Reports 2016

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s members took part in the race for its oldest trophy, the Tee Dee Challenge Cup, last Sunday 31 July with Ken Potts claiming victory in his Laser.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its long distance race for the Jim Suckling Trophy last Sunday 24 July, with Andy Dunnett taking the winning gun in his Laser.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club members have had a busy few days, culminating in sailing up to Holland Haven on Sunday 17 July to take part in the Clacton Sailing Club Regatta.  On the Saturday afternoon, 16 July, Gunfleet’s Cadets and Otters took part in their class-points race series in near perfect conditions.  In the Topper class it was unfortunate that nobody managed to complete the course but it was a different story in the Topazes.

Gunfleet Sailing Club played host to dinghy sailors around the country when it hosted the 2016 Comet Open Meeting last Sunday 10 July.  Sailors came from as far as Worthing, Perterborough, and even Seaton in Devon to take part last Sunday in, what can only be described as, very lively conditions.  The event saw overall victory going to local sailor Ken Potts, who had the honour of winning the very first Comet National Championships back in the early 1980’s.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the TDC Pursuit Race last Sunday 26 June as part of the Clacton Sea and Beach Festival and, after an exciting battle, it was Liam and Ian Wright from Clacton Sailing Club that took the winning gun in their Dart 18.

 

Another busy weekend at Gunfleet saw the second training session for Cadets and Otters on the Saturday 18 June (visit the Cadets and Otters 2016 section of the website for the full story, and pictures).  Then, in the evening it was the ever-popular Walking Treasure Hunt when teams of Club members tramped the streets of Holland on Sea, finding answers to questions; rounding the evening off with bacon baguettes and ice cream.  The winning team was the NewJays with the maximum score - some sharp cookies!

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Cadets and Otters headed to the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club last Saturday 11 June to experience sailing on the Backwaters.  Twenty young Gunfleet members headed out round Horsey Island in a fleet of dinghies and saw the wildlife, including seals - see full report, and pictures, under Cadets & Otters 2016.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s SOS – Sailing On Saturday, specifically for those members under 18 years of age, had its annual Bring A Friend Day on 4 June which saw 40 young people on the water; the experienced Cadets and Otters showing those new to sailing what fun and excitement can be had from the sport.  After the adventures afloat everyone returned to the Clubhouse for burgers and hot-dogs.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Bank Holiday weekend programme was hit by the weather when, on the Saturday, the first class points race for Cadets and Otters had to be postponed due to a force six north-easterly wind and lively sea.  The following day the Club went ahead with its race for the Bill Geddes Trophy despite continuing strong offshore winds.  

 

It was a very busy weekend for Gunfleet Sailing Club, starting with Sailing On Saturday on 21 May for the Cadets and Otters.  In blustery conditions, with winds gusting up to force 6, twenty-one of the Club’s younger members turned up to take part.  Peter Downer took those new to sailing under his wing and, with the aid of a Topaz on the beach, went through the theory of sailing; whilst Paul Davis took those that were experienced young sailors onto the water for some practice at getting a good start.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the race for the London Trophy, an event exclusively for the faster handicapped boats, last Sunday 15 May with Paul Davis claiming the trophy.

 

It was victory once again for Andy Dunnett, at Gunfleet Sailing Club, when he won the first race in the Potts Pursuit Challenge Series last Sunday 8 May.

 

It was an early start for the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club, last Sunday 1 May, when they took part in the first race of the Egg and Bacon Series, with John Tappenden claiming victory in his Laser.

 

Gunfleet Sailing Club had a busy weekend over 23 & 24 April with Saturday evening seeing a full house for the Dinner and Talk on "When Pirates Ruled The Waves".  Following pre-meal drinks the guests sat down to a splendid meal of roast pork, stuffing, crackling, three seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes, followed by apple strudel and cream, and finished off with after-dinner mints and cafetiere coffee.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the third race in its Spring Series last Sunday morning 17 April and, once again, Andy Dunnett took first place in his Laser, making him a strong contender for the Trophy overall.