A warm and mainly sunny day for the final outing of the Spring series. The wind forecast was not promising suggesting a variable F2 from somewhere North-ish.
Eleven crews made ready for what was going to be a challenging first race. The race team set a windward leeward course with the light wind mainly from the NNW. However, just before the start the wind started to shift, sometimes North, sometimes NNE and occasionally back to NNW.
Getting ready to race
The first beat proved to be a game of snakes and ladders with several areas of little to no wind. Dave & John rolled a double six and led around the windward mark closely followed by Richard & Nathan, aka Team Custard. This was to be the start of a race long tussle with Dave & John finishing two seconds ahead. Simon & Bruce, aka Team Beckett (RS400) and D-One Nick followed just behind engaged in their own battle with Team Beckett just finishing in front. Behind them a four way battle between D-One Adrian, Europe Steve and the Vareos of Keith and Richard with Keith first to cross the line just ahead of the rest.
Guess the wind direction !
Race two and thankfully the wind had by now just about settled from the NNE. The tide had changed and now ebbing and the race team had reset the course. Two 400‘s led at the windward mark but very closely following by Europe Steve and Vareo Richard. Abbi, sailing the 700 took the lead on the downwind leg opening up a good gap by the finish.
Start time
Saving the best till last, the wind remaining relatively steady (in comparison to previous conditions) and a F2-3. Dave & John opened up a good lead by the finish over two minutes ahead of the next boat. Team Custard and Team Beckett were neck and neck on the final downwind led with the latter crossing the line first.
Team Beckett lead on the downwind leg
On corrected time, race one podium places were filled with asymmetrics with Dave & John first, Richard & Nathan second and D-One Nick third. Europe Steve and Vareo Richard were rewarded for their near perfect first beat in race two claiming first and second with Dave & John third. It was a RS400 1,2,3 in the final race with Dave & John first, Simon and Bruce second and Richard & Nathan third.
So Top Guns for the day were Dave & John with two race wins.
Congratulations to Team Custard, Richard, Rosie and Nathan, overall Spring series winners. Runners up were with Steve & Izzy in the National 12.
Thanks to the race team for what turned out to be a challenging day for them……and those sailing!
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’ Dave & John.