Ken Sets The Scene In The First Winter Series Race

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the first race in its Winter Series on Sunday 13 October 2024 and the weather greeted the members accordingly.  A west/north-westerly breeze, combined with a lack of sunshine, resulted in a sharp morning as competitors rigged their boats.

The fluctuating wind, ranging from a four to fourteen mph, coupled with an ebb tide, meant it was important to stay close to the line as the seconds ticked-by until the start.  Leading the fleet, as the boats reached down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy, was Paul Jackson in his Solo, followed closely by Ken Potts, just to windward of him, in his Laser.  The light airs immediately began to freshen and the fleet soon rounded the first mark, Jackson remaining the lead boat, followed by Potts and then Dave Ingle’s RS Aero.  The second leg was a very broad reach back to the AWS buoy before a close-hauled return to Eastcliff; this looked like being a fetch but Potts, having now overtaken Jackson, found he was wide of the mark and had to put in a small tack.  Slightly surprisingly the rest of the fleet read the wind a little better and, having pointed-up at every slight opportunity, made it in one.  Leg four took the sailors out to the Seaward buoy on a run and it was at this point Gary Hollis capsized in his Laser and although the Club’s safety boat was soon alongside him, he needed no assistance; righting the boat and quickly giving chase.  After gybing at Seaward it was a close reach into the Kingscliff mark and then back to the line.  With this last leg much closer to the shore, it was very affected by the shadow of the cliff and whilst some helms took their dinghy straight to the line, several had to include at least one tack.  Simon Kedge got caught by a minor wind-shift in his GP14 and lost time having to avoid Chris Maloney in his Comet.

At the end of the first lap, on handicap, it was Potts leading, followed by Jackson second and Maloney third.  On the second lap the wind freshened further, but also chose to change its direction slightly, helping or hindering the sailors depending on which leg they were on.  Potts, once again, found himself having to put in a tack from AWS to Eastcliff but this didn’t stop him taking the winning gun.

Winter Series - 1:
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Solo – Paul Jackson
3.    RS Aero – Dave Ingle