With the temperature in the mid twenties, cloudless skies and a F3-4 from the west (or thereabouts!!!) conditions provided for some delightful sailing at Gorleston. With frequent shifts and gusts it also made for some testing conditions.
Start 1
Phil Highfield (RS700) romped home to victory in race one. Dave & John(400) and Richard & Robyn (400) enjoyed the first of three close battles with the former claiming second with Anna & Keith (500) third.
Start 2
With the wind shifting a tad the race team moved the windward mark north for race two. Those who went right on the first beat benefitted greatly. At the windward Tamsin, sailing a Solution was mixing it with the faster boats and continued to stay in contention to make it another Highfield victory, this time by nearly four minutes on corrected time. On lap two the three leading 400’s enjoyed a close battle with only a few seconds between them. At the finish Dave & John were just ahead to claim second spot with Richard & Robyn third.
Start 3
Race three saw Dave & John (400) lead after lap one closely followed by Ed & Chris (Spitfire) who went on the take the lead and extending it considerably by the finish. With the wind now varying between F2-F4 and coupled with some big shifts it made for some tricky conditions. Dave & John (400) claimed the win with Richard & Robyn (400) second and Steve (D-One) preventing a 400 1,2,3 by pipping Simon & Dan by a few seconds.
Many thanks to the race team who apart from having to rearrange the course for the second race were also on standby to help on a number of capsizes and animal welfare !!
Richard plays footsie with a lost pigeon
The situation in the Summer series is now looking good for the RS400 sailors with the top five places being 400’s!
Conditions could hardly have been better for competitors as they arrived at Gorleston on Saturday for the annual GYGSC Beach Regatta. Cloudless skies and a warm SE’erly F3. It was nice to see many visitors from local clubs attending who were to prove more than a match for the locals! At the start of race one the wind had dropped a little and there was the last of the flood tide flowing to assist the upwind legs. The start line was keenly fought with one boat being called back. The fleet spilt with those opting to go right appearing to benefit most. Unsurprisingly it was David Brief sailing the fastest boat on the water, a Shadow-X leading at the windward mark and going on to finish well ahead of the next boat, Chris Haslam in a RS600. However Phil & Dennis Manning, sailing a Wayfarer were finding some good upwind pace to win on corrected time by over a minute and a half. The OK’s of Ben Falat and Rodney Tidd enjoyed the first of three close battles with Ben staying ahead throughout the race to take second.
The wind had increased slightly and the tide negligible at the start of race two. The RS600 of Haslam led from start to finish crossing the line some way ahead of the next boat. However he was relegated to second spot by the Wayfarer of Team Manning who once again won by a clear margin, this time by over a minute on corrected time. The battle at the OK corral this time was won by Tidd who maintained a comfortable lead over Falat. For race three the wind had increased a little more and the tide now ebbing with most of the fleet opting to stay inshore on the beat. Chris once again led the fleet closely followed by Dave Houghton & John Symonds in a RS400 and Steve Gray in a D-One. These three built up a good lead on the fleet to finish well ahead. The OK’s continued their battle with Tidd just a few seconds ahead until the final run when Falat managed to squeeze pass, crossing the line just seconds, ahead but relegated to second place by the consistent Team Manning, this time wining by over two minutes. Once back at the clubhouse it was drinks and a Fish & Chip supper outside the clubhouse.
Supper in the sun
Sundays forecasted wind was a little late arriving as at the start of race four it was only a F2 from the NE. The key factor was to find a clear channel on the long tack along the coast. With a strong ebb tide most of the fleet opted to stay inshore as long as possible before heading out into the stronger tide and the windward mark. The early leaders did this too early resulting in a long tack offshore to the mark. Richard Brown & Robyn Ollington (RS400) timed it to perfection and rounded the mark with a small lead over the next pack of four boats led by Phil Highfield (RS700). Richard & Robyn held the lead for the first two laps only losing a place to the faster Spitfire sailed by Joe Crabbe on the final lap. Behind team Manning continued their good form taking the race by nearly four minutes on corrected time and Richard & Robyn second.
