Latest racing news from Beccles Amateur Sailing Club and Buckenham Sailing Club
As the final races in Series A at Beccles ASC began the steady Easterly breeze developed into a significant challenge, gusting 25-30 knots, thus numbers were down this week with only the fearless and most determined on the beating C-start.
Race one of the RNLI Pennant got off to a safe start until Harry Shipley in his laser and Mark Langston in his streaker capsized up to windward mark, allowing Charlie Folkard and Jonathon Blankley to blast ahead.
Not for long as Folkard in laser Shadow Surfer became entangled with a cruiser at two, Blankley in the RS200 avoided a now capsized Langston at the bridge, only to succumb to a big gust and retirement on the return to the club house.
Shipley was out, pinned to the Norfolk bank while Team Swann capsized their GP14 on number four adding to the spectacle.
Langston, having regained the lead, took the win and the silverware from Folkard, followed by David Grief in his comet, who had the least trouble with a wise decision to reef the mainsail and stow the jib.
Rowan Curtis in his topper Animal was untroubled by the conditions, steering his way to two more wins and the Poyser Cup.
A determined George Curtis was a close second with Poppy Roll in Twilight a steady third.
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With the wind unrelenting the two final races were combined around a shortened course to round up exciting Series A.
No racing next Saturday. Upriver race to Geldeston on Sunday; 11am start adjacent the swimming pool.
l Buckenham Sailing Club's first of three passage races to Cantley and back was sailed in rain with cold gusting north easterly winds. The javelin sailed by Chris Skedge and Chris Clitheroe was first home but Jim Frost in Phantom Skylark, crossing the line second, on corrected score beat Big Zipper by 10 seconds.
Pete Lumley had a great sail in laser Yare Baby to finish third.
In the Allcomers race, Big Zipper did fly their spinnaker and kept their line honours to finish ahead of Skylark. The two solos – Skybird sailed by Trevor Whittaker and Phil Gooch in Witchway – were neck and neck, with the lead changing throughout.
However, it was Skybird that was just ahead when they reached the finish line to take third place.