RS300 Rooster National Tour at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

RS300 Rooster National Tour at Snettisham Beach © Haley Turner

RS300 Rooster National Tour at Snettisham Beach © Haley Turner

A tale of two different days of weather conditions

On day one a strong northly wind greeted the sailors, blowing 15 knots gusting 20 knots, bringing with it large waves as they rolled in with tide. The experienced race team of Jasper Barnham and Guy Playford set a large triangle course, with a long, tight reach out to the gybe mark, which was very pleasing to the 300 sailors. Sharing the start line with 20 other boats from the North West Norfolk Sailing Week meant a packed line and a competitive first beat. Sam Davy took an early lead at the first windward mark. Stephen Jones was caught out in the waves at the gybe mark and went for a swim. Sam held on to the lead till the end.

Race 2 the PRO decided to use the inflatable movable buoys to set a true windward leeward sausage course, a long beat and dead run lay in wait for the sailors. Again, Sam shot off into an early lead. Stephen, still finding his way down wind in the waves went for another swim. Leaving Sam to take the race win.

Sunday saw a completely different day weather wise, with the sailors waking up to very little wind and hoping it would build when the tide came in.

A change in the race team saw ex 300 sailor Andy Bayliss and wife Vicky set another triangle course; a change in wind direction to the NE and 7 knots of wind meant a windward mark right next to the beach, with the light wind now coming over the land meaning plenty of shifts and holes and a lot flatter sea than the previous day.

Sam sailed right into one of the big no wind holes on the first beat and had difficulty reaching the windward mark. Stephen took the lead and held on till the end. Race 4 saw a change of course back to windward leeward, with the race team putting the windward buoy a lot further out to sea, away from the beach. A shorter course would also mean a few more laps. The wind built up between the races and the race started off in good breeze, plenty of hiking out again up the beat. Sam went round the 1st mark in the lead, but as the sailors set off down the run, the wind decided to disappear. A drift down saw Stephen take the lead and the leeward mark. The wind did return for the last lap, but Stephen took his new knowledge of sea sailing to hold on till the end. And take the event win on count back.

A big thank you to all those at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club, the 2 race teams for excellent, well run racing, all the safety boat crews, the galley team of Kerry and Becky who kept the sailors fed. Tim Landles, Sam Davy and everyone else involved with the event organisation.

Overall Results: