Lack of Wind Leads to Frustration
For the second week running members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club found themselves facing blue skies, sunshine but practically no wind when they took part in the fourth race of the Spring Series last Sunday 25 April. The competitors drifted to the line and as the race started it was Paul Davis in his Solution that lead the fleet. Fighting the ebbing tide the boats gently made their way to the Eastcliff mark before reaching out to the Seaward buoy, and as the craft headed out to sea so the light airs dropped away to nothing. Those that had just rounded the offshore mark then stemmed the tide as they headed back inshore whilst those yet to reach the buoy found themselves being dragged past it on the wrong side. At this point Simon Mathewson in his Vortex was busy challenging Simon Clarke in his Solution which gave the opportunity for Sonny Hart, also in a Solution, to slip past them both. The beat back out to sea proved both uneventful and slow and there then followed a reach to the Kingscliff buoy which turned into more of a drift. As the competitors headed back towards the line, so completing the first lap, they were all relieved to see the Shorten Course flag hanging limply from the yardarm indicating that they would not have to suffer completing a second lap.
Results: Spring Series 4
1. Solution – Paul Davis
2. Blaze – John Tappenden
3. RS600 – Ken Potts