It was the first of the Autumn series at Gorleston but thankfully the weather was still in summer mode with sunshine and temperatures in the mid twenties.
Richard and Joe were seen on the prom with a tape-measure checking settings and comparing notes, only three weeks until the Solution Nationals!
The day proved a testing time for all with a shifty and gusty F3-4 Westerly, resulting in several capsizes. Three races, three different leaders at the windward mark (all 400’s) and three different race winners, all single handers !
Twelve boats launched with the majority singlehanders ranging from a Europe to a RS700
Race one- Phil & Lorna, fresh from their success in winning the Summer series were first to windward mark. Dave & John (400) slipped past on the run to lead up to the finish. Carl (Laser) sailed a great first lap rounding the leeward gate second but eventually overhauled by Phil (Contender) and Steve G (D-One) but winning on corrected time by a minute and a half.
The pre-race bimbling obviously paid off for the Solutions who claimed the next two places with Joe finishing just over ten seconds in front of Richard after a race long battle.
Race two- Joe, along with Don and new crew Angus port tacked the fleet at the start of race two with the latter leading at the windward mark. Curtis (RS700) stormed down the run to take the lead after lap one. Dave & John slipped into the lead after lap two closely followed by Steve G. Behind Steve W (Europe), having fixed his main halyard during race one was keeping in touch with the faster singlehanders to win on corrected time with Joe second and Dave & John third.
Race three- Dave & John led at windward mark maintaining this to the finish. Behind, Phil and Joe were only a few seconds apart after lap one but Phil, showing a good turn of speed upwind opening up a good lead at the finish. On corrected time it was a Solution 1, 2 with Joe beating Richard by 30 seonds and Steve W finishing third.
After the first days sailing Joe heads the leaderboard, one point ahead of Steve W. Thanks to the Race team for a cracking days sail and for a few, some swimming. And to end the day many of us enjoyed dinner and a beer on the prom in glorious sunshine.
The Race team were also busy taking pictures with over ninety now on the club Flickr site.