Fun Packed Weekend Down at Gunfleet

Last Saturday evening, 24 July 2010, 40 members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club took part in the annual Crabbing Contest, with a further 30 people supporting them from the shore.  In an exciting challenge eventually prizes were awarded for the largest, smallest and prettiest crab, plus the one that did the best Elvis Presley impression!!

Then on Sunday afternoon 25 July, in a pleasant southerly force 3 wind, seven boats took part in the race at the Gunfleet Sailing Club for the Austin Ladies Trophy.  First across the start line was Lesley Sacre in her Pico, followed very closely by Bethany Ford in a Topaz, but by the time the fleet had arrived at the first mark, the Eastcliff buoy, Yvonne Gough had pulled out in front in her Laser.  The next leg took the boats out to the Seaward buoy but a number of helms misjudged the strengthening ebb tide and found themselves being swept past the mark.  There then followed a run into shore and the Kingscliff buoy before a beat out to sea again.  Slightly further back there was a three Topaz battle taking place as Linda Meggison, June Richardson and Tilly Thomas each tried to keep the other two at bay resulting in a race within a race.  As the event progressed Gough continued to open-up the gap at the front of the fleet but Ford, despite losing her glasses on the way round, kept the rest of the competitors at bay whilst Tracy Kurtulus, having had a poor start in her Sea Ranger, sailed past most of her fellow sailors to take a creditable third place.
 
Austin Ladies Trophy
1.  Laser – Yvonne Gough
2. Topaz – Bethany Ford
3. Sea Ranger – Tracy Kurtulus

The previous Wednesday evening the Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second race in the series for the Tony Chadd Trophy when eleven boats took part.  A southerly force four wind provided almost perfect conditions for the event and at a bunched start it was Simon Clarke who was literally kissing the line at the “off”, from which he shot off towards the Eastcliff buoy.  Moments later Simon Mathewson capsized his Vortex and then went on to sail the wrong course and was therefore disqualified.  As the race went on so the wind freshened and was soon blowing a force five, so forcing Eddie White in his Solution and Ben Richardson in his Topper to retire.  Capsizes occurred as the race continued but the Club Rescue Boat was always at hand to ensure there were no problems.

Results: Tony Chadd Trophy – 2
1. RS600 – Ken Potts
2. Blaze – John Tappenden
3. Solution – Simon Clarke