Dunnett Claims Top Spot

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second race in its Spring Series last Sunday afternoon 10 April in a fresh force 4 to 5 easterly wind.  The breeze had in fact built during the morning and by the time the competitors were rigging their dinghies it was blowing between 18 and 22 mph.  There was also quite a swell on the flood tide and it kept the sailors on their toes as they sailed up and down the line waiting for the start gun.  First away were the Solutions of Paul Davis and Robert Gutteridge, the latter gaining boat speed by baring away a little, whilst just behind them on the line were Tom an Ed Philpot in their Topaz.  On the beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy the Scorpion, sailed by Dave Fowell and Derroll Pedder, cut past several of the Lasers but was held at bay by Andy Dunnett who was second round Kingscliff as he chased after Davis.  The broad reach out to the Seaward buoy proved an exhilarating leg, with Matt Gough getting caught-out as he capsized his Laser at the gybe mark, going on to retire.  The remaining competitors found themselves surfing down the waves on the next leg - a virtual run to the Eastcliff buoy, before sheeting their sails hard in on the beat back out to sea.  There followed a second gybe and lively run back to Eastcliff, before sailing close hauled back through the line.  It was just prior to hardening-up for this last leg of the first lap that Dunnett suddenly capsized and, as he righted his boat, he saw his chances of winning apparently slip away.  At the end of the first lap Davis had a comfortable lead but disaster struck on the second lap.  Surfing down the waves from Seaward to Eastcliff he too capsized and turtle his dinghy.  Unfortunately the centreboard slipped shut, drastically reducing his chances of a quick and easy recovery; struggling to right his dinghy he could only watch as Dunnett and the others slipped by.  So, after some nail-biting tactics it was Dunnett that took the winning gun in his Laser, followed by Yvonne Gough, also in a Laser, clearly demonstrating that the race is never over until you successfully cross the finish line.