First race of the season

Gunfleet Sailing Club celebrated the start of the 2008 season on Saturday 29 March 2008 with the traditional fish and chip Fitting-Out Supper in the clubhouse. Commodore Richard Walker welcomed the 55 members to the event and presented Ken Potts with the Cetoco Trophy for the winning helm in the Club’s first Winter Series. He then went on to explain that the annual celebration was unfortunately tinged with a sad note with the recent passing away of the Club’s only Honorary Life Member Tony Chadd. After a look back at Tony’s full and active life, with particular reference to the very many years of sterling service for the Club, the members raised their glasses to a well respected and admired sailing colleague.

The following day an overcast sky and somewhat murky conditions greeted the nine boats that took part in the first race of the season, for the March Hare Shield. The fresh south/south westerly wind began to fall away before the start of the race and the fleet beat sedately down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy, keeping close to the shore to avoid the last of the ebb tide. First around the mark was Ken Potts in his RS700 and he quickly hoisted the kite and really started opening the gap. Behind Potts came Simon Clarke in his Solution and he was followed by Paul and Katie Davis in their Xenon. The Xenon then flew its asymmetric spinnaker and accelerated away. The Lasers, as usual, were having their own private battle with Andy Dunnett and Paul Stanton fighting it out for lead position, and Antony Reeve following close behind. Slightly further back Peter Downer in his Comet chased Mark and Charlie Venables in their Topaz and Sonny Hart and Michael Pedder in their 405 but again, on the reach to the St. Michael’s buoy, the 405 flew its kite and pulled away.

By the end of the first lap the Xenon had the overall lead by just 1 second over the Solution and it was evident that there was still all to play for. With the tide now turning the wiser helms headed out to sea as they began the beat of the second lap. The wind unfortunately started to drop down but it did mean there were no capsizes and the first event broke the competitors in gently. However it focused the mind of the helms on tactics and by the end of the race Clarke had managed to use his vast local knowledge to notch up a 10 second lead, so claiming the first victory of 2008.

Results: March Hare

1. Solution - Simon Clarke 2. Xenon - Paul and Katie Davis 3. Laser - Andy Dunnett