Reports 2024
Gunfleet Sailing Club members were greeted by a flat sea and strong offshore winds, gusting up to force 6, last Sunday 21 April, which meant it was going to be a lively sail. Some members felt it might be a bit too much of a handful and decided to sit this one out, whilst others rigged-up with the appropriate sail to try and cope with the conditions.
Sunshine and a light breeze greeted members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club last Sunday, 14 April, as they rigged up their boats for the second race in the Spring Series. Fifteen dinghies jostled for position on the line and at the start Martin Chivers was just over in his RS Aero but returned to correct his error in a matter of seconds. John Heath led the fleet away, in his Laser, as they beat down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy, Simon Clarke alongside him in his Europe, whilst Tim Dye was marginally behind in his Laser.
Gunfleet Sailing Club burst into life, after its winter hibernation off the water. Following a full Clubhouse for the traditional Fitting-Out Supper, it was up early the next morning for the first race of 2024, the appropriately named March Hare. With a fresh force five, gusting six, north-easterly wind, a lot of sailors could only sit in the Clubhouse and watch; however, a few brave souls ignored the biting wind and rigged-up.
Gunfleet members sprung into life last Saturday and Sunday - 9 &10 March, eager to get the Club all ready for the start of the 2024 sailing season...which is just weeks away. Saturday was bright and breezy, just right for creosoting the outside of the Clubhouse, whilst improvements were being made in the compound. The water drainage system, from the Clubhouse roof, was given a complete upgrade, and the uneven boat space was brought on the level.
On Saturday 10 February Gunfleet Sailing Club welcomed Nucleus Watersports with its amazing array of great offers on a wide selection of sailing clothing, including wetsuits and wet boots, drysuits and spray tops, plus sailing bags and holdalls. There was even a large box with a wide selection of ropes that were available to anyone that wished to make a donation to Clacton Lifeboat.
The Clubhouse was buzzing, with much socialising, as members eagerly discussed the coming sailing season.
A big thank you to Derroll for putting on such a superb show.
What a good turnout of members for the Cliff Clearance on Saturday 3 February. It was great to see 25 members down at the Gunfleet, armed to the teeth with loppers, secateurs, saws, hedge trimmers and chain saws; the tamarisk didn't stand a chance! The weather was perfect, plenty of coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and lashings of baked beans on toast for lunch.
The Clubhouse came to life on Wednesday evening, 10 January, when Club member Jono Dunnett gave an illustrated, and enthralling, talk on his solo windsurf around Europe. This amazing feat saw Jono facing mountainous seas, total becalm-ment, freezing conditions, and sweltering heat as he windsurfed, with no support or back-up, from Norway to Ukraine before cycling back! Averaging 20 miles a day, his very basic provisions affixed to his board, he would sleep, often in the remotest of areas, just under his sail.