Reports 2008

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Cadet Week kicked off last Saturday evening 16 August when the Cadet’s and Otters took part in a moonlight cruise. Under strict supervision the youngsters headed up the coast to the haven as dusk fell and then sailed back in the dark, guided home by the lights of Holland on Sea.

It was lively conditions that greeted the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club last Sunday morning 3 August when they held the race for the Club’s oldest trophy – the Tee Dee Challenge Cup. A force four gusting five south/south westerly wind and quite large seas, coupled with a grey sky made it hard to believe it was summer but this did not deter twelve boats taking part in the race. As the event counted towards class points it was in fact a race within a race.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its 2008 Regatta last weekend 26 & 27 July and it was heralded an overwhelming success by all those that took part, which included visitors from Hertford County Yacht Club, Alton Water Sailing Club and Clacton Sailing Club. The weather could not have been better with blue skies and unbroken sunshine, along with a light onshore breeze.

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.

Gunfleet Sailing Club had a very full and varied programme of events over the last weekend, starting on Saturday with the Xenon Challenge when boats travelled from Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Gloucester and Sussex to take part. A force four westerly wind provided some lively conditions for the competitors although at one point a sudden squall blew through, knocking all the boats over as they reached out to sea with their asymmetric kites flying.

Gunfleet Sailing Club was forced to cancel its second race in the Egg and Bacon series last Sunday 6 July due to gale force winds, conditions that have forced a number of this year’s events to be held over until a future date.

Gunfleet Sailing Club played host to the Laser Challenge on Saturday 28 June with 20 boats taking part, competitors coming from Brightlingsea, Harwich, Shotley, Ardleigh and Hertford County.

A fresh force four south westerly wind and bright sunshine made for lively but very pleasant conditions, and the sight of some close racing along the Holland seafront certainly attracted the onlookers.

Strong winds on Sunday 22 June forced the Gunfleet Sailing Club to postpone its race for the Bill Clarke Shield, which will now be sailed at a later date in the year. However, lively conditions the previous Wednesday evening didn’t deter members taking part in the third race in the Summer Series. A brisk force five southerly wind greeted the competitors, along with a grey overcast sky, and capsizes began to occur as soon as the boats got on the water.

Fifteen boats took part last Sunday 15 June in the Gunfleet Sailing Club race for the Potts’ Pursuit Trophy, and victory went to the person who presented the trophy to the Club.  Being a pursuit race it means that each class of dinghy is set off at a different time according to its handicap and then, at a pre-planned time a horn signifies the end of the event and in theory all boats are together.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its race for the Jubilee Cup last Sunday 8 June with eighteen boats taking part, and with another half dozen dinghies from the Club just out for a gentle sail the whole scene made quite a spectacle to the many onlookers watching from the shore. Following the recent heavy rain and grey skies it made a pleasant change for the competitors to be greeted by blue skies and sunshine, but unfortunately the wind was both offshore and somewhat light.

Gunfleet Sailing Club had a busy weekend, starting on Saturday 31 May with the cruise to the Naze. Heavy cloud and a sea mist greeted the boats, along with a total lack of wind, but as the craft headed up towards Walton on the ebb tide so the sun broke through and a light onshore breeze kicked in. Having arrived at their destination the Club members enjoyed a picnic before returning on the first of the flood tide.

Every Wednesday evening, starting Wednesday 28 May, come and join in with some After School Sailing (ASS!).

Strong winds, heavy seas and a mass of grey clouds and torrential rain greeted the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club on Sunday 25 May when the race for the Toppo Single Helm was run. The conditions did deter a number of people but eight boats braved the weather to take part. Andy Dunnett was first to cross the start line in his Laser and led the fleet on the beat to the Kingscliff buoy.

Lively conditions greeted the members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club when they took part last Sunday 18 May in the race for the Wallet Trophy. A fresh force five north easterly wind and ebbing tide resulted in some large waves and plenty of white horses; a classic wind over tide scenario. The start proved to be a little hectic with a couple of boats over the line but they soon corrected their mistake and the race was on.

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club made the most of the recent good weather, and on Sunday morning 11 May sixteen boats took part in the fourth and final race of the Club’s Spring Series. So ideal were the conditions that several other members also got afloat and just enjoyed a bit of relaxing sailing, making an impressive sight to the many members of the public in the vicinity of the Club’s headquarters below Hazlemere Road, Holland on Sea.