Summer arrived at Costa del Gorleston. It was already warm when people arrived at the club and it got warmer as the day progressed, reaching mid twenties after midday. This also attracted many visitors to the beach but with LW at 09.38 there was plenty of room along the shoreline for the boats.
Although conditions looked nice, the wind was absent. The race team sensibly postponed for 30 minutes by which time a warm F1-2 had set in from the SE and it was all systems go.
Systems go!
There was just a hint of flood tide at the start of race one. The fleet were split going up the beat. Dave & John (RS400) stayed inshore hooking onto a good lift going out to the windward mark rounding just ahead of Richard & Rosie, aka Team Custard. The rest of the fleet were closely packed as they rounded. Downwind Dave & John opted to go inshore whereas Team Custard remained offshore arriving at the leeward gate with a 20 second lead. Steve, sailing solo in his National 12 led the chasing pack, four seconds ahead of Solution Paul followed by Abby, in the 700 and the two Phantoms of Nick and Phil rounding two seconds apart.
Start time
Positions remained virtually unchanged for the next two laps, the two 400’s opened up a large lead earning themselves a fourth lap, with Team Custard taking line honours ahead of Dave & John with Steve managing to hold off the rest of the fleet crossing the line third which. After py adjustment the race order was the same as the finishing order.
Windward mark action
Race two, a more steady F2 and a bit more tide. After lap one, Team Custard led Dave & John and Abby by six seconds. Phantom Nick led the rest of the pack with the National 12 hot on his heels.
Lap two saw the two 400’s round the leeward gate together with the 700 four seconds behind. Team Custard opting for the pin end and Dave & John the Committee boat end. The National 12 had managed to pass Phantom Nick with Zenith Phil and the Solutions of Paul and Ian just behind.
Leeward gate action
Team Custard opened up a one minute lead on the next lap which they held to the line and taking another race win on corrected time with Dave & John second. N12 Steve held on to his position across the cross to come third.
Race three, similar wind but a little more tide. The 400’s led at the windward mark with the N12 again performing strongly holding third, just ahead of the 700. The 400’s split downwind, Dave & John opting to gybe immediately to go inshore whilst Team Custard and the 700 stayed offshore which proved to be the faster route. After lap one Phantom Nick headed the closely pack of singlehanders, rounding the leeward gate one second ahead of the Solutions of Paul and Ian, with Vareo Keith a further three seconds behind.
More windward mark action
After lap two the RS’s had opened up a short lead, again being rewarded with another lap. Team Custard again taking line honours ahead of Dave & John and Abby. N12 Steve sailed a faultless race finishing a minute ahead of the next boat and staying close enough to the leading boats to take the race win on corrected time with Team Custard second.
More leeward gate action
Unusually, no singlehander boats in any of the podium places, although Steve was sailing the N12 solo. so that may count as a singlehander. Well done to Team Custard, Richard & Rosie with a 1,1,2 race score and todays Top Gun’s.
Many thanks to the race team of Tom, Adrian and Michael for an excellent course, an enjoyable days sailing and arranging glorious weather. Also a shout out to Lorna for preparing the hot dogs for lunch which were well received by all.
Full results http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2026/2026Spring.htm
More pictures on the club Flickr site – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/with/72177720333188767
Todays ‘Top guns’ Richard & Rosie.