Yvonne Takes Victory In The Ladies Race

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Cadets held the fourth race in their SOS Class Points last Saturday 23 August in a stiff westerly breeze which caused a number of capsizes.  The Toppers were first away and it was Harry Swinbourne that lead the fleet, followed by Robbie Jay and Harrison Ledger, with Max Bates close behind and Abigail Hayes trailing a little.  Next to go were the Topazes and it was Finn Harkin and Harry Spence that dominated from the very start.  Finally the Hobie 405’s got underway with Brogan Bates and Nick Cottee ahead of Beth Elliott and Harriet Jessup whilst Ross Aylen and Hugo Johnson managed to slip into second place on the beat to St. Michael’s buoy.  

 

As the racing went on so the wind freshened and the Club Rescue Boat was kept busy assisting those that had gone over and then found it difficult to right again.  Meanwhile there were some close tussles going on but in the end it was Swinbourne that won in the Topper fleet, Harkin and Spence took top spot in the Topazes, and Bates and Cottee claimed victory in the 405’s.

 

Then on Sunday 24 August it was the turn of the lady helms when the Club ran the race for the Austin Ladies Trophy.  Seven boats took part and on the first leg, a beat to the Eastcliff buoy, it was Emily Cossens that lead the way, with Simon Clarke crewing for her, in the Scorpion; soon to be overtaken by Beth Ford and Paul Davis in the RS 400.  Hot on their heels were Beth Elliott and Brogan Bates in the Hobie 405.  The next leg was a reach out to the Seaward mark, and coming out of nowhere was Yvonne Gough in her Laser, holding her own against the Scorpion.  There followed a run up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and then a beat back out to sea.  Being aware of the ebbing tide the helms, if anything, slightly overstepped the offshore mark but made short work of the second run back to Kingscliff before sailing close hauled through the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Gough in first place, Cossens second and Daisy Swinbourne and Harriet Jessup third in their Topaz.  Unfortunately Lesley Sacre capsized in her Pico on the run and required assistance from the Rescue Boat, so forcing her to retire.  Sailing a clean course, but unable to make any impression on the top places, were Darcie Baker and Max Bates in a Topaz.  During the second lap Gough pulled further ahead and Ford, despite capsizing the RS 400, slipped into third place.