Reports 2011

The last race of the year was held by the Gunfleet Sailing Club last Sunday 4 December when the sixth and final event in the Winter Series took place.  In a very cold force three, increasing to five, south westerly wind eleven boats came to the line.  As the start gun reverberated across the water Ken Potts headed out to sea on a starboard tack, whilst the rest of the fleet took the port tack in order to stay close to the shore as they all beat down coast to the St.

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club could have been forgiven for thinking it was still summer last Sunday 20 November when they took part in the fourth race of the Winter Series.  Early sea mist lifted to reveal blue sky and unbroken sunshine but sadly, for a sailor, very little wind.  With an hour to go before low tide the competing boats ghosted to the start line on a flat sea with a 3 mph east/south easterly breeze.  The helms held back at the start for fear of crossing the

Saturday evening 5 November really went with a bang down at the Gunfleet with the annual Club Firework Extravaganza.  Over 100 people came down to the Club and enjoyed soup, hot dogs and burgers plus an impressive firework display; with plenty of sparklers for the younger members. 

In a pleasant force four southerly wind fourteen boats came to the start line for the second race in the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Winter Series last Sunday 30 October.  The first leg saw the fleet close hauled as they took the flood tide to the St.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the first race in its Winter Series last Sunday morning 23 October with fifteen boats taking part.  Members were greeted by an ideal force four onshore breeze but a very lumpy sea with large waves making launching extremely difficult.  After a couple of incidents when boats were literally thrown back on the shore the Officer Of the Day hoisted the 15 minute postponement flag in order to allow sufficient time to safely launch.  At the start it was Andy

Gunfleet Sailing Club celebrated the end of the 2011 sailing season in style when 83 members attended the Laying-Up Dinner and Dance, and Presentation of Trophies, at Clacton on Sea Golf Club last Saturday evening 15 October.  Club Commodore Richard Walker proudly looked back at a very successful season packed with sailing and social events enjoyed by so many.  The racing had been extremely well supported and the cruises, whilst somewhat affected by the weather this season, had seen

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club concluded their 2011 sailing season last Sunday 2 October in conditions befitting of a perfect summer’s day, and all that was lacking was any form of wind. 

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club had a full weekend, in almost ideal conditions, starting on Saturday 24 September with the End of Season Cruise.  The 2011 cruising programme has been dogged with bad weather but for the final trip of the season the sun shone and a force three onshore breeze beckoned the boats onto the water.  The fleet headed up the coast on the last of the ebb tide, stopping at Frinton for refreshment, before continuing on their way.  The crews all returne

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club taking part in the first race of the Autumn Series had to rise early last Sunday 18 September in order to make the ten o’clock start.  This didn’t deter fourteen boats taking part in a light west/south westerly wind, blue skies and sunshine.  The fleet started on starboard tack, heading out to sea in the freshly flooding tide, as they beat down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy.  One or two competitors did hastily go about and tack in towards

Once again it was a “full-on” weekend for members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club.  On Saturday 3 September the Gunfleet Cadets and Otters concluded their programme of Sailing On Saturday with two races, one for the Topper class and the other for the Topazes.  In both events competition was stiff and the determination was strong.  The Toppers were first away with Robert Gutteridge leading the fleet as the class reached to the Kingscliff buoy, hotly pursued by Madeline Wyss.&n

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Cadet Week was heralded a tremendous success following its conclusion last Friday 26 August.  Forty Five young Club members took part in a week of sailing activities, including a cruise up the coast for a picnic and games, record breaking day; such as how many people can fit on a Topaz before capsizing, how high up the mast one can climb, and kissing the bow of a boat when on its side.  There was also a sail up to the Air Show to watch the [img_assist|nid=473

Gunfleet Sailing Club achieved a real coup last Saturday 20 August when nineteen year old Phil Sparks from the GBR Olympic Sailing Squad spent a whole day providing training to over 30 Gunfleet Cadets and Otters.  Phil started the day by explaining how he got into sailing at the age of 6 years and worked his way up to winning the Youth World Championships in a 420 in 2009, before progressing onto the Olympic 470 class.  Classroom training in the Clubhouse followed and then seventeen

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its annual long distance race last Sunday afternoon 14 August for the Jim Suckling Trophy with fifteen boats taking part.  Under blue skies and sunshine, coupled with a pleasant south westerly wind the competitors beat down the coast to the Pier buoy, staying close to the shore to help mitigate the adverse effects of the freshly ebbing tide.  The boats then continued around the Pier and on to the Watersports mark off Martello Bay.  As would be expecte

Members of Gunfleet Sailing Club tried to defy the elements last Sunday 7 August when ten boats headed to the start line for the Bill Geddes Trophy Race.  The wind was a south westerly force four, gusting six, and sea conditions were what some might call lively.  Capsizes occurred thick and fast and the Club Rescue Boat crew worked hard to ensure competitors were alright.  The first leg was a beat down the coast to the St.