Cadet SOS Sail Training Gets Off To A Great Start

Gunfleet Sailing Club had a busy time last Saturday 2 June when it commenced its sail training programme for the Club’s Cadets and Otters, as part of SOS - Sailing On Saturday.  Organised by Cadet Officer Claire Aylen, and the Club Training Officer Clare Williams, there are to be two four week sessions when those new to sailing learn how to handle a boat on the high seas.  With a host of volunteers to assist, it was good to see ten Topers and Topazes being so efficiently sailed by novices, all showing themselves to be possible future Olympic sailors.

The following day was one of frustration as a thick sea mist hung over the coast for very many hours, so forcing the Officer of the Day to postpone the race for the Jubilee Cup to a future date.

The previous Wednesday the Club held the second race in its Summer Series, and with the sun shining and a light easterly breeze, the event was certainly aptly titled.  On the last of the ebb tide the competitors headed across the start line and beat up the coast on the first leg, to the Kingscliff buoy.  John Tappenden, sporting a brand new mainsail on his Laser, took an early lead and it wasn’t long before he was broad reaching to the AWS mark.  It was on this second leg that Cath Bicknell was forced to undertake a 720 degree penalty turn, in her Comet, as a result of a rather close encounter with Michael Gutteridge and Derroll Pedder in their GP14.  The third leg was a fetch out to the Seaward buoy, followed by a run down the coast to Eastcliff, before beating back to the line.   Whilst being light, the wind had stayed constant for the first lap, but as the dinghies settled into the second lap so it became far more fickle.  By now the tide had turned and was making, which only made the conditions even more painful for the competitors; a number choosing to retire in frustration.  Tappenden, however, stuck doggedly to it and appeared to dodge any holes in the wind, so taking a very strong first place.

Results:  Summer Series 2:
1.    Laser – John Tappenden
2.    Comet – Peter Downer
3.    Laser – Ken Potts