It was a warm but overcast evening for the eight crews in seven different boat classes. Once again all single handers with only the Phantoms managing to produce more than one boat.
Although the forecast suggested the wind would slowly turn to the North it held steady from the East most of the evening, eventually ending with a ENE by the end of sailing.
With the Commodore being keen to get back on the water and encouraging everyone to get ready we managed to start racing over ten minutes early! would that be a Gorleston first?
Race 1 start
There was very little tide at the start of racing. Abby, opting to sail her Streaker and fresh from returning from Travemunde woche worked the beat well to round the windward mark first, closely followed by Solution Richard and Zenith Phil. These three led at the gate with the next four boats rounding within 10 seconds of each other. Abby held onto her lead at the finish with Zenith Phil slipping ahead of Richard on the second lap.
Race 1 -downwind leg
Race two and the flood tide now noticeable. After lap one Richard and Phil rounded the pin end of the gate together with Abby opting to round the committee boat end two seconds later. A few seconds behind, the two Phantoms were having a match race with Clive just ahead of Phil. On lap two Zenith Phil managed to open up a clear gap on the next two boats with Richard just ahead of Abby. The Phantom battle continued with Phil leading Clive by three seconds at the gate. At the finish Zenith Phil had increased his lead. Solution Richard crossed the line second with Abby third and Phantom Phil holding onto his lead over Clive.
Race 2 start
With some large grey clouds forming the light was fading but most were up for a third race, be it a one lapper sprint race. Quick off the blocks at the pin end of the line were Richard an Abby. Laser Ed almost got the perfect start but was about a second too early. Vareo Richard opted for the committee boat end and was looking good half way up the beat. Richard led Abby by 15 seconds over the line with Adrian enjoying a good off wind leg in the D-One finishing third.
Race 3 Start
On corrected time it was the Streaker and Solution taking the top two podium places in all three races. Abby had a good lead on Richard in race one, with Zenith Phil edging out Vareo Richard for third spot.
It was very close in race two with Abby just two seconds ahead of Richard. Zenith Phil recorded another third, this time ahead of Ed in the ILCA6.
Richard got his revenge in the final race finishing ten seconds ahead of Abby with Vareo Richard in third ahead of Adrian in the D-One.
Thanks to the race team for an enjoyable evening sailing and to Chef Brown for serving up another ‘Chef special’ at the end of the evening.
Whilst we escaped the rain during the racing on the way home there was a lot of it ! With those travelling back to Norwich experiencing a torrential downpour near Blofield.
Full results on the club site
http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2026/2026Thursday.htm
More pictures on the club Flickr site – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums/with/72177720333188767