2024 Gets Off To A Flying Start

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.  On a closely bunched start line it was Simon Clarke that immediately took the lead in his Europe, as the fleet beat in towards the shore on starboard tack on the way up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy; under a fresh flooding tide, this was a wise move in order to mitigate its negative effect.  By the time the dinghies reached the windward mark it was Ken Potts that had slipped into the lead in his Laser and he, and the others, then lapped-up the broad reach out to the Seaward buoy before a lively gybe, and then it was a closer reach down to AWS mark.  It was on this leg that Robert Gutteridge capsized, and turtled, his Solo.  After a number of attempts to right his craft he accepted the assistance of the Club’s Rescue Boat team who had been standing alongside him; this resulted in him retiring from the race.  Meanwhile the competitors faced a second gybe at the AWS mark before a run down to the Lilley Farm buoy where a third gybe followed.  A short reach to Eastcliff followed and then the helms sheeted hard in as the boats headed back to the line.  From the shore it looked like Clarke was going to steal the show on handicap but the calculation gave Potts the lead which he opened up on the second lap.  Derroll Pedder, racing his RS Aero for the first time, only capsized once, just before the start of the race, but romped home in a very creditable third place.

Results - March Hare:
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Europe – Simon Clarke
3.    RS Aero – Derroll Pedder

The next day it was the first of the Class Points Series, and fifteen boats took to the water.  First fleet to go was the RS Aeros and Brian Allen jumped the line but had returned before the individual recall flag was fully raised.  Next away were the Lasers with Robert Mitchell tight on the line, on port tack, whilst Potts headed out to sea on starboard, making the most of the flood tide.  The third fleet were the Solos and Europes and Chris Maloney took port tack whilst Clare Giles chose starboard, and she too headed out to take full advantage of the tide.  The Aeros beat down the coast to St. Michael’s buoy and Allen was making the most of his 7 sail, whilst the rest of the fleet used 5’s.  The Lasers went as far as Eastcliff and as they started their second leg, out to Seaward, Potts had taken the lead.  Giles, in her Europe, started to show the Solos a clean pair of heels whilst Allen unfortunately took the wrong course in his Aero and was disqualified.  Meanwhile a group of Toppers, sailed by the Club Cadets, practised their tactics close to the Clubhouse.

Results - Class Points1:
RS Aeros:  
1.    John Tappenden
2.    Dave Ingle
3.    Martin Chivers
Lasers:
1.    Ken Potts
2.    Robert Mitchell
3.    Yvonne Gough
Solos & Europes:
1.    Clare Giles
2.    Chris Maloney
3.    Michael Gutteridge