John and Adam Take The Honours

After a very unsettled spate of weather, the Gunfleet Sailing Club held its second race in the Winter Series last Sunday 22 October under blue skies and sunshine, with a light south-westerly breeze tempting fifteen dinghies onto the water.

In the main race the fleet spread themselves along the length of the start line, as the minutes ticked away until the off.  John Tappenden positioned his RS Aero by the Outer Distance Mark, Ken Potts in his Laser remained close to shore by the Inner Distance Mark, whilst John Heath kept his Blaze halfway between the two.  The rest of the fleet worked their way along the line and as the race got underway the boats headed out to sea, close hauled, to gain the very first of the flood tide.  In an attempt to break away from the herd, Brian Allen changed tack to come inshore, recognising there was still a fair bit of slack water.  The first leg was a beat down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy and Heath cleared the fleet as he approached St. Michael’s but found he was below the layline and had to tack twice to make the mark, which he rounded first; Tappenden was second, then Potts, very closely followed by Andy Dunnett in his Laser, Simon Clarke in his Europe, and Dave ingle in his RS Aero.  On the second leg, a broad reach out to the Seaward buoy the fleet began to spread out, with Heath and Tappenden leading, followed by Potts and co. In a second bunch, whilst slightly further back were Simon and Nicky Kedge leading the GP14s, Sue Sams in a Solo, and Eddie White leading the Comets; Eddie being an inspiration to all sailors having celebrated his Eighty-Eighth birthday the day before.  As the boats headed down to the ODM and cut through the line for the first lap it was Tappenden leading on handicap, followed by Heath and then Clarke.  Position changed during the second lap but settled in the third and final lap; by which time the wind had picked-up to a force four.

Results – Winter Series 2:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    Blaze – John Heath
3.    Laser – Ken Potts

Ten minutes after the main race got underway the second in the Cadet Winter Series started with Adam Kedge heading out to sea in his Topper, Belle Hart in her Topper close by.  The beat to the Eastcliff buoy saw Adam arrive first, followed by Belle, and then Laura Kedge in her Topper.  The second leg was a broad reach up the coast to Preston Park buoy, before a close reach into the Kingscliff mark, and finally a beat back to the line.  All the time, in the first lap, Belle closed the gap and as she and Adam reached the line, the two were neck and neck.  During the second lap Adam pulled away and went on to hold his lead through the third lap to claim victory.

Results – Cadet Winter Series 2:
1.    Topper – Adam Kedge
2.    Topper – Belle Hart
3.    Topper – Laura Kedge