Reports 2020

Gunfleet Sailing Club members came out in force for the Fleet Championship race last Sunday 18 October which, after several changes in the top spot, was won by Ken Potts in his Laser.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held one of its 3 in 1 races last Sunday 11 October, three short races run back to back with all three results counting towards the overall placings.  The nine dinghies that took part made a fine sight on a flat sea with a fresh to strong offshore wind, complimented by blue sky and sunshine.

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s race for the Toppo Single Helm Trophy was held last Sunday 20 September in very challenging conditions but was eventually won by Ken Potts in his Laser; Potts proving to be practicably unbeatable this year.

Members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club enjoyed some fabulous conditions last Sunday 13 September when they took part in the race for the Jubilee Cup.  Traditionally this race is held on the nearest Sunday to the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation but sadly the Club’s original race programme was overtaken by events.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the race for the Tony Chadd Trophy last Sunday 6 September, with Ken Potts taking his Laser to victory and making it three firsts in the last three events.

A force 2 to 4 offshore wind greeted the competitors for the Bill Geddes Trophy at Gunfleet Sailing Club on Bank-Holiday Monday 31 August which, as with the previous week’s event, was based on three back to back short races.  In race one John Tappenden led from the start line in his Aero with Andy Dunnett, in his Laser, just behind.  Andy Cornforth, also in a Laser, sheeted in hard and was challenging Tappenden on his windward side as the dinghies headed up the coast on a beat to the windward mark; by now the wind having veered more north-easterly.

Gunfleet Sailing Club returned to the water for some racing last Sunday 23 August, observing the restrictions and guidelines as a result of Covid 19.  Despite the strong gusting winds, nine single-handed dinghies launched, the helms just pleased to be back on the briny for the first race of the season.  In fact the event, for the Club’s oldest trophy – the Tee Dee Cup, comprised of three short back to back races, the positions in each one counting towards the overall placing.

Gunfleet's 2020 Work Weekend on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th March saw the Club buzzing with activity as members rallied round to get the place all ready for the start of the sailing season.  Painting, creosoting, cementing, drilling, cleaning, digging, repairing, rebuilding....., the list was long but the enthusiasm was strong, and soon the jobs were being ticked-off as completed.  Hot lunch was served by the galley crew and, with batteries recharged, it was down to clearing the many tonnes of sand blown into the compound over the winter.  Compound Office Malcolm Jolly said

Members of Gunfleet Sailing Club packed the clubhouse on Saturday 25 January to welcome the Chinese New Year with a very tasty oriental meal.  The fortune cookies predicted a brilliant year for the Club and its members, and whilst the older members relaxed after the first class food, the younger members (well actually that did include several older ones) took part in "splat the rat", a game specially arranged as 2020 is the Chinese Year of the Rat.  There was also a Chinese Quiz, focusing on the rat - in songs, in films, in comic strips and throughout history.