Andy Cornforth Takes The Trophy

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s race for the Bill Geddes, Trophy, on Sunday 22 May, saw sixteen dinghies taking part and, after an hour and a half on the water, it was Andy Cornforth that claimed victory in his Laser.

Conditions looked almost perfect for the event with a light onshore breeze and blue skies coupled with unbroken sunshine; if anything the wind was possibly just a little too light.  With the first leg being a reach to the Kingscliff buoy, almost all the competitors bunched-up at the Outer Distance Mark for the start, resulting in some helms being squeezed out; finding themselves the wrongs side of the buoy and losing time correcting the faux-pas.  Leading the pack as they headed down the coast to the Kingscliff was Brian Allen in his Laser, and he held-off his rivals on the second leg out to the Preston Park buoy, at which point Robert Mitchell was second in his Laser, and then John Tappenden in the Aero, Cornforth and Ken Potts, both in their Lasers.  The third leg was a reach back to the Eastcliff mark before a beat out to Seaward and at this point the leading group tacked onto starboard, the remainders following suit; the tide at this point having turned and now beginning to flood.  Cornforth then broke away and sailed free to cheat the tide and avoid much of the dirty wind of his competitors, but failed to clear Allen who remained the leading boat.  Tappenden tacked towards Seaward but the tide was getting stronger and it was evident further tacking was required, but his tactics paid off and he rounded the mark first, followed by Cornforth and then Allen.  The final leg of the course was a run down to the line before hooking round the ODM, and Cornforth was in his element by now, sailing by the lee and being the first to complete the first lap.  Further back, in the Solo fleet, it was Simon Clarke who lead over Chris Maloney and Dave Fowell, whilst Malcolm Smith kept ahead of Peter Downer and Eddie White in the Comet class.

On the second lap Tappenden managed to take back the lead for a while but Cornforth wasn’t giving up and, at Seaward, once again took top spot, holding everyone back through the line despite drifting to leeward.  Surprisingly because of the light airs, Jono Dunnett capsized, but righted his Laser so quickly he was up and on his way without letting anyone past.  Things settled on the third lap with just some minor place changes. 

Results – Bill Geddes Trophy:
1.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
2.    Laser – Jono Dunnett 
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden