Winter Series Race Without Wind

The second race in the Gunfleet Sailing Club Winter Series was held last Sunday 31 October in a light easterly breeze, grey skies and steady drizzle.  Sitting right on the line at the start was Paul Davis in his Solution but right behind him were Simon Clarke, Mark Venables and Eddie White, all three also sailing Solutions.  As the boats headed up the coast so the wind fell away and the slack tide began to flood, slowing down the progress of the fleet considerably.  First to be overcome with frustration was Andy Dunnett in his Laser and he retired back to the shore.  Kelvin Morton lead the fleet around the Kingscliff mark and. on a very gentle reach, out to the Seaward buoy; it was on this leg that Matt Downing retired in his Contender.  A dead run followed into shore and the Eastcliff mark before a reach down to St. Michael’s buoy and a long and painful beat back to the line.  Try as he might, Morton was unable to shake off the Solutions and various tactics on the upwind leg proved to no avail.  Clarke stayed very close to the shore, gently roll-tacking his boat, and slowly but surely gained on the RS600 until he slipped ahead.  An hour had passed since the start of the race and the competitors were all relieved to see the Shorten Course flag hanging, albeit limply, from the yardarm.  
 
Results – Winter Series 2:
1. Solution – Simon Clarke
2. Solution – Paul Davis
3. RS600 – Kelvin Morton