Lively Pursuit Race One to Remember

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its annual pursuit race last Sunday 15 August for the Potts Trophy.  In a force four gusting five northerly wind fourteen boats took part but unlike the usual races, where competitors start at a fixed time and complete a set number of laps with the winner being determined on a handicap system, this race staggers the start in line with the handicaps and at a predetermined time the race is terminated and in theory all the competitors should be together.  In the lively conditions the first away were the Topazes but it wasn’t long before Aaron Baker and George Venables retired when they had difficulty handling their craft.  There then followed the Lasers, a little later the Solutions; at which point Eddie White lost many minutes when he capsized, next to go was the Blaze, then the Vortex and lastly the RS600’s.  The course saw a beat against the tide to the Kingscliff buoy, then a run to Seaward, followed by a long and exhilarating reach to the Pier buoy before beating back up the coast and through the line.  Several capsizes occurred as the wind continued to freshen but when Simon Mathewson went over in his Vortex he found himself heading for Clacton Pier and despite righting the craft it ended up against the piles of the former pier lifeboat house.  With the assistance of the Club’s two Rescue Boats the Vortex was towed away and back to the safety of the shore.  Some 40 minutes after the first boats had started it was Simon Clarke in the lead in his Solution with Paul Stanton second in his Laser and John Tappenden third in the Blaze.  However, further disaster was soon to strike when Yvonne Gough capsized in her Laser, and having righted the boat she found great difficulty getting back into it.  Fortunately Andy Dunnett, also sailing a Laser, was close by and assisted her on to his craft but this allowed Gough’s boat to capsize once more and be swept out to sea.

As the seconds ticked away to the end of the race the two RS600’s were neck and neck, out at the front, with Kelvin Morton just holding off Ken Potts.  With a last surge Potts managed to drive his 600 up to Morton’s boat but failed to slip in front so having to make do with second place; literally by just a few inches.

Results: Potts Pursuit Trophy
1. RS600 – Kelvin Morton
2. RS600 – Ken Potts
3. Solution – Simon Clarke

The Club is now busy preparing for its annual Cadet Week, which has proved a total sell-out.  With over 70 Gunfleet Cadets and Otters it was of little surprise that all 40 available places were snapped-up and with the help of some of the older Cadets and Club members, Cadet Officer Andy Ford is putting the finishing touches to the week which starts on Monday 23 August.