Freezing Conditions Do Not Deter Competitors

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club were busy removing the ice from their boats last Sunday 28 November in order to take part in the sixth and penultimate race of the Winter Series.  The temperature reading of -1 degree centigrade did not deter the competitors from taking to the water in a gentle offshore wind and they might light work of the reach to the Kingscliff buoy.  First to round the mark was Simon Clarke in his Solution with Paul Davis, also sailing a Solution, right behind him.  There then followed a very broad reach out to the Seaward buoy and it was surprising how even the most experienced helm allowed themselves to be dragged off course by the freshly flooding tide.  However, it was the beat back to the AWS buoy that allowed the opportunity for some different tactics to be tried and for Clarke it gave him the chance to pull further ahead.  The course then required the boats to run back out to sea before fetching to the St. Michael’s mark and back to the Club line.  At the end of the first lap it looked to be an uneventful race but on the second lap Andy Dunnett just brushed the AWS buoy with his boom forcing him to do a 360 degree penalty, and then he lost his mainsheet which allowed Eddie White to slip in front of him in his Solution. 

By this time final positions were clearly marked out and the competitors hurried back to shore to defrost in the Clubhouse and enjoy a full English breakfast.  
 
Results – Winter Series 6:
1. Solution – Simon Clarke
2. Solution – Paul Davis
3. Vortex – Simon Mathewson