Just like last week we were greeted with blue skies and a pleasant F2 onshore wind on arrival. Fortunately, unlike last week sea mist did not roll in an hour before sailing was due to start!
A mixture of single handers rigged comprising of six different classes, and a rare occasion with no Lasers being present. Phil H was sailing his newly acquired Phantom and despite attempts to persuade Michael to take a club Laser he was keen to try out the family Topper. On the water the ESE F2 felt a lot cooler than it did in Norwich!
Race 1
Adrian (D-One) and Richard F (Vareo ) made the best start and headed offshore. Everyone else followed other than Richard B (Solution) who opted to stay inshore. As the fleet converged at the windward mark the two asymmetrics were still leading with the rest not far behind.
On lap two Richard F took the lead with Phil H also slipping past Adrian. Phil A maintained his short lead over Darell in the battle of the Contenders. Richard F maintained his lead on the final lap crossing the line first with Phil H just head of Adrian and Richard B holding off the two Contenders.
Race 2
Michael (Topper) made the best start and led for a short while before being overtaken by the faster boats. This race proved much closer on the water with the leading six boats tightly bunched as they headed downwind, with Adrian holding a short lead. As they rounded the leeward gate 14 seconds separated the pack with Adrian just ahead.
After lap two Adrian had and opened up a gap on the others with Phil H heading the chasing pack and Richard F just ahead of Phil A, with the latter executing a rather ungainly tack after rounding the leeward gate resulting in an unexpected swim. Apparently Phil had the kicker on tight and got caught under the boom!
On the final lap Adrian managed to increase his lead to cross the line over a minute clear of Phil H. The Vareo and Solution had a close tussle with the Vareo emerging just ahead at the line.
Fortunately the wind held all evening providing very pleasant racing conditions. On corrected time it was a similar situation in both races with Richard F winning both, Richard B second and Michael being rewarded for his perseverance third in the Topper. Remarkably, Richard F finished both races in exactly the same time of twenty five minutes and nine seconds.
Results are on the club site http://www.gygsc.org.uk/Results/2023/2023Thursday.htm
Pictures are on Flick https://www.flickr.com/photos/gygsc/albums