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