Ken Concludes the 2023 Sailing Season With A Win

Members of Gunfleet Sailing Club gathered on the beach to rig their boats for the last race in the Winter Series, and also of the 2023 season.  The weather was proving cruel to them, offering very light winds coupled with an extremely low temperature, but this didn’t deter the competitors.  As they launched, the high tide had just turned and the helms slowly paraded up and down the line working out the best area to start from.  And at the start it was John Tappenden that lead the fleet, in his RS Aero, down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy, followed closely by Robert Mitchell in his Laser.  The freshly ebbing tide definitely held the sailors back and it was over a minute before the next competitor, Ken Potts in his Laser, crossed the line and got underway; all three starting by the Inner Distance Mark.  Paul Jackson, on the other hand, took a gamble and headed to the Outer Distance Mark, taking his GP14 into the stronger negative tide, but gaining the fresher wind coming from the west.  Several members tacked their craft incredibly close to the shore, groyne-hopping as they went, and when they arrived at Eastcliff it was Tappenden first, second Andy Dunnett in his Laser, and third Simon Clarke in his Europe.  

The next mark to round was AWS, before heading to the Preston Park buoy, and with the tide now under them, and on a broad reach, it looked quite a quick process.  Unfortunately Tappenden forgot the AWS and, going the wrong side, looked like he was to be disqualified.  Dunnett, maybe on autopilot, followed Tappenden, whilst Clarke and the rest of the fleet completed the correct course.  It was only when almost on top of Preston Park did Tappenden realise his error and went about to make the painful beat back to AWS to correct himself.  Meanwhile, his rivals rounded Preston Park to then make the beat back to ODM, with Brian Allen in his Laser, laying neck and neck with Potts.  The wind, by now, had dropped still further, and fighting the tide resulted in very slow progress.  Although, once reaching this mark would have only meant half the course being completed, the Officer of the Day hoisted the “Course Change” flag and aimed to finish the boats as they cut through the line.  However, as the wind got lighter, and the adverse tide got stronger, it was a painful sight to watch.  So many times did a boat get within feet of the finish, only to be dragged backwards, it was all credit to the helms that so many completed the race; Potts taking first place, Jackson second, and Clarke third.  This was sufficient to give Potts the series overall.

Results - Winter Series Overall:
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
3.    Blaze – John Heath
Cadets:
1.    Topper – Adam Kedge
2.    Topper – Belle Hart
3.    Topper – Laura Kedge