Ideal Conditions Prove A Winner With Everyone

Gunfleet Sailing Club members revelled in the, almost perfect, weather conditions over the May Bank-holiday 6 and 7 May, taking to the water on the Sunday to race for the Hertford County Shield.

As the seconds ticked away before the start all the boats were tightly bunched, but prudence ensured no craft jumped the line.  In a force three east/north-easterly wind and less than an hour of flood tide to battle, the competitors beat their way up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and it was little surprise that Ken Potts lead all the way and, once round the mark pulled still further away on the reach out to Seaward.  The next boat to round the first mark was the leading Laser of John Tappenden, followed by Rob Lockett and Yvonne Gough, also both sailing Lasers.  It was good to see three Comets out on the water, with wily old Peter Downer leading the class, but having to watch Tom Philpot who was constantly snapping at his heels.  Gybing at the Seaward buoy proved uneventful and a clean broad reach ensued, towards the Club and then round the AWS mark.  This was followed by a run to the St. Michael’s buoy prior to a long beat back through the line; the competitors tacking close to shore to try and mitigate the adverse tide.  In amongst the Lasers for much of the course were Dave Fowell and Jeremy Goodchild in their GP14 but during the second lap the gap began to widen.  Potts was first to take the finish horn and the big question was had he built up a sufficient lead to take the race on handicap, but as the Officer of the Day calculated the positions he found that Tappenden had taken the race, and the trophy, with a clean win.

Results:  Hertford County Shield
1.    Laser – John Tappenden
2.    RS600 – Ken Potts
3.    Comet – Peter Downer

And if Sunday’s weather was good, then Monday’s proved even better.  Due to previous poor conditions the postponed second race in the Spring Series was held.  Andy Dunnett instantly sailed into the lead, in his Laser, as the fleet tacked up the coast in a light north-easterly breeze; he was first to round the windward mark before running back down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy.  Snapping at his heels was Cadet Commodore Harry Swinbourne, and just behind him was Rob Lockett, both in Lasers.  About half way along the second leg Swinbourne took the lead and as the three of them rounded Eastcliff and tacked to the AWS buoy Lockett grabbed the chance to slip in front of Dunnett.  Slightly further back was Sonny Hart, also in a Laser, followed by Dave Fowell and Jeremy Goodchild in the GP14, and then Steve Swinbourne in a Comet.  Places changed several times as the race progressed but eventually, an hour and a half after the start, Dunnett swept to victory. 

Results:  Spring Series – 2
1.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
2.    Laser – Rob Lockett
3.    Laser – Harry Swinbourne