This year’s Beach Regatta was run in conjunction with the RS Vareo National Championship. This resulted in nearly 30 boats in total which was a great sight but meant a busy time for all those who had volunteered to help run the event. Eleven boats entered the Beach Regatta which included four visitors who cheekily took the top two places ! One visitor, Roger Blake, sailing an Osprey with his son Jamie was a club member ‘many’ years ago before moving away from the area
Overcast but good winds for day one
Saturday was overcast but a warm F3 from the south provided lovely sailing conditions.
Race 1- Phil, sailing his RS700 took the lead chased by Roger & Jamie. Richard & Rosie (RS400) led the chasing pack with Steve (D-One) a few seconds behind. The Osprey took the lead crossing the line ahead of the RS700 (Phil had a problem on lap two). On corrected time the Osprey won by three minutes, Richard & Rosie second and George, sailing a RS Aero third.
Race 2- Phil quickly open up a good lead crossing the line over three minutes ahead of the Osprey. The two RS400’s had a close tussle with Richard & Rosie just ahead of Adam & Jordon after lap one. Only ten seconds separated Phil (Contender) and George for the first two laps, although on the final lap Phil managed to open up a one minute gap. The Osprey won, this time by forty seconds with Phil second and George third.
The ‘faster’ boats head the fleet
Race 3 – With a few boats deciding to head ashore there was only five boats on the line for the final race of the day. The RS700 and Osprey opened up a good lead resulting in them sailing an extra lap. After lap one Richard & Rosie were just ahead of Adam & Jordan with George very close behind and managing to stay in contention to the line. It was another comfortable win for Roger & Jamie with George second and Richard & Rosie third.
Sunday dawned and with it cloudless skies and temperatures in the mid twenties. Thankfully the wind settled just before launching, a pleasant F3 from the south providing ‘champagne’ sailing conditions.
RS400 ‘s chasing the leading boats
Race 4- Three boats opened up a good lead after the first lap lead by the RS700, with the Osprey just ahead of Richard & Rosie. The next group of boats was led by Adam & Jordan, a few seconds ahead of Ed & Keith in the Spitfire, just a few seconds ahead of Steve in a D-One. On lap two Ed & Keith found their mojo and proceeded to open up a big lead, lapping most of the fleet. It was close on corrected time with George beating Roger & Jamie by eight seconds with Richard & Rosie beating the Laser Radial, sailed by Simon by seventeen seconds.
Sunday proves to be much nicer, Costa Del Gorleston !
Race 5 – Ed & Keith took an early lead in the Spitfire lapping some boats and doing an extra lap. The RS700 followed a few minutes later and also got to do an extra lap and ended up last to cross the line, which must have been a rare occasion for Phil. After two laps the Osprey was just a few seconds ahead of Richard & Rosie however, on the final lap opened up a small lead. On corrected Simon took the win by a minute and a half. It was very close for the next four places with the Osprey just ahead of the RS Aero, who was nine seconds ahead of Phil, who was eight seconds ahead of Richard & Rosie,
Overall winners Roger & Jamie in full flight
Race 6 – The Spitfire once again sped away from the fleet with Phil leading the chase. These two opening up a big lead by the finish. After lap one, the Osprey was just two seconds ahead of Richard & Rosie, with Adam & Jordan thirty seconds behind. After lap two the Osprey had opened up a one minute lead with the two RS400’s now just a few seconds apart, which remained the position for the next two laps. Behind, another good race for the ‘slower’ boats with Simon, having another comfortable win. However, the next three places were close on corrected time with the Osprey second, a few seconds ahead of the RS700, just ahead of George in the RS Aero.
Overall it was a win for Roger & Jamie in the Osprey with three firsts and three seconds, with George, sailing the RS Aero second, four points behind.
Full results for the event on the club site
Sailwave results for Beach Regatta 2023 at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Sailing Club 2023
The race team took a few pictures which are on the the club Flickr site