Diamond Jubilee Regatta A Real Scorcher

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its Diamond Jubilee Regatta, sponsored by Orsted Energy, and Odiin Recruitment, over the weekend of 16 & 17 July, a full two-day event, amidst unbroken sunshine and a freshening onshore breeze.  The Club saw more than thirty craft take part with visiting sailors making the most of the fine weather.

The first day saw a series of three races for the Gunfleet Diamond Jubilee Trophy, with the competitors’ best two positions counting to their overall place.  In the first race, with the wind then East/South-East, it was Rob Mitchell that lead the fleet from the start line on his Dart 16, with Tim Dye’s Laser just behind, followed by Peter Downer’s Comet; all three choosing to start by the Outer Distance Mark.  Close to the shore, nearer the Inner Distance Mark were Andy Cornforth and Paul Stanton, both in Lasers.  The initial leg was a very short reach to the first mark and, within a minute or so, Brian Allen had cut through the fleet in his A Class Catamaran.  The second leg was a beat out to the Preston Park buoy which, by now, saw Ken Potts leading in his RS600, followed by Mitchell and then Dye, but by the time the fleet made it out to the Seaward mark Allen was ahead once more in his A Class.  From there it was a run down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy and whilst the majority chose to goose-wing it appeared more advantageous for others to tack down wind.  First to reach the mark was Potts, with Allen and Mitchell not too far behind.  Allen regained his lead on the beat up the coast to the Lilley Farm buoy, and then the course concluded with an exhilarating reach back through the line, and whilst he was first to cross the line on the first lap, on handicap it was Dye that held top-spot in his Laser, followed by Colin Gibson and Mark Buswell in their Xenon, then Cornforth third, and the Solo of Chris Maloney fourth; with just four seconds between those last three.  In the second lap Allen pulled away from nearly all the competitors but couldn’t shake-off Potts, whilst Mitchell fell away.  But whilst the fast handicapped craft were stealing much of the limelight, there were some hefty battles going on further back; in the Laser fleet Dye dropped back and Cornforth was kept busy holding Stanton at bay.  As the competitors crossed the finishing line it was evident there was no obvious winner and the calculated results proved just how close it all was; victory going to the Xenon of Gibson and Buswell from Hertford County Yacht Club.

Results – Gunfleet Diamond Jubilee Trophy - 1:
1.    Xenon – Colin Gibson and Mark Buswell
2.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
3.    Laser – Paul Stanton

By now the wind had veered more southerly so the course was changed, with the first leg being a reach up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, but unfortunately many of the competitors jumped the line; the General Recall signal flag being immediately hoisted, and everyone returned to regroup for a second go.  This time the helms were a little more cautious, Dye and Cornforth leading the fleet, followed by Mitchell and Tappenden.  Yet again, within seconds, Allen took his A Class right through the fleet and was round Kingscliff first, followed by Mitchell, Dye, Potts and Cornforth.  The next mark had been specifically laid to force a beat out toe Seaward buoy, and whilst Allen and Mitchell tacked as soon as they rounded it, Potts just hardened-up and headed straight out.  Meanwhile Chris Dawes capsized his Solo but was quickly up and on his way.  Also having problems was Michael Gutteridge, when he experienced gear failure in his Solo and was towed back to shore by one of the Club Rescue Boats.  Allen continued to maintain his physical lead but at the end of the first lap Tappenden was leading on handicap, followed by Cornforth then Dye.  The wind, by now, was a steady force four and the majority of competitors were lapping-up the conditions, although one or two were retiring through exhaustion.  During the final lap Potts pushed his RS600 into second place but found he had lost-out to Tappenden by just two seconds.

Results – Gunfleet Diamond Jubilee Trophy - 2:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    RS600 – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Andy Cornforth

The third and final race of the day saw a few more sit it out as winds began to hit force five but, once again, those taking part were “trigger-happy”, and over the line at the start; requiring, yet again, a Generall Recall.  Ten minutes later the craft were off and Dye absolutely nailed it; impossible to put a tissue paper between the bow of his Laser and the line.  But this didn’t stop Potts flying past and at the first buoy it was Potts, Mitchell, Dye, Cornforth and Tappenden.  The fresher winds were just what the fast handicap craft were after and the helms were in their element, if a little tired by now.  At the end of the first lap it was Tappenden that was leading but as the race continued so both Mitchell and Potts slipped in front of him to take the honours.