The wind picked up a little for race two shifting to the East which resulted in a quick course change for the race team. Joe (Spitfire) led the fleet round the windward mark closely followed by Chris (RS600). Close behind was a tightly packed group of three boats headed by Dave & John (RS400). Further back Commodore Phil Harlow with guest crew Keith Sykes (RS400) were having a close battle with Phil Allison (Contender). Just a few seconds separated these two for the first to laps although Phil & Keith managed to open a gap on the final lap. Line honours went to Joe (Spitfire) by quite a margin although it was Team Manning who once again took the win on corrected time with Chris(RS600) second. The wind was a F3 for the final race. Joe (Spitfire) did a horizon job on the fleet completing four laps whereas some only did two. Phil (RS700) and Chris (RS600) headed the chasing pack with Phil pulling ahead on the second lap. The RS400’s of Richard & Robyn and Dave & John enjoyed probably the closest racing of the weekend with just a few seconds between them as they rounded the windward and leeward marks. With positions changing on every leg it could have gone either way but Richard & Robyn’s upwind speed proved the deciding factor and came through to cross the line just ahead. Team Manning were not resting on their laurels and once again winning on corrected time by three minutes with Chris (RS600) second and Joe (Spitfire) a creditable third considering the light conditions not ideal for the catamarans.
No surprise to the overall winners of the event Phil & Dennis Manning showing great all round boat speed. Chris Haslam (RS600) recorded a consistent set of podium positions to claim second. (so the flight from Oz was worth it then Phil !) Thanks to all the visitors who attended and making the event so enjoyable and the race teams for providing us with two days of great sailing.
On arrival Gorleston was bathed in sunshine with a nice warm F2-3 breeze. During the racing this was interrupted by the occasional cloud and even a short light rain period, but that brought the bonus of a most vivid rainbow.
The pot of gold in the case is the sailing at Gorleston. Race one, still some ebb tide flowing, with a reasonably consistent F2-3 from the West. Dave & Clive (400) led at the start followed by Phil (700), these two had a good lead after the first lap. Phil took the lead on the final run followed by Dave & Clive and Ed sailing his Contender. On corrected time Richard (Solution) took the honours Race two – Keith (Laser) nailed the start and led for a long way up the beat. The second half of the beat saw several wind shifts as the wind gradually shifted to the SW. Dave & Clive lead after lap one closely followed by Phil and Ed, with the remaining boats closely packed. By the third lap the tide had turned and now flooding and combined the wind shifting to the SW the final lap was drag race. Dave & Clive and Phil by this time building a good lead over the fleet, with the former claiming the win. The ‘Race Team’ kindly moved the start line for the final race to compensate for the new wind and tide conditions. The wind by now had dropped to a F1. The whole fleet remained tightly packed throughout the race, bunching at the windward mark and all the way to the line as thankfully we only did one lap. Phil managed to break free to cross the line a few minutes ahead. At one point Dave & Clive looked like they might be beaten over the line by Richard and Keith but managed to hang onto their slender lead over the water. Richard took the race on corrected time by just 10 seconds followed by Keith. Overall, Richard came out on top with two wins. Many thanks to the ‘Race Team’, aka Richard Fryer for providing a pleasant evening sailing
The second instalment of the summer didn’t quite live up to the previous one in terms of weather. The sky was full of white and very grey clouds, the wind a F3-4 SSW’erly but the sea was reasonably flat, well it was when we first arrived ! Five boats prepared to launch although one opted to stayed ashore as by that time the sea had stated to ‘liven up’.
Preparing for race 1
Phil, who had swapped his RS700 to guest helm Keith in the RS500 where first across the line in race one. However, they were also the first to capsize only 100 metres into the beat when they caught a header resulting in Keith being ‘tea bagged’. This left the two RS400’s to take over the lead although a fast recovery meant the RS500 was only a short distance behind. Pawel, sailing his Sprint 15 made up the fleet following a little way behind
First beat of the day
With the tide now started to ebb everyone opted to go inshore with Phil & Keith taking over the lead buy the windward mark closely followed by Simon & Bruce (RS400). Downwind these two opted to go offshore with Richard and guest crew for the day David (RS400) choosing to go inshore hoping to find a flatter sea as by this time it was getting ‘big’.
