Mother Nature provided all the right ingredients for a great evening of sailing for the fourteen boats joining in the fun. Club members were joined by three visitors from WOBYC, with all boats being single handers, with the predominant class being Lasers.
For the first two races there was a warm F3 wind from the SE however, this eased to a F2 half through the third race. With a three, short race format a good start would be key to a good finish position.
Race one – despite it being low water sometime prior to the start, there was little evidence of any flood tide. The fleet were evenly split up the beat with Club Commodore Nick Favell and visitor Gary Fuller, both sailing Phantoms leading for the entire race with Nick taking line honours. Richard Fryer, sailing his newly refurbished RS300 and now sporting a white hull, was third to cross the line ( I thought purple was suppose to be the fastest 300 colour!). Just behind were the Lasers of Dave Houghton and Simon Beckett with Simon, using a Radial rig taking the race on corrected time, Dave second and Nick third.
Race two – with the first signs of the flood tide most of the fleet ventured offshore up the beat. Four boats pulled away from the fleet with the two Phantoms just ahead of Phil Alison in his Contender and Richard (RS300). After lap one just eight seconds separated the leading four boats with Gary ahead and maintaining his lead to the line with Nick second. However, Simon wasn’t far behind claiming his second win on corrected time but Gary and Nick holding their time for second and third.
Race three – the two Phantoms once again leading the fleet for the first lap, only to be separated by the RS300 on lap two. Nick took line honours again but the Lasers of Dave and Simon were close enough behind to take first and second on corrected time, with Vareo’s third and fourth, Nick Crickmore just ahead of Richard Foster.
Back ashore it was time for a beer and pie and with the temperature still around twenty degress we dined alfresco.
Congratulations to Simon Beckett from WOBYC, who was overall winner of the evening with two firsts.
Many thanks to the race team, Adrian and Ed for probably the best racing we’ve had on a Thursday evening all year and also for acting as unofficial photographers.
Thankfully the earlier forecast for the weekends Beach Regatta has improved a lot, it might be a bit wet on Saturday but everything elso looks good.
Full results – http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2022/2022ThursdayRegatta.htm
Pictures – GYGSC’s albums | Flickr
