Tim On Top Form

The strong North/North-Easterly winds, that have dominated the east coast for the last two weeks, did not deter eleven boats from entering Gunfleet Sailing Club’s race for the Jubilee Trophy laqst Sunday 4 June 2023; victory going to Tim Dye in his Laser.

As soon as the boats hit the water, they literally took off, screaming in and out on a reach waiting for the race to commence.  With the full force of the slightly offshore wind only being really appreciated when 100 yards from the shore it was of little surprise that there were some early retirements.  At a closely bunched start it was Dye that lead the way, hardening up on starboard tack out by the ODM; Robert Mitchell being right behind him in his Laser, whilst John Tappenden bore away to get speed up in his RS Aero and hold third place.  Ken Potts lead the remainder of the fleet in his Laser; all craft heading towards the shore to mitigate the negative effect of the flood tide as they beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  Cadet Finley Taylor got parted from his Topper after an early capsize but swam after the boat and soon had it righted and was back in the thick of things.  Potts tacked close to shore and began to head out to sea, only to find Tappenden on starboard directly in front of him;  the evasive action of bearing away in order to clear Tappenden’s stern was just a little too late and Potts’s Laser ploughed into the RS Aero causing some series damage.  Both parties retired whilst the rest of the fleet soldiered on.  Dye was first round the windward mark, Mitchell still close behind, and Andy Dunnett now in third place in his Laser.  With the wind now hitting a force six it was of little surprise that further helms decided to retire, but the lead boats took a precarious run down to the AWS buoy before reaching out to the Seaward mark at an alarming speed.  Dunnett decided he had taken enough punishment that day and headed back to shore, whilst Yvonne Gough cracked on in her Laser until she too thought it was just a bit too much.  Having successfully gybed at Seaward, Dye and Mitchell broad reached to the Lilley Farm buoy, then down to the Eastcliff mark where they were relieved to see the Shorten Course flag flying briskly from the yardarm.  A final beat back to the line saw the two sole survivors take a well-earned first and second place.    

Results: 
Jubilee Trophy:
1.    Laser – Tim Dye
2.    Laser – Robert Mitchell
All other competitors retired