The offshore route proved to be the faster with leading two boats opening up a good lead which they held to the finish with Phil & Keith taking line honours. With a few white horses now showing their heads only two boats stayed for race two. Simon & Bruce were motoring up the beat, with some impressive hiking from Bruce obviously assisting in this as they lead at the windward mark and the leeward gate.
Hiking is good !
However a capsize near the windward mark on lap two allowed Phil & Keith into the lead which they held to the finish. With the combination of grey skies, a wind now F4 gusting 5 and a big sea we decided to head for shore for an early lunch. This proved a good decision as just as we finished packing the boats away and retreated to the clubhouse for lunch it started raining. Thanks to Anna for preparing lunch so it was ready when we come back ashore. Note that it’s the Thursday Evening Regatta next week with 2-3 races planned and it’s the Beach Regatta next weekend. The forecast for both is looking good.
After the strong winds and rain of Saturday competitors enjoyed sunshine and a manageable F3 for the Britannia Pier race. With the wind coming from the south it was a long downwind leg to the Britannia Pier mark. The Catamarans led the fleet with Ed Andersons Spitfire just ahead of David Brief in his Shadow-X at the mark. These two led over the line with visitors Will Pank and Seb Gotto sailing a 29’er very close behind and winning on corrected time. The flood tide made the long beat back to Gorleston easier for the hiking boats with the Wayfarer of visitors Phil & Dennis Manning claiming second on corrected time.
This week saw the start of the summer series and the weather matched the season with a warm F3-4 SE’erly breeze. 12 boats launched with two electing to spent the day blasting around. Race one started just as the tide started to ebb and with the sea relatively flat. The race team set a slightly port bias line with Dave & John (RS400) nearly succeeding doing a port hand flyer only to be thwarted by Richard & Carol (RS400). Everyone elected to stick inshore up the beat with Chris (D-One) first round the windward mark closely followed by the rest of the pack. On gybing Chris managed to get a perfectly formed hour glass in his spinnaker which he was unable to remove so headed inshore. After two laps Richard & Carol and Dave & John rounded the gate together closely followed by Phil (Contender) with Phil & Lorna (RS400) and Steve (D-One) just a few seconds apart. Just three seconds separated the first three boats as they crossed the line with Richard & Carol claiming line honours with Phil next but first on corrected time. Anna & Keith (RS500) suffered a ‘Gnav’ failure on the final lap which also damaged their mast causing them to head for shore. By now the tide had picked up a bit and with it the sea state, making it more challenging. The cauldron was now living up to it’s name, what a difference a day makes ! Several boats headed for shore which soon become the popular move and so we headed in for an early lunch in the sun on the prom. Thanks for the race team for a great days sailing.
The race team ran a packed racing programme on Thursday evening fitting in three races. Very close racing all evening with Keith (Laser) in good form winning all three, presumably hyped up with the thought of escaping an evening with Take That !! Richard Brown (Solution) a little unlucky being only a few seconds behind Keith in every race. Richard Foster (Laser) putting in a good performance in race one to finish third but was observed testing the water on occasions, apparently it wasn’t too cold. Phil, having now completed the ‘rebuild’ of his RS700 quickly got up to speed to take third in the last two races. Afterwards it was pie and beans on the prom as it was such a lovely evening, Phil’s cooking becoming so famous some of our SUP members joined the feast. Thanks to Richard the third, aka Mr Fryer and Des for their slick race management providing a very busy evening.
The race team opted to set a straightforward windward leeward course for the days sailing. The day started with a warm F3-4 wind from the SW and low water at the start of racing with flood tide kicking in shortly after. Eleven boats ventured out onto the water with Tom and Will, having rigged the 505 deciding to stay ashore. Race 1 got underway with the sea quite flat. The 29’er of visitors Sam & Chris quickly opened up a gap over the rest of the fleet which they consolidated over the remaining laps. Richard & Kristof (RS400) led the chasing pack after the first lap. Nick (D-One) overhauled them to lead after the second lap and Ed (Spitfire), recovering from a slow start led the pack at the finish.
