The Day Belongs To Eddie

Gunfleet Sailing Club members were doubtful that they would be getting on the water, with Storm Hannah pushing winds up to 47 mph last Saturday 27 April, but by Sunday morning things had calmed down sufficiently for the third race in the Spring Series to take place.  There was still a strong, and gusty, westerly wind blowing and the Officer of the Day laid a temporary buoy to ensure the competitors had all points of sailing and, in particular, a beat.

At the start Eddie White found himself the wrong side of the line in his Laser but no sooner had the individual recall flag been hoisted than he had returned, corrected his error, and was only just behind the “Tail-end Charlies”.  In his usual way, Ken Potts took an early lead in his Laser on the reach up the coast to the first mark at Kingscliff, the ebb tide hurrying everyone on their way.  There followed a harsh gybe before a broad reach out to sea and the X buoy.  At this point Robert Gutteridge in his Solo was laying in second place and the helms then hardened-up and beat, against the tide, back to the Outer Distance Mark.  The choice was whether to tack inshore to minimise the negative effect of the tide, but risk losing the wind strength coming off the land, or stay out and gain the stronger winds but fight the stronger tide.  The decision was unanimous and all the boats headed in towards the shore; Potts continuing to cement his lead.  The short reach from ODM to AWS buoy provided some exhilarating sailing, prior to a second beat down the coast to the Eastcliff mark.  Rob Lockett, in his Laser, was fighting hard to maintain second place, Gutteridge literally snapping at his heels.  As the boats reached back through the line to complete the first lap there was no question that Potts had a solid lead but on the second lap things started to go wrong for a number of competitors, including those in the top half of the fleet.  Gutteridge capsized, not once but twice, and Lockett lost time as he started to take the wrong course, correcting himself just in time.  White also sailed the wrong course but, failing to correct his mistake, was disqualified.  Potts, by now, was far enough ahead to just cleanly sail the third and final lap to take the honours.