Simon Takes Europe Into Winter Win

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s sixth, and penultimate, race in its Winter Series on Sunday 17 November 2024 saw victory for Simon Clarke in his Europe.

The force three to four westerly wind resulted in gusty conditions for the competitors and this caused some hard thinking as to which might be the most appropriate rig to use.  The RS Aeros decided on a 7 sail whilst the Lasers were a mix of radial and 4.7.  The strong spring tide was heading towards the top of the flood and the first leg of the course was set as a run up the coast to the Preston Park buoy; the sea state holding the boats back close to the start line.  Andy Dunnett lead the fleet away, in his Laser, starting near the Inner Distance Mark, Clarke slightly further out, and John Tappenden’s RS Aero by the Outer Distance Mark.  Dunnett’s tactic of staying closer to the shore and so keeping out of the tide, looked like working but a few gusts of the offshore wind resulted in Tappenden reaching Preston Park first, with Clarke’s Europe second, and then Brian Allen in his RS Aero; Dunnett having to make do with fourth place.  It was then a reach out to the Seaward mark and at this point Simon Kedge, sailing singlehanded in his GP14 overtook the Topper of Finley Taylor.  Once offshore it was a beat in to Lilley Farm buoy and this leg saw a real split in tactics which, coupled with wind-shifts, in both direction and strength, lead to several positions changing.  Unfortunately, for Paul Jackson, the course proved quite challenging and he found himself capsizing his Solo more often than he could ever have feared; he wasn’t alone but that was little compensation.  A further, short, beat into the Eastcliff mark then saw the boats broad reach back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Clarke that was ahead of Tappenden by the tiniest of margins, and Dunnett just behind, but on the second lap, Dunnett capsized on the run, allowing Adam Kedge to slip past.  Adam had already been too close for comfort and he seized the opportunity to continue pushing his way through the fleet, despite an earlier capsize at Eastcliff.  Otherwise things settled down, although Clarke refused to ease the pressure on Tappenden, and by the third lap Tappenden had Adam snapping at his heels.  As the finish line appeared it was clear that Adam had moved up to second place but he was unable to topple Clarke who took the winning gun.

Winter Series - 6:
1.    Europe – Simon Clarke
2.    Laser – Adam Kedge
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden