Category: News

Three races…one winner!

It was another hot start to the day which undoubtedly contributed to the leisurely pace by most getting rigged and ready. This however proved to be a good move as there was little wind initially but by the time we were ready to race there was a steady F2 from the East.

Race 1 start

Race one started with the last remains of the flood tide, Phil (RS700) quickly positioned himself at the front of the fleet closely followed by Richard & Rosie (RS400), aka Team Custard. These two were clear ahead at the finish line with George (RS Aero) next to cross and who won on corrected time with Howard (RS Vareo) second.

General Recall

Race two – and a rare occurrence at Gorleston, a general recall. This proved helpful for Phil & Lorna who had gone ashore to fix something and managed to return just in time for the restart.

Team Custard won the start and held the lead to the finish with the RS700 close behind. Next were Don & Robyn and Jordan & James, sailing RS400’s who enjoyed a close battle for the first three laps with the former opening up a small gap on the final lap and George crossing the line shortly afterwards to win again on corrected time with Team Custard second.

Take two

The wind had picked up a tad for the final race. The ebb tide was now flowing, ensuring most kept inshore as long as possible on the way to the windward mark. The RS700 and Team Custard built up nearly a three minute lead over the course of four laps. Once again George had sailed the Aero well finishing third over the water and winning by over a minute on corrected time with Dave (Vareo) second.

Heading toward the leeward gate

By the time we headed home the sky had clouded over and it was noticeably colder. A little later mist had started to roll in.

Many thanks to the Race team, Tom & Will for a splendid day’s sailing and to Adrian, who doubled up as safety boat and photographer for the day, thankfully not needing to assist anyone but did manage to take nearly 80 pictures which are now uploaded onto the club Flickr site.

Next weekend will be a busy one for the club with the Annual Beach Regatta plus hosting the RS Vareo Nationals.

Results for the Regatta Series are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023ClubRegs.htm

The race team took several pictures which are on the the club Flickr site

GYGSC’s albums | Flickr

With Costa del Gorleston enjoying another beautiful day the conditions for the Thursday evening sailing were almost perfect, just a little more wind would have been nice but the F2 from the NE-NNE made for a pleasant evenings sail.

The hot weather must have made everyone a little lethargic as the fleet were late leaving shore. However, the GYGSC ‘Race Team’ newbie’s did a splendid job with the panache of any experienced team.

Nine boats took to the water, once again all single handers. Phil and Nick were out first for a session of Phantom training, followed by two Contenders, three Vareos, all keen for some last minute practice before their ’big event’, a Solution and a new to Gorleston, Streaker.

With HW at approx 20.00 there was still a noticeable flood tide which only diminished near the end of the sailing. In the light conditions a clear channel inshore proved key to each race.

Race 1-  Adam (Streaker) won the start and got pole position heading inshore and still led after the first lap. Nick (Phantom) and Dave (Vareo) were in hot pursuit but managed to spent much of the race getting in others way!  Adam held onto the lead until the final leg with Dave crossing a few metres ahead but Adam easily held onto the win on corrected time.

Race two- Dave got himself in pole position and led from start to finish. Behind were the two Phantoms led by Nick with Phil, benefitting from his newly gained knowledge from Nick, just a few seconds behind. A couple of boats opted to go offshore but lost out slightly. On corrected time Dave was first with Richard (Solution) second.

Despite being 20.30 most wanted another race, and the slick race team soon got us going on a shorter, two lap race. Phil was obviously putting his newly found Phantom knowledge to good effect as he led round the windward mark (don’t expect any more tips from Nick). Close behind was Adam who got another good start. All quite close at the finish and on corrected time Adam took another win, four seconds ahead of Dave.

The evening was definitely drawing to a close as we sailed back to shore in the last of the daylight. Many thanks to our Race team, Lorna and Sarah for generously giving up the comfort of the clubhouse for a RIB, and to Chef Brown for the Pie ‘Surprise’ supper in the clubhouse

Results are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Thursday.htm

Pictures are on Flick https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums

It was a hot cloudless day at Gorleston but with a light onshore breeze and thankfully neap tides.

Seven boats decided to test their light wind skills for the final act of the Spring series, two RS400’s and the rest singlehanders including Ed, opting to test sail his new A Class cat, although it proved not the best conditions for cat sailing!

Race 1 – after lap one Adam & Jordon (RS400) and Richard (Solution) headed the fleet rounding the leeward gate together with George (Aero) and Tamsin (Laser) just behind.  After three laps Adam & Jordon had managed to open up over a minutes lead on Richard with George just a few seconds behind. On corrected time it was a singlehander 1,2,3 with a win for Richard, George second and Tamsin third.

