Ken Has A Convincing Win In The Spring Series Overall

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the final race in its Spring Series on Sunday 1 May with Ken Potts winning the race, and the series overall, in his Laser.

A light south-westerly breeze greeted the competitors as they rigged on the beach so the Office of the Day set a course that included a long beat down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy on the very first leg, but as the craft launched so the wind backed to a southerly direction, so messing-up any perfectly laid plan.  It was a closely bunched start, right on the line, and the helms did well to avoid being dragged over by the strong flood tide; Andy Dunnett leading the fleet in his Laser, just to windward of Potts, Dave Fowell third and Chris Maloney fourth in their Solos.  Peter Downer, in his Comet, put in an early tack to gain slightly more tide but equally to keep clear of his rivals’ dirty wind.  After a disappointing start in his RS Aero, Dave Ingle bore off slightly and gained greater boat speed, but the extra distance he had to cover did not do him any favours.  As the fleet rounded St. Michaels it was Potts now in the lead, Dunnett second, and Yvonne Gough, also in a Laser, third.    There then followed a broad reach back to the Eastcliff buoy before sheeting-in slightly to make the Preston Park mark.  The race, at this point, started to look a bit like a procession but the Lasers were continuously finding Ingle in amongst them as he tried to clear his rivals.  Slightly further back, Downer wouldn’t let go of the Solos but he too could not shake off Eddie White in his Comet.  After Preston Park there was a gybe as the competitors headed into the Kingscliff buoy before heading back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Potts, followed by Dunnett and then Gough, and these positions remained for the complete second lap, but on the third and final lap Robert Mitchell slipped his Laser past Gough to take third place, Dunnett second and Potts first. 

Results – Spring Series - Overall:
1.     Laser – Ken Potts
2=   Laser – Robert Mitchell
2=   Solo – Simon Clarke
4.    Solo – Chris Maloney

May Bank Monday dawned completely windless, with the weather forecast predicting little change.  A lot of very frustrated sailors appeared at the Club and despite many not hanging around to see if the wind filled in, the few that stayed were rewarded with a very light breeze.  The Laser Class Points went ahead and after a close tussle it was Andy Cornforth that took the winning gun.

Results – Class Points - 2:
Lasers:
1.    Andy Cornforth
2.    Robert Mitchell
3.    Joff Strutt

It was good to see the Club's Cadets out on the water using their Toppers over the weekend.