GYGSC hosted their Beach Regatta on the 23rd and 24 th June.
Locals were joined by visitors from WOBYC and RBSC with eleven different classes competing, ranging from a Solo to an RS800.
Despite the day starting in sunshine and a NE F2-3, the conditions got tougher as the day proceeded. The Race team set a large Windward / Leeward course and with racing starting around low water the first race was sailed in slack water.
Chris Sallis, swapping his usual vessel, a D-One for his Tasar and sailing with Matt Frary were a class apart and led the fleet in the first two races to record two comfortable wins. Nick Favell sailing his D-one was consistently quick upwind and led the chasing pack to record two seconds. As the sky clouded over the wind steadily increased to provide some challenging conditions. There were a number of capsizes with some deciding to head for shore by the end of the second race.
The wind had increased to a F4-5 by the start of the final race with saw a reduced number of starters. With most competitor choosing the play safe and not fly spinnakers they were no capsizes despite the tougher conditions. Nick Favell led from start to finish to claim line honours with Phil and Dennis Manning, sailing a Wayfarer finishing second.
The forecast on Sunday proved partially correct as we enjoyed a day of unbroken sunshine. However, the wind for race four was stronger than forecast, with a good F4 from the NE. With the tide still ebbing it made for an easier beat to the windward mark for the hiking boats. The Tasar once again set the pace early up the first beat, only being pasted by Jamie Freeman and Tamsin Highfield in an RS800 halfway up the beat. With a long run against the tide back to the leeward gate the boats with spinnakers made some big gains over the others throughout the race. Jamie and Tamsin opened up a large lead, lapping some of the boats to record a first with the Wayfarer of Phil and Dennis Manning just pipping Nick Favell for second.
The wind had eased by the time race five started and now a F3. Once again Jamie and Tamsin did a horizon job on the rest of the fleet, this time lapping nearly half the fleet. Behind them was a close battle between the D-One’s of Nick Favell and Steve Gray plus the RS400 of Dave Houghton and John Symonds with only a few seconds between them throughout the race. Jamie and Tamsin recorded their second bullet and the ever consistent team of Phil and Dennis another second. The battle for third was close with Steve Gray finishing a few seconds ahead of the next two boats.
The wind had eased to a F2 for the final race. With the lighter conditions the faster boats struggled to plane downwind and with the Wayfarer never far behind they claimed their first victory of the event. Nick Crickmore sailing a D-One managed the downwind legs better than most to record a second, his best result of the event.
It was close overall with just two points in it. The Wayfarer of Phil and Dennis overall victors with 10 pts, Nick Favell second on 12 pts and David and John third on 20 pts.
Full results on the club website here….
A big thanks to David Brief who was OOD on both days and all the other helpers who manned the rescue boats and galley on either Saturday or Sunday.