Results – Gunfleet Diamond Jubilee Trophy - 3:
1.    Dart 16 – Robert Mitchell 
2.    RS600 – Ken Potts
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden

Gunfleet Diamond Jubilee Trophy - Overall:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    RS600 – Ken Potts
3.    Dart 16 – Rob Mitchell

The second day saw southerly winds greet the competitors for the RNLI Charity Shield.  Yvonne Gough was first to cross the start line in her Laser, followed by Potts’s RS600, and then Clacton Sailing Club’s Pete Boxer on his A Class cat, although seconds later Boxer had stormed ahead of everyone.  At the turning mark it was Boxer, Potts, and then Derroll Pedder and Michael Gutteridge on their Hurricane 5.9.  The second leg, a long beat out to the Seaward buoy, soon split the fleet but Boxer maintained his lead, followed by Dan Brzezinski, also on an A Class, and then Pedder and Gutteridge.  The run down to the AWS mark saw positions change and Brzezinski now lead the field, Boxer just behind, followed by Pedder and Gutteridge, Mitchell, and then Tappenden’s RS Aero, Potts in his RS600, the Lasers of Cornforth and Rob Lockett, and then Maloney in his Solo.  The next leg, to the Preston Park buoy, saw little change but as the competitors then re-rounded Seaward, Allen had taken his A Class past Mitchell.  The competitors then went to the St. Michael’s buoy and, finally, had a great reach back to the line.  As they completed the first lap it was Tappenden leading on handicap, second was Cornforth, and third Maloney.  The wind freshened on the second lap, and positions changed, and changed again.  The eight catamarans taking part just got noticeably faster, but were unable to take the top position from Cornforth who creamed along in his Laser.

Results – RNLI Charity Shield:
1.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
2.    Dart 16 – Robert Mitchell 
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden

Following lunch, the Class Racing took place, and by now the wind had freshened to the top-end of a force four.  First fleet away were the catamarans.  Dye tried to luff Boxer at the far end of the line but by flying a hull over the Outer Distance Mark, Boxer managed to squeeze through; all this antics forcing Mitchell to stall.  But it wasn’t long before Brzezinski took the lead, and there seemed to be no stopping him.

Next away were the Toppers and so eager were the helms that they jumped the start line and had to return for a second go; unfortunately this meant a long wait until all the other classes had started, but once they were off it was George Smith that gave it all he could to take the winning gun.  Mention must be made of Finley Taylor who, entering his first race, took an impressive second place.

Malcolm Smith instantly took the lead in the Comet class and refused to let the other get in front, leaving Peter Downer to take second place, and Keith Lamdin third.

The Comets were followed by the Solo fleet and positions were thrown into total confusion when Maloney lead the fleet to St. Michael’s buoy instead of Eastcliff; an unnecessary but not disqualifiable deviation.  Sharp enough to spot this on the first lap was Dawes who made for the correct mark, so putting him in first position.  However, on the second lap Dawes decided to follow the crowd, and it was only that Dave Fowell convinced himself he should, this time, go to Eastcliff that meant he romped home to victory; Maloney being second, and Carly Emms third.

In the Laser fleet it was surprising to see Cornforth have a poor start but it didn’t take long for him to pull his way back up the fleet, and by the end of the first lap he was leading.  Nothing changed during the second lap, and following Cornforth in second and third place were Lockett and then Stanton. 

The Menagerie race became a “sparring match” between old friend Potts and Tappenden; the latter taking his RS Aero into first place during the initial lap, and widening the gap on the second, and final, one. 

Class Race Winners:
Catamarans – A-Class – Dan Brzezinski
Toppers – George Smith
Comets – Malcolm Smith
Solos – Dave Fowell
Lasers – Andy Cornforth
Menagerie – John Tappenden

Children's Painting Competition Winner: Albert Mosey