There was a lot of activity in Gorleston today with many people there to watch the Gt Yarmouth Air Show. Parking places were at a premium and the sensible ones arrived early. It was a cloudy day with the wind generally coming from the SW and ranging from F5 to F1. Race one was the most testing with some big shifts and gusts which did see a few sailors testing the water. Phil Highfield (RS700) sailed consistently well opening up sizable leads in all races to claim three comfortable wins, only being pressed by Chris Sallis (D-One) in race one. In the second race the wind settled to a relatively steady F2-3 providing some close racing amongst the D-Ones and RS400’s, with Nick Favell(D-One) claiming second. By the time the final race started the wind had eased to a F1-2 and shifting between SW and WSW. With Phil sailing his own race the others enjoyed another close battle with only a few seconds between them. This time Dave Houghton, with guest crew for the day Tom Carr (RS400) claiming second. Thanks to Jamie, Nick and Lea for providing a good days sailing and looking after those who needed assistance. Results now on club website
Category: Reports
Thursday evening sailing
The forecast proved accurate on Thursday with the wind, which had been quite strong all day easing to 10 mph from the West just before the start of the racing to provide a pleasant, if testing evenings sail. However, the wind decided to test the fleet dropping at first and eventually doing a U-turn ! The Race team sensibly shortened the race with the single handers coping best in the conditions with Mark Porter in a club Laser winning both line honours and on handicap. Phil Alison in his Contender was just behind to claim second.
With the wind now a steady 12mph from the East the race team moved to the ‘new’ leeward mark to start the second race. Phil Alison led the fleet for the first two laps until he decided to ‘moor up’ to one of the marks, leaving Keith and Anna in their 500 to take line honours. Mark however, was close enough behind to claim the race win on corrected time with Keith and Anna second. Mark proved very consistent throughout the evening putting in laps times of 7.31, 7.35, 7.32 and a late spurt on the last lap of 7.27. Thanks to the race team of Phil and Lorna for an enjoyable evening sail and for providing supper in the club afterwards. Results are on the club website
Britiannia Pier race
There was quite a mixture of boats for the Britainnia Pier race, ranging from a Shadow X to a Wayfarer plus the usual batch of D-Ones and RS’s. There was a F2-3 NE-erly and with the tide ebbing it meant an easier beat to the mark just of the Britiannia Pier. The race team set the start just off the café so most ventured straight offshore into the tide. Considering the wind direction it was surprisingly shifty so there was plenty of tacks required as we headed up North. Unsurprisingly David Brief in his Shadow X was first to round followed some time later by Tom & Will in (505), Chris (D-0ne) and Dave & John(400), with the later two heading straight inshore to escape the tide and Tom & Will heading directly back south. A little way back the remaining boats rounded the mark relatively close with Steve (D-One) catching some good pressure as he headed inshore catching the others ahead. The run back to the finish was slow although David (Shadow) did a disappearing job opening up a huge lead. Chris (D-One) did a good job hugging the shore to open a gap on the others. Phil, back over from Oz and swapping foiling Wazp for a Wayfarer for the day with dad Dennis steered a beeline along the coast which for them proved the best option holding their position on the water in a fleet of faster boats. Suspect Phil would have preferred the Wazp! With Lorna swapping ships and sailing with Keith (500) as Phil was sailing with brother Paul, back here from New Zealand there may have been a little rivalry between the club top couple. At the finish it was Lorna earning bragging rights as their crossed the line just 20 second ahead of Phil. Once the times were inputted into sailwave it was David who emerged top dog with Phil & Dennis claiming second. Full results are on the website. Thanks to the race team for a pleasant day on the water.
Thursday 24th May
It seemed that we had a change in season within a few hours as during the afternoon it was a warm sunny summers day, by the time we arrived at Gorleston for the evenings sailing it was overcast, raining and a noticeable drop in temperature making feel distinctly autumnal. This didn’t dissuade the hardy few who decided to venture out. Despite the conditions the actual sailing proved to be pretty good. There was just a hint of flood tide remaining, there was a moderate swell and a steady F2-3 NNW wind. In the first race Keith (Laser) and Richard (Laser) hit the line first and headed inshore with Tamsin (Laser) opting to go offshore followed by Phil &Lorna (400) and Chris (Laser). At the windward mark the first four were closely packed with Keith leading the pack. Phil & Lorna eventually took the lead and built a small lead crossing the line first but close behind were the Lasers led by Tamsin with Keith and Richard just a few seconds behind. In the second race Chris and Keith led the pack from the line. Keith gradually extended his lead crossing the line first followed by Phil & Lorna and Richard who crossed only one second apart.
Results are on the GYGSC site – http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2018/2018Thursday.htm
May 13th Report
Light winds and grey skies were the order of the day at Gorleston, but at least it had stopped raining by the time we arrived at the club! 10 boats launched onto a very flat sea, the westerly F1-2 breeze meant a long beat towards the cliffs, but considering the direction it remained relatively stable.
David Brief sailing a Shadow was an early leader in race one but encountered a technical problem resulting in a retirement. The D-One of Chris Sallis then took the lead and held on to the finish, winning by a minute over the 400’s of Richard Fryer & Oliver Hunt and Richard Brown & Robyn Ollington.
Race two saw a three way battle at the front between Phil Highfield in his 700, David(Shadow) and Chris (D-One). These three built up good lead on the pursuing pack with only a few seconds between them. David won the line honours but Chris won on corrected time. The 400’s of Richard & Oliver and Richard & Robyn keep close enough to the leaders to claim second and third.
In the final race of the day Phil(700) had built a sizable lead after the first lap and was looking good for a race win however, the wind had other ideas! On what was to be the final downwind leg there were some winners and losers as the wind initially dropped. Phil(700) held onto his lead but the rest of the fleet slowly caught up. Richard & Robyn successfully located the calmest patch on the water costing them a good finish. Nick Favell (D-One) and Keith & Anna (500) had been a little way back but a late charge to the finish when they managed to catch good pressure as the wind began to turn rapidly catching the leading pack. Chris(D-One) claimed first place, Nick(D-One) second, and Richard & Oliver third.
Thanks to Tom, Ed, Dave and John – OOD team.
Results are on the GYGSC site – Spring Series 2018 Results
Report kindly provided by Dave Houghton
Thurs May 10th Report
The Thursday evening series got underway last night. Boats had to be walked through a film set as Danny Boyles film crew were doing some night shots, don’t think any of us will be starring in the film though. It was a lovely evening with a steady 10 mph wind and flat sea. A small but select fleet of five boats took to the water. The race team managed to fit in two races sailed back to back which saw a Laser battle between Tamsin and Richard with honours being shared. Thanks to Phil and Matt (Our new and very welcome safetyboat assistant) for OOD-ing. The evening finished munching pasties in the clubhouse.
Results are on the GYGSC site – Thursday Series 2018 Results
Report kindly provided by Dave Houghton
May 10th
Photos kindly provided by Phil Harlow
May 6th Report
Nine boats ventured onto the water on a glorious day, temperature around 20C, lots on people on the beach, film crew shooting Danny Boyles new movie, all that was missing was a decent breeze. Race One was sailed in a NE’ly F1-2 so tide dictated tactics. Thankfully the wind did increase to a F2-3 for the following three races so we did get some good sailing. Many thanks to the race team of Nick and Adrian who provided a good compact course, and a bonus race !
Results are on the GYGSC site – Spring Series 2018 Results
Report kindly provided by Dave Houghton
May 6th
Photos kindly provided by Kevin Davidson
Start of Season 2018 Report
Start of Season 22 04 2018
After a lack of wind and thick mist last week this week saw the season begin at Gorleston in complete contrast with unbroken sunshine and a warm SE F3-4 wind, even the sea didn’t seem too cold according to the few who decided to test the temperature during racing. Ten boats ventured onto the water comprising of RS400’s, Devoti D-One’s, RS500’s and a RS700. The race team set a large windward-leeward course which suited the all-asymmetric fleet.
In race one three boats rounded the windward mark together with Richard Fryer & Carol Smalls(400) rounding first, followed by Dave Houghton & John Symonds(400) and Phil Highfield(700). These three were side by side as they raised their gennakers before Highfield blasted away from the 400s.
