A warm sunny day with a building wind.
In contrast to the previous week the forecast didn’t look too exciting with light winds forecast. With just enough wind to sail, boats were rigged and the race team set what looked to be an ambitiously large course given the current wind strength (they must have a hot line to the weather god). Start time coincided with LW and with the wind varying in both strength, F1-2 (and occasionally less!) and direction, SSW, (give or take 20 degrees) race one got underway.
Nice hat Tom
Richard & Lily (RS400) headed the fleet staying to the right of the course and looked well placed to round the windward mark first. However, 150m from the mark the wind become patchy and shifty eventually filling in from the left which favoured Dave & John (RS400) who rounded the windward mark clear ahead, followed by Ed, sailing the Spitfire solo, and Solution Paul. After two laps Ed had taken the lead followed by the two 400’s. Behind Solution Paul and Contender Phil rounded the leeward gate together with Phantom Phil just behind. By this time the wind had settled to a relatively steady F2 which suited Ed as he managed to lap most of the fleet with the exception of the two 400’s. Contender Phil led the single handers to the finish line, followed by Paul and Phantom Phil with Steve & Izzy, sailing the N12, managing to slip past Laser Michael on the last lap.
Ed speeds ahead of the fleet
Race two, the wind now more settled F2-3 from the SSE, a quick course adjustment was made before the start and by now with a hint of flood tide. Ed raced ahead followed by the two 400’s with Richard & Lily just ahead. After lap one it was tight mid fleet with Contender Phil one second ahead of Steve & Izzy, closely followed by Phantom Phil and Solution Paul. After lap two Ed had opened up a good lead on the 400’s, this time with Dave & John just ahead.
The two RS400 battling it out
Race three, the wind had picked up further and now a solid F3-4, and the sea had become noticeably lumpier. Following some eager starts from some of the fleet in race two the Race team decided the fleet needed some line discipline leading to a rare for Gorleston, General Recall. The fleet got the message and a clean start made on the second attempt. The beats were aided by the flood tide which was helpful as the increase in sea state made for a bumpy and wet beat. The asymmetrics enjoyed some long reaches into the tide with some excellent surfing on port, reaching inshore. The Spitfire and 400’s spent most of the race in close proximity of each other and after thirty five minutes the Spitfire crossed the line two seconds ahead of Dave & John with Richard & Lily three seconds behind. Solution Paul led the others finishing just ahead of Steve & Izzy.
On corrected time Solution Paul was a clear winner of the day’s top gun award winning all three races, beating Dave & John by one second in race one. In race two Steve & Izzy were just twelve seconds behind but scored another second in the final race.
Once ashore Chef Lorna did a great job standing in for Chef Brown who was out of action with a swollen knee.
This was the final outing of the Autumn series with Phantom Nick overall winner and Paul pulling himself up to second following today’s performance. Next week sees the conclusion of this year’s racing with the End of Season trophy.
Full results http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2026/2026Autumn.htm
More pictures on the club Flickr site – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/with/72177720333188767
Todays top gun – Paul