Paul Jackson Goes Solo To Victory

Gunfleet Sailing Club members took part in the fourth race in the Winter Series on Sunday 3 November 2024 with victory going to Paul Jackson in his Solo.

The grey North Sea and overcast sky did little to inspire the competitors as they rigged-up; a force three easterly wind incorporating a slight bight to it.  However, this breeze and a flood tide ensured that the boats all remained the right side of the line at the start, although they were all closely bunched by the Outer Distance Mark.   Ken Potts lead in his Laser, followed by Brian Allen and John Tappenden in their RS Aeros; Allen windward of Potts as they beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  The fleet all tacked close into sure to mitigate the negative effect of the tide and whilst Potts appeared to point higher than the others, it was Tappenden that made the mark first.  As he lead the way, on a broad reach, to the Lilley Farm buoy it looked as though he was sitting very comfortably in the lead at such an early point in the race.  Potts and Allen rounded Kingscliff together and after a close tussle, remained together as they rounded Lilley Farm; Potts hardening-up and slipping to windward of Allen.  The third leg was a long beat out to the Seaward buoy and it was a case of choosing the right moment to tack in order to gain maximum performance.  Tappenden, now well ahead, unfortunately went round the mark the wrong way and appeared to be heading in an odd direction.  Eagle-eyed Potts followed suit in circumnavigating the buoy but did then reach to the correct, AWS, mark; Allen taking the same route as Potts.  Tappenden spotted that AWS was where he should be heading and immediately made for it, whilst Allen got himself further confused and took AWS the wrong side and started sailing up, rather than down, the coast.  Whilst several of the sailors were sailing the incorrect course, Paul Jackson quietly took his Solo around the buoys in the right order, and rounded them on the correct side.  A number of the sailors decided to retire but Allen decided to retrace his steps, went back out to Seaward, and correctly circumnavigated the buoys, although by now he had lost considerable time.  Try as he might, it proved an impossible task to catch Jackson who, after two laps, sailed home to a clean win.

Winter Series - 4:
1.    Solo – Paul Jackson
2.    RS Aero – Brian Allen
All other entries either retired or were disqualified