Gunfleet's 2025 Sailing Season Gets Underway In Breezy Conditions

Gunfleet Sailing Club celebrated the start of the 2025 sailing season last Saturday 29 March with its Fitting-Out Supper where Rear Commodore Malcolm Jolly welcomed those present to a new era in the Club’s history, following some major works over the winter months.  He thanked the members for the work they had put in to make this happen and said that there was a lot to look forward to, including hosting the Comet National Championships in June, and the Gunfleet Regatta in July.  Everyone then tucked-in to the traditional fish and chips.

The very next day, Sunday 30 March, eager members headed down to the Club early in order to rig-up and check everything before taking part in the race for the March Hare Trophy.  They were greeted by a stiff offshore breeze that built up as the sailors rigged their boats.  On a flood tide it was Ken Potts that lead from the start, in his new RS Aero, followed by Derroll Pedder, also in an Aero.  Sitting close behind them was Cadet Finley Taylor in his Topper, and as they reached up the coast to the first mark, Cadet Adam Kedge got ahead of Taylor, in his Laser, and by the time the fleet made the Kingscliff buoy, Simon Clarke had taken his Europe up to fourth place.  Potts and Pedder were very close as they gybed round the mark and reached out to the Seaward buoy; Potts clearly in his element.  Taylor unfortunately capsized as he gybed, but righted his Topper and was back in it within seconds.  Once round Seaward the helms hardened up and beat back inshore to the Eastcliff buoy.  At this point Pedder capsized, allowing Potts to pull away, whilst Clarke seized the opportunity to get in front of both Kedge and Pedder.  It was then a reach back to the line, and at the end of the first lap Potts lead with Kedge second on handicap, but the latter capsized at Kingscliff on the second lap.  This was the start of a succession of capsizes with Kedge finding himself over a number of times on the beat from Seaward to Eastcliff, with damage occurring to his rudder; by now the west/north-westerly wind was gusting to the very top of a force six.  Clarke managed to maintain an upright position throughout, but Pedder capsized once more on the third lap, as he reached to Kingscliff.  Despite the lively wind, it was good to see so many Cadets out for the first sail of the season; credit going to Laura Kedge and Belle Hart who capsized their Toppers a number of times, but simply lapped up the conditions.

March Hare Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    Europe – Simon Clarke
3.    RS Aero – Derroll Pedder