Sam & Chris leading race 1
There were a few retirements with Dave & John (RS400) and Chris (D-One) experiencing spinnaker problems. On corrected time Sam & Chris winning by over five minutes, Phil (Contender) having remained close to the chasing pack claimed second over Nick. Race two turned into a capsize fest! The wind was still F3-4 but the sea state now ‘slight. Once again Sam & Chris lead the pack after lap one followed by Dave & John and Ed Lap two proved to be a challenging lap for some with by Sam & Chris and Dave & John capsizing on the gybe to the gate and Richard & Robyn having problems when dropping their spinnaker.
Which way up ?
On lap three Nick took a swim on the gybe with Phil doing likewise just before reaching the gate. Richard & Kristof proved staying upright is always quicker and took the race win by nearly two minutes. Despite the antics only 18 seconds separated the next four boats with Richard & Robyn just beating Phil.
Total concentration
Race three saw a reduced number on the start line, just three to be precise. The wind had increased a tad to F4 and the sea state approaching moderate. Sam & Chris had a delayed start, leaving the two RS400’s of Dave & John and Richard & Kristof to fight it out enjoying a close tussle over two laps with the downwind legs providing some of the best sailing this year. Dave & John crossing the line just ahead of Richard & Kristof.
Thanks to the race team of Anna, Keith and Steve for an ‘entertaining’ days sailing.
There were five classes of dinghy represented on Thursday evening, RS400, D-One, Contender, RS300 & Laser. With low water at around the start of racing the ebb tide was easing which was just as well as the warm Southerly F3 wind eventually turned to the SE and decreasing to a F1 by the end of race two. Race one – Dave (RS300) and Adrian (D-One) led at the windward mark. After one lap Dave led Ed (Contender) and Phil & Lorna (RS400). A shift in the wind to the SE on the next lap resulted in Dave the biggest benefactor ending the ‘beat’ on a fetch to the mark and taking the race win. Phil & Lorna eased past Ed on the second lap with Keith (Laser) staying in contention to take second on corrected time and Ed pipping Phil & Lorna to third
With the wind now from the SE the race team moved the windward mark for race two. Dave tried a port end flyer only to have the duck most of the fleet. However, a couple of boats had a somewhat hampered start as they snagged the warp on the start line mark. Dave led after lap one with Phil & Lorna a few seconds ahead of Adrian. The wind now dropped to about F1. Despite the decreased wind the tide was now negligible the second lap was actually quicker. Dave taking line honours, Keith repeating his second place and Phil & Lorna claiming third spot. Thanks to Richard and Des for running the racing and providing us with a very pleasant evening sailing.
As the boats were being rigged for the days activities there was still evidence of the early morning mist, thankfully this soon cleared and visibility during the racing was fine. Race one started with a NE’erly F2. There was still a small flood tide so most of the fleet kept inshore on the beat. The two catamarans soon edged ahead and after the first lap had over a minutes lead on the dinghy fleet. Ed and Joe (Spitfire) led David B (Shadow-X) for the first two laps at which point David B found another gear opening up a two minute lead at the finish line. Dave H (RS300) led the dinghy fleet with Phil & Lorna (RS400) close behind. On the final downwind leg Richard & Robyn (RS400) gybed early and found some extra pressure, just beating Phil & Lorna over the line. The tide was negligible at the start of race two and the wind had increased slightly. The two catamarans were rightly leading after the first lap but close behind were Tom & Will (505) and Dave H, with the rest of the fleet a short distance behind. With Joe now at the helm, the Spitfire stepped up the pace, opening up a near two minute lead. Tom & Will and Dave H spent the entire race only a few metres apart with the rest of the fleet a short distance behind. Dave H taking the race on corrected time with Anna & Keith (RS500) second. The wind had increased to a good F3 and the tide had changed and now ebbing at the start of race three. This may explain the unusual phenomenon at Gorleston of a general recall. All clear on the second attempt with David B leading from start to finish opening up a considerable lead and taking the win on handicap. With tide making light work of the beats everyone was enjoying the long off wind legs in the fantastic conditions planning in the small swell which had now build up. Richard & Robyn and Anna & Keith were having the closest tussle of the day and after four laps were one second apart. On corrected time Anna & Keith taking another second.
Thanks to the race team and Kristof who kindly volunteered to assist.
The pot of gold in the case is the sailing at Gorleston.
