There was a F2-3 breeze from the NW which remained with us providing a pleasant evenings sail.
Eight boats launched included all three club Vareos making them the largest class afloat!
It was low water when we launched making for a long walk to the shoreline.
Darell and Ed kindly offered to run the evenings racing setting an excellent W/L course.
Lorna watches over the boats
Race one – the fleet split on the first beat and with just a little ebb tide evident, there wasn’t much advantage in either going offshore or inshore, although it became shifty inshore. Dave (Vareo) and Richard (Solution) took it in turns to lead with Dave just ahead at the windward mark and Phil (Phantom) right behind Richard. Offwind Dave slowly pulled ahead as Richard opted to try the Solution’s ‘Reduced’ sail option providing 10% less sail area. At the leeward gate Dave led with Richard managing to stay just ahead of Phil with Chris (Laser) and Richard (Vareo) having a good leg to close the gap on Phil.
Racing starts
Dave lead at the finish, Richard second, proving the upwind performance of the ‘Reduced’ sail wasn’t far off the normal sail in these conditions. Chris nipped in front of Phil on the final lap and Adrian (D-One) recovered after a poor first beat to finish just behind.
Racing underway
Race two- Richard almost managed to pull off the perfect port hand flyer but decided on caution, dodging behind the first starboard boat but cleared the rest of the fleet. Dave and Phil headed the fleet to the windward mark and by the leeward gate had a thirty second lead on the fleet led by Richard with Don, sailing a club Laser close behind. Dave led Phil at the finish and Richard opening the gap on Don.
Lovely evening for a sail
With the light fading it was decided not to have a third race, a sign that the nights are drawing in. It proved a good decision as on returning to shore some of the trollies where already in the water! Don decided to test the surfing performance of the club Laser on returning to shore, apparently they surf well !
Many thanks to Darell and Ed for a lovely evenings sailing and to the club chef’s who sorted out supper for us on returning to shore.
There are only three more Thursday evenings to go, although no doubt there could be one or two ‘Thursday Finale’s’ after that !
Results are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Thursday.htm
The race team were busy taking photos which are on the club Flickr site