Some Exciting Racing At Gunfleet

Jubilee celebrations at the Gunfleet Sailing Club on Friday 3 June were a twin hatted affair as the members raised a glass to both the Queen’s Platinum Year, and the Gunfleet’s Diamond anniversary.  Despite strong north-easterly winds, gusting to force six, the race for the Jubilee Trophy was held, with Ken Potts taking the winning gun in his Laser.

With the forecast saying that the wind strength was only going to increase it was small wonder that the Laser sailors chose to rig their radial sails, and the Laser 2000 had a hefty reef in order to make the boat perform at its peak.  The only female sailor taking part, Yvonne Gough, wisely chose the smaller 4.7 sail on her Laser and really appreciated how manageable it made the boat.  In defiance of all this was Robert Mitchell on his Dart 16, with no reefs, who single handed his catamaran in the large seas.  The last of the flood tide held the competitors back at the start, with Andy Cornforth leading the beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  However, having initially headed towards the shore on starboard he decided to tack and beat out to sea, anticipating that the waters would be slack so close to high tide; alas, this was a mistake and allowed Potts to pull ahead, having kept close to the shore.  All too soon Joff Strutt capsized his Laser, and whilst he was quick to right the craft and crack-on, it turned out to be the first of a number of capsizes, and eventually he accepted defeat and retired back to the shore.  Gough too found the ever-building wind just too much and, after capsizing more than once, retired from the race.  Mitchell, hard out on the trapeze, had his Dart 16 flying until the jib halyard broke and he too was forced to retire.  The competitors, having rounded Kingscliff, then headed on a very broad reach to the AWS mark where the helms hardened-up a little as they literally flew out to the Seaward buoy.  It was then back into AWS before a run to Lilley Farm buoy, a short reach to Eastcliff, followed by a beat back through the line.  All the time the Club’s Rescue Boat was busy standing-by capsized dinghies whilst the helms righted their craft; the only exception being a Topaz that turned turtle and lost its rig which resulted in it being towed back to the Club.  By the end of the first lap Potts had carved-out a reasonable lead but as Brian Allen came through the line he capsized, not for the first time, but unfortunately the mainsheet got caught-up with his outhaul and he too retired.  Throughout the race a battle pursued between father and sons Andy, Jono, and Gregg Dunnett, father Andy pushing his Laser hard to try and get in front of his sons’ Laser 2000; and on handicap he achieved his goal.

Results – Jubilee Trophy:
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Andy Cornforth
3.    Laser – Andy Dunnett

The previous Wednesday evening, 1 June, saw very pleasant conditions for the fifth race in the series for the Tony Chadd Trophy.   Whilst the craft rigged on the beach the wind backed from easterly to north-easterly but remained quite light.  

At the start it was Gregg Dunnett who lead in his Laser, followed by Brian Allen and Andy Dunnett, both sailing Lasers, and the John Tappenden’s RS Aero.  The initial leg was a beat to the Kingscliff buoy and with all competitors setting off on starboard tack, towards the shore, it was Tappenden that was the first to go about and head out to sea; a wise move as the ebb tide still had almost an hour before turning.  Simon Clarke, whose start was perhaps not the best one he’d ever had, pushed his Solo on starboard and soon found himself in amongst the Lasers, forcing Andy Dunnett and son Jono to tack their Laser as they were, by now, on port.  As the fleet reached the windward mark it was Tappenden in the lead, and after a short reach out to Preston Park he found himself being challenged by Clarke, followed by Allen and then Jono Dunnett.  The third leg was a run to the AWS buoy before a reach into the ODM, back out to AWS, down to Eastcliff and finally a beat back to the line.  

Halfway through the first lap Ken Potts managed to get in front of Clarke but as they went through the line he was laying in third place on handicap, behind Tappenden.  During the second lap Potts worked hard to move-up just slightly and had Tappenden by one second, whilst Clarke still dominated top spot.  On the third, and final, lap Tappenden fought back but nobody could touch Clarke who sailed to victory. 

Results – Tony Chadd Series - 5:
1.    Solo – Simon Clarke
2.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
3.    Laser – Ken Potts