Jono Wins The Bill Clarke Shield

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the final 3 in 1 Race of the season, for the Bill Clarke Shield, last Sunday 14 August with Jono Dunnett taking his Laser to overall victory.

The weather proved absolutely ideal, with blue skies, unbroken sunshine, and a force three to four north-easterly wind greeting the competitors as they worked their way to the start line, against a flood tide, for the first race.  Dave Ingle lead the fleet in his RS Aero but was soon overtaken to windward as the fleet came inshore, as they beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  Chris Maloney decided to head further out in his Solo, and crossed in front of Dave Fowell, also in a Solo.  First round the windward mark was Jono Dunnett, followed by his father Andy, and then Robert Mitchell, all sailing Lasers.  The second leg saw a broad reach out to the AWS buoy, the top three places remaining the same with Maloney holding off the rest of the competitors in fourth place.  Whilst at the other end of the fleet was Eddie White in his Comet, neck and neck with Simon and Nicky Kedge in the Topaz.  A tighter reach to the ODM was followed by a second beat up to the Kingscliff buoy before a run back through the line.  As the competitors sailed up and down the line in anticipation of the next race the handicapped results gave first place to Andy Dunnett, second place to Jono Dunnett, and third place to Mitchell.

The start of the second race saw Mitchell jump the gun and have to return and restart, whilst father and son Dunnett sail inshore to cheat the negative tide.  Mitchell headed out to avoid dirty wind whilst Ingle made a quick recovery after a disappointing start.  Maloney continues to lead the Solo fleet but found Fowell breathing down his neck throughout the race; Fowell taking Maloney at the penultimate mark and slipping home just seconds ahead.  Meanwhile Ingle capsized whilst gybing at the AWS buoy, only to find the unfortunate incident had been witnessed by the crew of Clacton Lifeboat out on exercise.  At the end of the second race Jono Dunnett had come first, followed by Andy Dunnett and then Mitchell.  

The third race had Andy Dunnett leading, but saw an early retirement for Fowell, whose tiller extension universal joint broke.  By the first buoy, at Kingscliff, it was Jono Dunnett, his father Andy, then Maloney, but as they reached AWS Mitchell secured an inside overlap on Maloney. The three Lasers then maintained their positions until the end and so confirmed the final overall results.

Results:  Bill Clarke Shield
1.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
2.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
3.    Laser – Robert Mitchell