Dunnett Does It Again

Thirteen boats took part in race five of Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Winter Series last Sunday 17 November under overcast skies and a light northerly breeze.  At a closely bunched start it was Andy Dunnett that led the fleet as they sailed, close hauled, up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  For one or two the angle proved just a bit too tight for them and they had to put a tack in, resulting in some interesting positions early on.  Cadet Harry Swinbourne made short work of the first leg, in his Topper, and rounded the mark in front of a number of Lasers.  There then followed a dead run out to the Seaward buoy before a beat back to Kingscliff.  With the RS600, RS400 and Hobie 405’s downwind tacking it was the run that split the competitors as different tactics were played out.  Hooking round the AWS buoy, as the boats reached down the coast to the Eastcliff mark it was interesting to see Derroll Pedder in his Solution still close to Ken Potts in his RS600 and as they beat back through the line for the first lap it was Pedder in lead position on handicap.  The wind remained light for the second lap and as the boats gracefully went round the course again, positions changed a number of times.  Dunnett slipped past Pedder to take the winning gun whilst Matthew Gough just missed out on the top there spots in his Laser and Robert Gutteridge was the first Cadet home, coming fifth overall in his Laser.