Category: News

3 2 Buoy Challenge Race

With the forecast predicting 25 knots later in the day there was some deliberation on the prom as to whether to venture out or not. However, with the sea looking reasonably flat and the wind still manageable, seven boats decided to venture out for 3 Buoy Challenge races, although it was now going to be the 2 Buoy Challenge races. There were several new crew pairings for the day with David Brief swapping his Shadow to crew in a 400 with Richard Fryer, Robyn Ollington swapping one 400 for another sailing with Don D’onions and Ed Anderson sailing with Keith Sykes in a 500. Race one started in a relatively light wind with Dave & John (400) leading round the windward mark with Richard and David (400) just a few seconds behind and Don & Robyn third. The wind increased during the final lap which saw Phil and Lorna (400) going for an uncharacteristic swim on the last gybe.
The wind was a F4 for the second race. Richard and David outpaced everyone upwind to lead around the first mark and built up a good lead by the end of the race. Dave & John finished second and after a close tussle throughout the race Don & Robyn just pipped Tom &John (505) over the line. Ed and Keith were fairing well until Ed decided to jump ship resulting in an unscheduled capsize for the 500. Thanks to the race team for a well organised and enjoyable days sailing. Full results on the club web site

Once again conditions were near perfect at Gorleston for Act 7 of the Summer series. Temperature in the mid twenties, cloudless skies and a F2 SE’erly which increased toF3-4 during the day. Four RS400’s and a mixture of other classes made up the fleet which left the beach which was aleady filling up with sun worshippers!.
Chris (D-One) and Dave & John (RS400) had a close battle during race one with just a few seconds between them until the final lap when Chris’s better downwind speed saw him open up a clear lead at the finish line. However, Keith, swapping RS500 for his Laser had been sailing well to beat Chris on corrected time by just 3 seconds.
The wind increased to F3-4 for races two and three in which Chris gradually left the RS400’s behind to lead by over a minute in both races to claim first place. Dave & John managed to keep ahead of the other 400’s to claim second in both and David (Shadow X), who managed to lap several boats claiming third in both.
In the final race of the day David built up a huge lead and managed to hold his time to claim first place, beating Richard &guest crew Krxysztof by one second.
Many thanks to the race team who set a great course, arranged great weather and turned around the races in quick time. . Full results on the club website.

For the early arrivals at Gorleston things looked very promising with a lovely warm ESE’erly F3-4 breeze . There was a gentle flood tide which was to prove a hinderance to some on the start line. Eight boats took to the water including four lasers providing some good class racing for their helms. With a three short race format planned, it was going to be a busy evening. By the time the racing started the wind had eased to a F2-3. With many boats crowding the line early it looked possible for a recall but only one boat was over with the others managing to counter-act the impact of the tide just in time. Don, sailing his D-One had a set back when his clew strap decided to detach itself from the boom just before the start. With some help from the race team this was rectified and Don was able to join the racing but generously giving the others several minutes head start. Richard F(300) made a quick recovery from his premature start and soon lead the fleet towards the windward mark rounding just ahead of the Phil and Lorna(400) and the Laser of Tamsin. With the wind easing slightly it made for slow progress downwind. The 300 held off the 400 to cross the line first but close behind was Tamsin and the Lasers of Keith and Richard B, resulting in a Laser 1,2,3 on corrected time. There was a clean start in race two and Richard F quickly took the lead. At the windward mark he had a good lead on the rest of the fleet lead by Phil and Lorna and Keith establishing a small lead on the other Lasers. There appeared to be a little more wind on the south side of the course so most of the fleet headed start inshore with the added bonus of avoiding the remains of the flood tide. Positions remained unchanged at the line with Richard F crossing over a minute ahead of the 400 and Keith third. Tamsin stayed in front of the other two Lasers who were neck and neck all the way down to the line with Richard B just beating Daryl by 4 seconds. The D-One’s were having their own battle with only a few seconds separating them all round the course with Don just beating Adrian by a few seconds at the line. On corrected time Richard F was first beating Keith by just one second ! By the time the third race started the wind was teasing everyone occasionally showing signs of life but more often than not it was only a F1…..ish, with the sea now more resembling a mill pond. At the windward mark the 300 and 400 rounded close together with a big gap to the rest of the fleet led by D-One Don. Phil and Lorna must have been fully concentrating downwind as they slowly built up a small lead over Richard F to cross the line first. On corrected time it was a dead heat between them and Richard F with Don beating Keith by one second for third place. With the sun just setting as we headed back ashore it was a lovely end to very pleasant evenings sailing. Many thanks to young Ed and Noah for their assistance on the committee boat and to Phil and Lorna for organising supper. Full results on the club website.