Downwind the fleet split with some opting to go inshore out of the tide, others staying offshore where the wind appeared to be stronger. At the leeward mark Highfield rounded first followed by Houghton & Symonds, who held a short lead over Fryer & Smalls and Chris Sallis(D-One), with the rest of the fleet rounding within a minute. After three laps Houghton & Symonds crossed the line first, just ahead of Fryer & Smalls who were one second ahead on Sallis.
The racing continued to be close in race two. Although the fleet split upwind, with some opting for a smoother ride inshore and others opting the more wind but more chop offshore, at the windward mark there didn’t appear much difference in either option and only a few boat lengths separated the leading three boats. At the finishing Houghton & Symonds crossed the line just a few seconds ahead of Sallis but on corrected time Sallis won by seven seconds.
Race three saw a reduced fleet as some returned ashore, perhaps the near full on conditions proving tiring after a winter lay up! Fryer & Smalls and Houghton & Symonds lead the fleet round but behind was a three way battle between Nick Favell(D-One), Richard Brown & Robyn Ollington(400) and Phil Harlow & Lorna Pierce(400), with only a few boat seconds between them after the first lap. Favell built up a small lead on the second lap which he extended on the last lap to claim third place.
Report kindly provided by Dave Houghton
Start of Season Results
Race 1: 1 RS400 1350 (D Houghton & J Symonds), 2 D-One 410 (C Sallis), 3 RS400 721 (R Fryer & C Smalls)
Race 2: 1 D-One 410 (C Sallis), RS400 1350 (D Houghton & J Symonds), 3 RS400 721(R Fryer & C Smalls)
Race 3: 1 RS400 1350 (D Houghton & J Symonds), 2 RS400 721(R Fryer & C Smalls), 3 D-One 48 (N Favell)
Congratulations to Dave and John winners of the Start of Season Trophy
Photo kindly provided by Kevin Davidson
Report and Result 17th Sept
Never listening to the weather reports! Light winds and rain by lunchtime… er nope…..the select few who ventured down enjoyed sunshine and a northerly F3. The ebbing tide assisted the upwind legs resulting in more fun time downwind with some small rollers to practice your surfing.
Race 1 saw a three way battle front between Keith and Anna (500, 1st) , Phil and Lorna (400, 2nd) and Ed and guest crew (Hobie), with all three crossing the line within a few seconds of each other.
Tom and Stuart (505) set the pace in the second race, with Simon and Bruce (400) from WOBYC next closely followed by Phil and Lorna. After the first lap these three rounded the leeward mark together with Tom just getting his bow in front to get water round the mark. By the end of the Race Tom had edged away to take the win and Simon just getting the better of Phil and Lorna to take 2nd
By the start of the final race the wind had eased slightly. Tom and Stuart led Simon and son followed by Phil and Lorna round the windward mark. Mainsheet problems caused Phil and Lorna to retire leaving Simon chasing Tom to the finish. In the previous races the 505 had been cautious hoisting their spinnaker, leaving it until after the gybe but this time it went up. This saw them stretch out their lead each lap crossing the line well ahead to take the win.
All in all a most pleasant days sailing, followed by lunch enjoyed outside the clubhouse in what easily could have been a mid summers day.
Dave.
Results Can be found here…………….
Thanks to Dave and John for a great days sailing.
Thursday Report + Results
Last night 7 boats (6 racing, Ed and Holly sunning themselves) managed to get in 3 races in some surprisingly very light winds. Dave in the Rs300 had the race 1 to himself winning by a margin of 6 mins and nearly lapping the lasers. Keith just pipping Tamsin to the line after late Gybe and heading to the other end of the line. Race 2 saw Tamsin (and the rest of the fleet) Leave Keith behind, Dave not having it all his own way as Tamsin kept close to the finish, Dave just beating Tamsin by a single second on corrected time, with Steve Gray finishing 3rd. Race 3 saw Dave take the honours again with another close laser battle, Tamsin just getting away on the last leg to take second with Keith 3rd. We then returned to shore for pasties in the club house, many thanks to Richard for running the racing.
Thursday and Britania pier results now available on results page.
Ed & Hollys new Hobbie.