Dunnett and Downer Do Well

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s third race in its Summer Series was held on Wednesday evening 14 June in almost idyllic conditions with a steady force 3 easterly breeze, blue sky and sunshine.  The prize for being right on the line at the start, and so leading the competitors on the first leg to the Kingscliff buoy, went to Michael Gutteridge and Derroll Pedder in their GP14, but brother Robert Gutteridge was not prepared to accept that for long and drove his Laser into the lead, with Andy Dunnett, also in a Laser, alongside.  As the boats rounded the mark and headed out on a reach to the Seaward buoy Dunnett edged ahead, whilst lying in third place was Ken Potts in his Laser.  A little further back there were some further Laser antics as Yvonne Gough and Rob Lockett stuck to each other like glue.  Gybing round the offshore mark was a smooth operation for everyone and the fleet then reached down to the AWS buoy before sailing on a fetch back to Kingscliff, out once more to Seaward, followed by a run down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy.  From here it was a close haul back to the line.  As is his habit, Peter Downer successfully challenged the Lasers in his Comet and, with some skilled tactics, maintained a good position.  The Topaz of Phil and Joshua Aiken sailed a clean but uneventful course, whilst it was good to see Cath Bicknell, and Jack and Emma Harvey out in their Comets, bringing a strong boost to the Comet fleet.  At the end of the first lap Dunnett had a respectable lead and Potts had slipped into second place, holding these positions throughout the second and final lap, with Robert Gutteridge closing in on them to take third place. 
      
Results:
Summer Series - 3:    
1.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
2.    Laser – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Robert Gutteridge

On Saturday 17 June, In glorious sunshine and light airs, eleven dinghies, and the Club Safety Boat, headed on a picnic cruise to Frinton.  The conditions proved perfect and it wasn’t long before everyone was sitting on the beach tucking into their food.

Finally, the Club completed a busy weekend on Sunday 18 June with its race for the Potterers’ Pot – an event specifically for those boats with slow handicaps.  Once again it was a very pleasant force three, proving ideal for the craft to gently sail around the cans, Downer claiming first place after sailing a very clean course

Results:
Potterers’ Pot:
1.    Comet – Peter Downer
2.    Comet – Keith Lamdin
3.    Sea Ranger – Richard Walker