race three. The wind had increased to a F3, NNE. Phil headed the fleet around the windward mark followed by Phil2 (Contender). Phil did a horizon job and was awarded with an extra lap and the race win. Richard & Mark slipped past Phil2 on the downwind leg eventually pulling clear of the other RS400’s and was second on corrected time. At the finish the other two RS400’s crossed the line one second apart with Team Beckett the victors. Jonathon once again managed stay close enough behind this time to claim third, his worst result in the regatta!

Congratulations to Jonathon as overall winner with Nick second and Phil third.

Full results here

Sunday was the last of the Spring series and at times when the sun managed to find a gap in the clouds it felt more like summer. Any one of five crews was in with a shout for overall honours so all to play for in the final days racing.

With a pleasant F3 from for NE the race team set a good sized windward –leeward course and with the tide still in full flood it would be a good beat, particularly for the slower boats.

With the wind increasing gradually throughout the day and slack water for the final race the changing conditions would suit all boats at some point which was evident with three different winners in three different class of boat.

Race one saw most teams stick close to shore before heading out to the windward mark.  Richard and Robyn (RS400) judged this perfectly to lead at the windward mark, closely followed by Dave & John (400). These two enjoyed a race long tussle with the latter slipping pass in the third lap taking line honours with Richard & Mark (400) finishing third. On corrected time Dave & John beat Nick(Phantom) by just six seconds with Steve (Europe) beating Richard & Robyn by twelve seconds for third

After lap one of the second race, Dave & John held a small lead over Nick who was heading off a trio of 400’s close behind him. Over the next three laps Nick exchanged places the 400’s several times but managed to cross the line just ahead with Richard & Robyn just ahead of Phil & Lorna(400). However, the two ‘slower’ boats had managed to stay in contention with Steve(Europe) taking the win on corrected time and Keith (Laser) second, beating Nick by just two seconds

By the start of the final race it was slack water inshore although still some tide offshore.

After lap one Dave & John held a small lead over Richard & Mark. Close behind them and rounding the leeward gate just two seconds apart were Nick, Richard & Robyn and Phil & Lorna, with Tom & David (505) not far behind. At the line Dave & John just lead Richard & Mark and Nick sailed well to hold off the charge of the 400’s and 505.

On corrected time Nick won by seven seconds from Steve with Dave & John third

Many thanks to the race team for a super days sailing, great conditions and an excellent course which proved a good test for everyone and opportunity for all boats. The team were also busy taking photo’s which are now on the club Flickr page – all 109 of them !

Well done to Nick for winning the Spring Series, managing to count only firsts and seconds toward his tally.

Next week is the first instalment of the Triad series.

Finally, and the best story of the day, after the last race, sailing the 400 back to shore, Phil got down on one knee and proposed. Many congratulations to Phil and Lorna, hope you have a long and happy voyage ahead of you.

Full results here

Thankfully the forecast for the wind to drop to 5 mph never happened and the small fleet who ventured out enjoyed a sunny evening with a F2 from the East.

In race one Richard & Dave had a good first beat and held a small lead in their Xenon after the first lap, closely followed by ‘Team Brown’ in their 400 and Phil in the club Phantom. On lap two Team Brown took a narrow lead on the Xenon with Phil a little further behind and now joined by Curtis in his 700. On the final lap Team Brown had opened up a good lead crossing the line clear ahead of Richard & Dave. On corrected time the Xenon claimed the win with Team Brown nine seconds ahead of Mark in the club Laser.

Team Brown quickly sailed into a clear lead in race two followed by Curtis, with Mark working the shifts on the beat well to be only 18 seconds behind after the first lap. By the finish Team Brown crossed the line over two minutes clear, with Curtis second and the rest of the fleet closely grouped with Mark hanging on to lead the pack over the line. On corrected time Mark just pipped Team Brown by 11 seconds for the win.

Thanks to Adrian for ‘OOD-ing’, providing a very pleasant evenings sailing and also for acting as unofficial photographer (pictures now on club firckr site)

Full results here

There were lovely blue skies on arrival at the club for Act 6 of the Spring Series. The sea was surprisingly flat considering the recent high winds and a F2-3 wind from somewhere between S and SW !

