Jono Takes The Second Race In The Autumn Series

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second race in its Autumn Series in summer-like conditions, with victory going to Jono Dunnett in his Laser.

As the competitors arrived it was questionable whether a race would be able to take place as there was not a breath of wind, and a slight sea mist began to roll in, but soon a light breeze cleared the air.  Simon Kedge was just a bit over-eager in the Topaz and crossed the line a few seconds too early but, realising his mistake, hastily returned to correct his error.  In fact Brian Allen lead the fleet across the line in his Laser, with Dunnett windward of him and gradually pulling away, and Ken Potts sandwiched between them, also in a Laser.  In the Easterly breeze the fleet beat towards the shore to try and mitigate the impact of the flood tide as they headed up the coast to the Kingscliff mark.  First to tack was Eddie White in his Comet, so clearing himself from the dirty wind caused by the other boats.  Meanwhile, at the front of the fleet there was a slight mishap as Potts tacked and struck the back of Dunnett’s Laser; the 720 degree penalty turn required dropping Potts back in the running order.  As the dinghies rounded Kingscliff it was Dunnett out in front, followed by the Laser of Robert Mitchell, and then Paul Stanton’s Laser.  There followed a fetch out to Preston Park buoy before a very broad reach back to the Outer Distance Mark.  By now Potts was working hard to catch-up and was champing at Stanton’s transom, whilst further back Peter Downer lead the Comets, opening the gap from White.  The fourth leg was a second beat, this time out to the Preston Park buoy, and Potts now had Stanton and was hard-chasing Mitchell; all craft heading towards the shore before tacking out to sea.  Allen then saw his opportunity to slip past Stanton on starboard as the wind began to freshen a little.  A reach out to Seaward, quick gybe at the offshore mark, and a second reach down to Lilley Farm buoy gave the helms a chance to recharge their batteries before a close haul back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Dunnett first, but Potts had squeezed past Mitchell to be in second place; Chris Maloney leading the Solos and Adam Kedge the Toppers.  The second lap saw the wind begin to fall slightly, and veer more south easterly but the positions remained the same.  After the race the members gathered in the Clubhouse to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. with some moving words by the Club's most senior member Eddie White who was 17 years of age when the young Princess came to the throne.  After a minute's silence, Eddie invited the members to raise a glass to our new King - Charles III.

Results – Autumn Series - 2:  
1.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
2.    Laser – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Robert Mitchell