Reports 2024

Gunfleet Sailing Club burst into life, after its winter hibernation off the water.  Following a full Clubhouse for the traditional Fitting-Out Supper, it was up early the next morning for the first race of 2024, the appropriately named March Hare.  With a fresh force five, gusting six, north-easterly wind, a lot of sailors could only sit in the Clubhouse and watch; however, a few brave souls ignored the biting wind and rigged-up.

Gunfleet members sprung into life last Saturday and Sunday - 9 &10 March, eager to get the Club all ready for the start of the 2024 sailing season...which is just weeks away.  Saturday was bright and breezy, just right for creosoting the outside of the Clubhouse, whilst improvements were being made in the compound.  The water drainage system, from the Clubhouse roof, was given a complete upgrade, and the uneven boat space was brought on the level.

On Saturday 10 February Gunfleet Sailing Club welcomed Nucleus Watersports with its amazing array of great offers on a wide selection of sailing clothing, including wetsuits and wet boots, drysuits and spray tops, plus sailing bags and holdalls.  There was even a large box with a wide selection of ropes that were available to anyone that wished to make a donation to Clacton Lifeboat.

What a good turnout of members for the Cliff Clearance on Saturday 3 February.  It was great to see 25 members down at the Gunfleet, armed to the teeth with loppers, secateurs, saws, hedge trimmers and chain saws; the tamarisk didn't stand a chance!  The weather was perfect, plenty of coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and lashings of baked beans on toast for lunch.

The Clubhouse came to life on Wednesday evening, 10 January, when Club member Jono Dunnett gave an illustrated, and enthralling, talk on his solo windsurf around Europe.  This amazing feat saw Jono facing mountainous seas, total becalm-ment, freezing conditions, and sweltering heat as he windsurfed, with no support or back-up, from Norway to Ukraine before cycling back!