Nine boats took to the water, for what was best described by Will, the OOD as ‘a mixture of sailing pleasure’! For what is becoming the norm at the moment, we ‘suffered’ beautiful blue skies and temperature in the mid twenties. With low water forecasted at 11.38 race one started with a weakening ebbing tide and a shifty F2-3 from the West. With lots of opportunities to make or lose places in the shifty wind the 400’s appeared to managed well taking the top three places with Dave and John claiming top spot. During the countdown to the start of race two the sea breeze decided to make an appearance, converging with the land breeze at the start line, result… wind coming in all directions and sometimes not at all ! Only Richard & Carol (400) and Richard & Robyn(400) crossing the line on time with the rest of the fleet struggling to make the tide as the wind played it’s games. A short way up the ‘beat’ the sea breeze filled resulting in a drag race to the mark. The race team sensibly shortened the race after lap one with Richard & Carol well clear of the fleet, Richard & Robyn holding on the their second and just eight seconds separating the next four boats with Keith & Anna (500) claiming third. The next two races provided the best sailing of the day with a reasonably steady ENE’erly F2-3. In race three Dave & John caught some good pressure on the first downwind leg to open up a short lead on Richard & Carol which they maintained to the finish. Don (D-One) showed good downwind speed staying close to the two leading 400’s throughout the race to claim third place. Due to the pleasant conditions the race team kindly offered to run an extra race which was greatly appreciated. This provided some very close racing between the 400’s of Richard & Carol, Richard & Robyn and Dave & John. With the latter leading at the windward mark but leaving the gybe to the leeward gate a little late these three were almost side by side going down to the leeward gate. It remained close on second lap with Dave & John just pipping Richard & Carol on the line with Richard & ​Robyn third. Just behind were the D-One’s of Nick and Don who had been having their own close tussle with Nick just beating Don over the line.
Huge thanks to the race team of Will, Tom, Matt & Ed for a most enjoyable days sailing.

A pleasant evenings sailing was enjoyed by all on Thursday with two races sailed in a warm SE F2 wind. With 2 x D-One’s, 2 x RS300’s and 2 x Lasers only the RS500 was without a sailing buddy. Richard Fryer (RS300) set the pace all evening leading both races from start to finish despite some confusion round the windward mark in the first race, was it port or starboard ! In race one the two Lasers were neck and neck until the final lap when Richard Brown managed to break free to lead Tamsin at the finish line. In the second race Dave Houghton (300) and Don O’nions (D-One) spent most of the race rounding the marks together but Don’s better upwind pace saw him open up a short lead on the penultimate beat which he held until the finish. Big thanks to Phil and Lorna for once again stepping in as Race Officers. With only two more weeks (officially) to go it’s a Laser 1, 2 as Tamsin leads Richard by 3.5 points with only Keith and Anna (Laser/RS500) able to threaten the top two. Full results on the Results page

Another great days sailing at Gorleston. Unbroken sunshine, a warm F3-4 from the SE and temperatures in the 20’s, what’s not to like.
Race 1 was sailed in the last of the flood tide so most of the fleet headed offshore for the beat. David Brief (Shadow X) rounded the windward mark first and led the fleet throughout the race. Behind, the D-Ones and RS400’s were battling it out with Chris Sallis (D-One) leading the 400’s of Richard Fryer & Carols Smalls and Dave Houghton & John Symonds. Close behind the D-Ones of Nick Favell and Don O’nions were neck and neck and just behind them the 400’s of Simon Beckett from WOBYC and Phil Harlow & Lorna Peirce. Sallis maintained his position throughout the race take his first win of the day with Houghton & Symonds second.
Race 2 was sailed in minimal tide and there was a split in the fleet going upwind for the first time. At the windward mark it was those who went inshore who appeared to gain. Brief did a horizon job on the fleet lapping all bar the top three. Sallis continued his good form to lead the D-One / RS400 pack to take another first with Fryer & Smalls just pipping Brief to take second.
The wind had increased and the sea a little more choppy for the final race of the day. The ebb tide seemed reluctant to set so once again there appeared little tide to contend with. Sallis continued his good form to take his third win with Fryer & Smalls just pipping Houghton & Symonds on the line to take second.
Full results on the club website

Last night saw the running of the rescheduled Thursday Beach Regatta with the tide mostly in but still flooding strongly till the end of the racing.  Richard Fryer and Matt Chives set a W/L course with the fleet beating into a shifty Northerly F3, Race 1 way got underway with 6 boats on the line. To set the theme for the Evening the returning Richard Brown (RS 400) with Tamsin as guest crew headed inshore followed about ½ the fleet, Harlow and Sykes searching for more wind offshore, Richard and Tamsin rounded first with a clear lead and continued to stretch their lead over the rest of the fleet until the line to take an easy win.  Race 2 start saw Brown weave through the Fleet on Port just finding room with Dave Houghton clearing the line on Starboard with everyone else tacking to avoid the committee boat.  The boats were much closer this time at the windward mark as Houghton remembered how to sail his Rs300 but Brown just ahead, by the Leeward gate, it was Brown, Houghton and Sykes not far behind, Sykes leaving the kite drop far too late and by the time it was down well past the gate allowing the whole fleet to pass  by the time they returned to the course.   Brown taking line honours, Houghton not far behind with Buck taking 3^rd on handicap in his laser, Adrian (D-one) taking a short swim on the last Gybe.  Race 3 a quick 1 lapper in the fading light saw a repeat as Brown kept in shore all the way to round in the lead and take the line, with Buck taking 2^nd this time in his Laser.  The fleet returned to shore for pasties and to congratulate Richard and Tamsin 3 bullets and the regatta.

Full results on website………

Thanks to Richard and Matt for a great evening.