Race 2 – With the wind fading it was slow progress around the course and after lap one Adam & Jordon held a two minute lead over George with Ed a further thirty seconds behind. With the wind dropping further lap two tested everyone’s patience with Adam & Jordon the only boat to finish.

Once back on shore and enjoying our customary lunch on the prom the wind returned and stayed for the rest of the afternoon!

It was the final Act of the Spring Series. The top four comprised of four different classes with Steve and his pocket rocket overall winner. Dave (RS Vareo) second, Adam & Jordon (RS400) third and Phil A (Contender) fourth.

The club now goes into Regatta mode with next Sunday the Summer Regatta and the following weekend the Beach Regatta which also welcomes the RS Vareo class for their National Championship.

Results for the Spring Series are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Spring.htm

The race team took several pictures which are on the the club Flickr site

GYGSC’s albums | Flickr

It was a glorious start to the day with all the right ingredients, warm-ish, sunny, a F3-4 and a relatively smooth sea. It really did feel like summer was finally on its way. Twelve boats launched for what was to be a great days sailing.

Race 1

Clouds covered the sky by the time we started the first race. Although HW was scheduled for around 09.30 there was little sign of the ebb tide. The fleet were split both upwind and downwind.

Phil H, sailing his RS700 gradually pulled away from the chasing RS400’s to the extent that he got to do an extra lap. Richard & George, aka Team Custard led the RS400’s with Phil A in his Contender very close behind.

Upwind the Europe defied the law of physics with Steve W sailing well and managing the conditions skilfully, beating many ‘faster’ boats over the water.

Phil H opened up quite a lead and managed to lap a couple of boats before crossing the line, Team Custard held on to their lead with Adam & Jordan 30 seconds behind.

It was the start of a good day for the single handers with Steve W triumphing on corrected time, Vareo Dave in second and Carl, sailing a Laser third.

Race 2

With the first signs of the ebb tide the fleet again were split upwind although most ventured inshore off wind.

After lap one Phil H had a small lead on Team Custard, just behind was Steve G in his D-One with the RS400’s of Adam & Jordan and Don & Keith a gnats whisker behind him.

Steve G and Adam & Jordan had a close battle throughout the race with just a few seconds between them after each lap.  Conditions were now perfect with some nice rollers providing some great off wind surfing conditions.

Phil H crossed the line nearly three minutes clear of Team Custard. Two minutes later Adam & Jordan crossed the line just two seconds ahead of Steve G. On corrected time it was another single hander 1,2,3, with Vareo Dave just beating Steve W with Carl in third

Race 3

Sadly both the Lasers suffered gear failure, with one top mast section breakage and one kicker failure.

The wind was now a F4 and the sea just a little bigger. The ebb tide made short work of the windward legs resulting in long off wind legs planing and surfing, ideal for the asymmetrics.

Phil headed the fleet with Team Custard rudely close behind after the first lap. Don & Keith were leading the chasing pack but were one of several to suffer a capsize.

With several retirements only six boats finished with Team Custard taking line honours. Adam & Jordan were second and Vareo Dave third. Not far behind was Richard, sailing a Vareo just ahead of Phil A.

On corrected time Vareo Dave took first with Team Custard second and Steve W third.

With one more week to go in the Spring series Steve W leads and looks to have done enough to win overall which is just as well as he’s off to another Europe Open meeting next week.

Big thanks to the race team of Phil, Lorna and Ed for an excellent days sailing, a great line and course providing some terrific racing. As we arrived back to shore the sun had reappeared making an enjoyable end to the day as we dined in front of the clubhouse.

Results are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Spring.htm

The race team took several pictures which are on the the club Flickr site

GYGSC’s albums | Flickr

Thursday evening series 1st June – Apparently it was supposed to be June but nobody told the weather gods. It was very overcast, a chilly NNE F3-4 and a lively sea state, it felt like winter.

Eight sailors discussed whether to go out or not……. one then offered to help the OOD in the RIB and two deciding a coffee in the club seemed like a better idea!

The remaining five launched, ably assisted by the two volunteer ‘Beach Masters’, who then drank coffee.

The race team managed to fit two, two lap races which provided lots of frills and several spills. Harry, sailing his Topper led the first race for a short while until Richard managed to pass in his Vareo. Chris was handling the conditions well in his Laser until his tiller extension snapped resulting in an early return to shore.

Harry managed to keep pace with the fleet in both races to win both on corrected time with Richard second and Rob, in another Vareo third.

Well done to the race team for braving the weather, they did look cold when they returned to shore. Thanks to the onshore team for getting supper ready, it was much appreciated.

Let’s hope the weather improves before we venture out again.

Results are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Thursday.htm