Andy And Harry Take The Honours

Saturday 9 June saw the second in the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s SOS Sail Training take place.  In a fresh north-easterly breeze the Cadets and Otters formed into three groups – red for novices, yellow for those that can sail but need to sharpen-up their technique, and green for those who sail very capably and want to develop their tactics.  A fleet of Toppers and Topazes were soon rigged on the beach and trainer Clare Williams clearly mapped-out the training programme for the afternoon.  With both Club Rescue Boats on the water the keen young sailors took to their boats and, with the help and guidance of experienced sailors, soon had the craft dancing to their tune.  All too soon it was time to pack away the dinghies and enjoy a burger or hot-dog whilst being debriefed in the Clubhouse.

Then, on Sunday 10 June, the conditions were almost ideal for Gunfleet Sailing Club’s race for the Toppo Single Helm trophy, which was won by long-time member Andy Dunnett in his Laser.

With just one minute to go before the race commenced it looked like there could be a general recall, with several dinghies over the line but, within seconds, they had all sorted themselves out and as the start flag fell from the yardarm there was a tight and exciting bunch of dinghies heading up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  A north-easterly wind provided the perfect beat, and the freshly ebbing tide hurried the competitors on their way.  At this early stage it was difficult to determine who the front runner was as some craft sailed towards the shore on starboard tack whilst others, on port, headed out to sea.  It was only as they rounded the first mark, and headed out to the Seaward buoy on a broad reach, that early positions became clear.  Leading the pack was Dunnett in his Laser, followed very closely by Harry Swinbourne, also in a Laser, and then Andy Cornforth in his Laser.  Eddie White was caught out and did a death role in his Laser, and whilst he soon had the boat upright decided to retire closer to shore and enjoy some more relaxed sailing.  For the rest of the competitors the gybe round Seaward proved uneventful and the boats then pounded in towards the AWS buoy, then round it and back out to Seaward.  The fifth leg was a broad reach down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy, a run to the Pier buoy and a long beat back through the line.  In the very dominant Laser fleet Rob Lockett was constantly challenging Tom Philpot, whilst struggling to shake-off Clare Williams in the Solo.  Further back the Toppers were having their own battle with Harrison Smith holding back Alfie Searles, his nearest rival.  Having not had the best of starts, Paul Stanton had been quietly “picking-off” his rivals, and at the end of the first lap he had moved up to second place in his Laser, Dunnett maintaining a good lead, and Swinbourne now in third place.  A second lap saw further changes and the most exciting moment was as the boats went through the line to finish, when Cornforth literally shot past Stanton to take second place.

Results:  Toppo Single Helm:
1.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
2.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
3.    Laser – Paul Stanton

For those under 18 years the race was also for the Cadet Single Helm Trophy and, coming fourth overall in the main race, it was Cadet Commodore Harry Swinbourne who took the honours.

Cadet Single Helm:
1.    Laser – Harry Swinbourne
2.    Laser – Tom Philpot
3.    Topper – Harrison Smith