Simon And Nicky Take The Trophy

Gunfleet Sailing Club saw twenty boats take to the water on Sunday 25 June 2023 when it held the Personal Handicap Race.  In place of the usual national class handicaps, issued annually by the Royal Yachting Association, Gunfleet sailors were given their own unique handicap based on the results they had achieved in the races held to date during this season.  At a thronged start line it was Ian Barker and Vince Crabtree that lead the fleet in their GP14, whilst Dave Ingle risked being just a tad too early in his RS Aero and was forced to bear off down the line; father and son Andy and Jono Dunnett, both sailing Lasers, arriving at the line a little late.  The tide, having just turned, was now beginning to flood and, with a light east/south-easterly breeze, meant a slow beat up the coast to the Preston Park buoy.  One or two tacked out to sea and gambled that the cleaner wind would offset the negative effect of the stronger tide, and as they reached the first mark it was Simon Clarke that lead in his Solo, with Brian Allen and Robert Mitchell next in their Lasers, and then Chris Maloney in his Laser.  The second leg was a reach to the Lilley Farm buoy before a beat out to Seaward and as the boats made the offshore mark it was Ingle who now had the lead.  The wind veered slightly more onshore and unfortunately fell away a little, but resulted in a fine sight as the dinghies all ran down to the ODM and line, and at the end of the first lap Ingle lead the way, Clarke second, and Allen third.  By the time the competitors had made the Preston Park buoy on the second lap, Allen had moved up to first place, with Clarke still second, but John Tappenden now third in his RS Aero.  The light winds made the going quite slow and the race officer hoisted the shorten course flag although, as the boats crossed the finish line, the breeze ironically started to freshen.  By now Tappenden was in the lead, with Allen second and Clarke third, but once the personal handicaps had been applied it was a clear victory for husband and wife team Simon and Nicky Kedge in their GP14.
   
Results:
Personal Handicap Race:
1.    GP14 – Simon and Nicky Kedge
2.    GP14 – Paul Jackson and Lucy Powell
3.    Laser – Brian Allen