Simon And Dave Do It Again

Gunfleet Sailing Club broke away from the more traditional style of racing on Sunday 18 June 2023 to hold the Ken Potts Pursuit Race, which saw six separate starts; the timings of which related to the national class handicap ratings.  The fresh easterly wind eased off before the event got underway and veered southerly, causing last minute rig changes.

First away were the Toppers with Cadets Belle Hart and Finley Taylor level pegging on the first leg, to the Preston Park buoy; Taylor eventually pulling away and opening a comfortable gap.  The next class to go was the Topaz and John Tappenden immediately gave chase to the Toppers.  Following a noticeable gap it was the turn of the Solo class and, unfortunately, Chris Maloney was a bit too eager and jumped the line, returning back to correct his error whilst watching his nearest rival, Derroll Pedder, gain a strong lead.  Just over a minute later it was the turn of the GP14s and Ian Barker and Yvonne Gough lead the fleet, Simon Clarke and Dave Fowell just behind, and then single-handed Paul Jackson.  Next were the Lasers, and Robert Mitchell was first to cross the line, followed by Tim Dye, Ken Potts, Brian Allen, and Carlo Bardetti.  Finally Dave Ingle was unleashed in his RS Aero, with a lot of catching up to do.  Tappenden had, by now, overtaken the Toppers and was leading the fleet, having beat out from Preston Park to Seaward and then settled into the long broad reach down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy; Taylor doggedly remaining in second place.  Clarke and Fowell appeared busy picking off their rivals whilst Maloney, despite his wobbly state, was also pushing his way past his competitors.  After St. Michael’s it was a fetch back up the coast and through the line, at which point the wind backed a little and required the helms to tack to Preston Park as they began a second lap.  Tappenden, at this point, maintained his lead, Clarke and Fowell now in second place, whilst Mitchell was third and Dye fourth.  But this was a time limited race with, in theory, all the dinghies being together an hour and a half after the very first start, and as the clock ticked by so Maloney pushed his way up to fifth place, ahead of Potts, whilst Ingle now sat in seventh place.  All too soon, with just minutes to go, Mitchell and Dye overtook Tappenden and as the horn, signalling the end, echoed across the water it was jubilant celebrations for Clarke and Fowell.

Results:
Ken Potts Pursuit Race:
1.    GP14 – Simon Clarke and Dave Fowell
2.    Laser – Robert Mitchell
3.    Laser – Tim Dye