Reports 2024
The Wednesday evening Summer Series arrived at Gunfleet Sailing Club on 19 June 2024 and, whilst the sun was out, a stiff force 4 to 6 north-easterly wind resulted in several white-caps on a choppy north-sea.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held the seventh, and final, race in its Wednesday evening Tony Chadd Series on 12 June 2024, with John Tappenden claiming victory in his RS Aero but Ken Potts winning overall in his Laser; the series having attracted twenty four entries.
A somewhat “frisky” offshore wind greeted the sailors at Gunfleet Sailing Club on Sunday 9 June 2024 when they took part in the race for the Jubilee Trophy. As the competitors were busy rigging-up on the beach a sudden squall blew through, sufficient to push a number of boats on their trolleys along the shoreline. At this point, a number of the helms decided that discretion was the better part of valour and returned their craft to the compound.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held the sixth, and penultimate, race in its Wednesday evening Tony Chadd Series on 5 June 2024, with victory going to Finley Taylor in his Topper.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held two races on Sunday 2 June 2024; one for faster handicapped boats, for the London Trophy, the other for slower handicapped boats, for the Potterers Pot. The blue skies, sunshine and force three northerly wind attracted nineteen dinghies onto the water, and it was particularly pleasing to see six Toppers our there, all sailed by some of the Club’s Cadets.
This was definitely the calm after the storm, when Gunfleet Sailing Club members took part in the fifth race in the Tony Chadd Series last Wednesday evening, 29 May 2024; the previous Monday’s event having been disrupted by a sudden squall.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held the third race in its Class Points Series, on Bank-Holiday Monday 27 May 2024,, with each class of dinghy having its own start time, course and, on completion of the series, trophy.
After three successive Wednesday evening sails in almost perfect conditions, Gunfleet Sailing Club members were probably due for a slight change in the elements, and that is exactly what they got o 22 May 2024. Plenty of cloud, some of which was dark and rain-threatening, plus a south westerly wind that gusted into a force six was what greeted the competitors as they launched into a grey and murky north-sea.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held the Ken Potts Pursuit Race on Sunday 19 May 2024 when seventeen dinghies took part; the race seeing staggered starts depending on the official RYA Portsmouth Yardstick.
For the third Wednesday running, the weather for evening racing on 15 May 2024 at Gunfleet Sailing Club proved just perfect; a force three east/north-easterly breeze, a slight sea, and the last of the day’s sunshine.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held one of its unique “3-in-1” races for the Wallet Trophy last Sunday 12 May; three short back to back races, with all three places counting to the overall result.
Another gorgeous Wednesday evening set the scene for the second race in the Gunfleet Sailing Club Tony Chadd Trophy Series on 8 May 2024. A force two to three south-easterly wind, coupled with blue skies and the last of the day’s sunshine provided the backdrop for an enjoyable tussle.
Gunfleet Sailing Club held the race for the Coronation Trophy last Sunday 5 May, in glorious sunshine and blue skies but, sadly, very little wind. It was Chris Maloney that got the best start in his Solo, followed By Robert Mitchell’s Laser, John Tappenden’s RS Aero, and Belle Hart’s Topper. The fleet reached down the coast, very slowly, as they stemmed the strong ebb tide, and by the time they reached the first mark, at St. Michael’s, it was Dave Ingle leading in his RS Aero, followed by Tappenden, then Ken Potts in his Laser.
Fine weather greeted the start of the Wednesday evening racing, on 1 May, at Gunfleet Sailing Club and it was great to see twenty dinghies take to the water. Such was the enthusiasm by the sailors that several found themselves on the wrong side of the line at the start and, immediately, the General Recall flag was hoisted. Unfortunately, at the second start, one boat was still too eager and although the Individual Recall flag was broken out, the Laser sailor, Tim Dye, continued and was therefore disqualified.
Yet another day of unsettled weather greeted the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club on Sunday 28 April when they rigged-up for the final race of the Spring Series, and after a real battle round the buoys it was Simon Clarke that took his Europe to victory, both in the race itself and the series overall.