When witnessing a masterclass in championship fleet sailing one can either simply say ‘wow!’ or look for those very few fleeting moments which might be criticised.

Nick Craig discarded a ‘first’ in the three-day, seven-race GYGSC D-One National Championship series run at Gorleston at the weekend.

Poetry in motion during race seven with the championship already secured, he found it quite unnecessary to cover the fleet downwind, went his own way in search of a massive gust and trebled his already substantial lead during a single leg of this race.

During race four he crossed the start-line a surprising eight seconds late, but this was against a considerable tidal current and he was nevertheless first boat across this start.

Friday’s sailing was delayed waiting for any wind to develop. Race one was sailed to a light NE wind which backed during the second round and was therefore shortened.

Race two was sailed in a now stable northerly for a full three rounds.

Local man Chris Sallis revelled and offered an early challenge to the lead.

Ironically Saturday’s sailing was delayed waiting for wind to abate – indeed the committee boat, having gone out early to monitor conditions, experienced such turbulent sea conditions that it could not find any holding ground consistent enough for the anchor to bite and stay in.

Races three and four proved fair into a northerly wind, but during the start of race five a large veer to NE was experienced; with only seconds to go, the start was postponed, course re-laid and a second attempt worked.

Humphrey Carter (Gurnard SC) and Giles Chipperfield (Lymington Town SC) had by now stamped a clear desire for second place overall with several top-three finishes.

Sunday’s racing was possibly the most interesting with some huge shifts and variations of strength.

While some wallowed in lulls to one side, others were at full stretch elsewhere; some ladders and many snakes.

Overall top local boat was that of Nick Crickmore from WOBYC finishing ninth with Phil Highfield from GYGSC sailing a D-One for the first time finishing 10th.