Gunfleet Boats Take Top Places in Double Dan Race

Fourteen boats from the Gunfleet Sailing Club set off last Sunday 20 July for a cruise to Brightlingsea and, for many, the intention of taking part in the Clacton Sailing Club Double Dan event – a passage race from Brightlingsea to Holland Haven. With strong offshore winds and lively conditions a number of the boats decided to return and sail within the proximity of the Club. However, in the Double Dan race itself the Gunfleet took the top six positions with Gunfleet’s Ken Potts winning the trophy in his RS600.

The previous Wednesday evening nineteen boats were on the water, making a fine sight to the many members of the public that regularly stop to watch this popular sport. Fourteen of the craft took part in the second race in the series for the Tony Chadd Trophy whilst the others, each crewed by several Cadets and Otters, were out for their regular “After School Sailing”.

In a fresh westerly breeze the race got off to a good start and the competitors fetched down the coast to the St. Michaels buoy. A little while later a gust blew through, keeping the helms on their toes and resulting in Tony Merryweather retiring in the Laser. All too soon the boats had rounded the first mark and were reaching out to the Seaward buoy where unfortunately Kirstie Morton capsized in her Topaz, but she soon had it upright again and on its way. After the first lap it was Potts in first place in his RS600 followed by Kelvin Morton, also in an RS600, and then Simon Clarke in his Solution. As the race went on so the wind began to fall away and also veer in direction, and this gave Clarke the opportunity to slip ahead and take the race on the second lap. Cadet Commodore Michael Pedder in his Q’ba is to be congratulated for beating his father Derroll and John Tappenden, both sailing RS600’s.

Results:

Tony Chadd Trophy 2:
1. Solution – Simon Clarke
2. RS600 – Ken Potts
3. Laser – John Heath