Lively Conditions For London Trophy

Lively conditions did not deter members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club from entering the race for the London Trophy last Sunday 16 June which, after a well fought battle, was won by Ken Potts.

As the competitors rigged their dinghies they knew, with a force five - gusting six southerly wind, it was going to be a race of skill and determination.  With sails flattened tight, to help depower their craft, the helms set out on a grey and lumpy North Sea.  Vying for best position on the start line the majority of the five strong Laser fleet opted to bare-down on the Outer Distance Mark on port tack but Potts had a better idea and sailed up the line on Starboard, timing it just right to tack onto port as the start flag fell from the yardarm, leading his fellow sailors down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy.  With the last of the flood tide assisting them, the boats made speedy work of making the first mark and there then followed an exhilarating reach out to Seaward, the helms having to sit well aft to avoid the bows of their craft burying in the seas and subsequently nose diving the boat; comparable to slamming on the front breaks of a bicyle under speed.  At the early stage of this leg, Potts had already pulled away, with Andy Dunnett second and Andy Cornforth third, but Cornforth boar away a little wider, picked up a wave and left his nearest rival behind.  It was at this point a squall blew through and the winds picked-up to 30 mph, testing the helms to the limit.  Despite this sudden increase in wind strength the competitors all performed a controlled gybe at the offshore mark before running up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  Just when it looked as though they successfully completed the third leg Dunnett capsized, lost minutes righting his Laser, got back underway and then capsized once more.  This did not deter him and it wasn’t long before he was back in the running.  Once round Kingscliff, it was a gruelling beat out to Seaward, the wind on the nose and the tide on the turn.  Various tactics were tried but places remained the same as the boats then ran back to Kingscliff and beat to the line.  With winds showing little sign of abating, the race was shortened to just two laps and the competitors returned to shore with the adrenalin really pumping.
  
Results:  London Trophy
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
3.    Laser – Andy Dunnett