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