The race team set a good sized Windward Leeward course and with the tide still ebbing it was a long beat into the tide.

In the first race the fleet split with some heading inshore and some choosing to stay offshore. The wind was very shifty, at times it was almost possible to be heading directly to the windward mark until being headed as the wind returned to the South. Phil (700), Nick (Phantom) and Dave & John (400) headed the fleet followed by Phil & Lorna (400). Behind a three way battle between Steve (Europe), David ( Solution) & Keith ( Laser Rad).  After the first two laps there was little between the first three however on the final two laps Phil managed to open up a gap on Dave & John who were just one minute ahead of Nick.   Keith lead Steve home by just over a minute with David just behind.

On corrected time Nick had a comfortable win with Dave & John second and Phil third.

In line with the forecast the wind picked up for race two, but still varying between S – SW. Phil opened up a good lead on the first lap however, on the second downwind leg the wind shifted and increased. This resulted in Phil approaching the leeward gate low and having to drop his kite early in order to pass through it. Dave & John had gybed earlier and managed to carry the kite all the way allowing them to slip pass momentarily as Phil sailed past on the next windward leg. The downward legs were proving difficult to navigate for the asymmetrics with the regularly shifting wind which was also varying between F2-F4. Meanwhile Nick was very close and again won on corrected time, this time two minutes ahead of Dave & John. Steve managed to sail the Europe well clear of Keith and David, managing a third on corrected time.  

With the forecast predicting strong winds by early afternoon it was decided to head back ashore after the second race which turned out to be a good move. By the time boats were being pulled back up the beach the wind had increased noticeably and soon the sea state had worsened.

Thanks to the race team, tricky day for them and a testing day for sailors.

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Full results here

A much warmer day on the water for the race team and the 10 boats that launched. The forecast for light winds at midday never materialised and the wind gradually increased from a F2 to F4. Although overcast for much of the day we did have several sunny periods, a short spell of rain and some hail once we arrived back onshore.  The wind was shifty and mainly South-ish, plenty of shifts kept everyone focussed.

For race one the race team set a Triangular course taken to Starboard to the approval of many a single hander sailor.  With the tide still flooding most of the fleet headed offshore on the beat to the windward mark.  Phil, sailing his RS700 quickly took the lead closely followed by Dave & John in their RS400, these two opening up a good lead on the rest of the fleet. Behind, a four way battle between Curtis (RS700),  Nick (Phantom), Steve (D-One) and Phil & Lorna in their trusty RS400. On lap two Nick opened up a small lead on the others crossing the line just ahead of Steve. Behind Phil (Contender) and David (Solution) were swapping places with David leading after lap two and Phil slipping pass on the final lap crossing the line two seconds ahead. On corrected time Dave & John just beat Phil, with Nick claiming third.

For race two the race team switched back to our customary Windward-Leeward course. The fleet were closely bunched up the first leg with Dave & John a short way ahead of Phil (RS700). Unfortunately for Dave & John they failed to notice the change to Port course and arriving first at the windward mark promptly rounding the wrong way.  The rest of the fleet apparently had noticed and rounded correctly and headed downwind. By this time the wind had increased to a F4 and the sea had built up a tad to provide some great surfing downwind.

Phil (700) led after the first lap but decided to head back inshore. Dave & John had a good downwind leg slipping into second place. Tom & Will, sailing their 505 joined us for race two and were vying for third with Nick.

With the tide just about to turn the sea state had increased a tad and a few succumbed to their first ‘swim’ of the year. After four laps Dave & John crossed the line a couple of minutes ahead of Nick who had managed to pull clear of Tom & Will after a trawling of their spinnaker.  David had kept the Solution going nicely downwind and finished third on corrected time with Dave & John beating Nick by just five seconds for first.

Big thanks to the race team, a tricky day with a shifting wind requiring a change of position for the windward mark in race two but probably the best sailing conditions we’ve had this year. Pawel’s new toy, a nifty pocket Anemometer recorded 17-18 knots on the water, and by the time we made it ashore the wind had increased further as there were a few white horses to be seen.

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Full results here