Start of Season Trophy at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Sailing Club

reat Yarmouth & Gorleston SC Start of Season Trophy © GYGSC

After a balmy Saturday it was a chilly start for Sunday's Start of Season Trophy at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston SC. The offshore F2-3 wind provided some tricky conditions with plenty of shifts and big gusts throughout the day.

By the time race one started it was noticeably warmer. The race team set the usual windward-leeward course, adding a spacer mark to counteract the flood tide.

The RS700 of Phil was soon out in front followed by Nick in his Phantom. These two opened up a good lead on the rest of the fleet headed by the two RS400's. The RS700 crossed the line well ahead but on corrected time Nick won by over three minutes with the Solution of Paul second and the Phantom of Phil third.

reat Yarmouth & Gorleston SC Start of Season Trophy - photo © GYGSC

Race two, still sunny and a tad warmer with some slightly bigger gusts. The RS700 was soon ahead but this time had solitary sail eventually lapping some of the fleet. After lap one Nick was two seconds ahead of the first RS400, Richard & Robyn who were four seconds ahead of Adam & Jordan. Nick managed to stay just ahead up to the line, Adam & Jordan overtook Richard and & Robyn on the second lap and stayed ahead until the final leg to the line where Richard & Robyn just sneaked ahead at the line first. Next were Paul and Phantom Phil who spent the race neck and neck with Phil crossing the line just five seconds ahead. On corrected time Paul won by over two minutes with Nick second and a charge in the second half of the race by Jamie, sailing a Laser took him to third, just 14 seconds behind Nick.

reat Yarmouth & Gorleston SC Start of Season Trophy - photo © GYGSC

Race three, still sunny, even warmer and still gusty. It was approaching high water so the tide was easing. The RS700 made a quick dash for the lead and proceeded to open up a big lead by the finish. After lap one Nick was just ahead of the RS400 of Adam & Jordan. A little way back Phantom Phil led the closely packed fleet. The two Vareos were having a good tussle until Keith's main halyard cleat parted company with the mast resulting in a reduced and full rig. However, some on water bimbling made for a good enough repair to enable Keith to finish the race. On corrected time Jamie's late burst was enough to take the win by eight seconds, with Paul second and Nick two minutes behind in third.

Three races, three different winners in three different classes. One point separating the top three, Paul claiming overall victory with Nick second and Jamie third.

Overall Results: