Twenty One Boats head out to Wind Farm

Twenty one boats from Gunfleet Sailing Club headed out on a cruise to the Gunfleet Wind Farm last Saturday 10 July accompanied by the Club’s two Rescue Boats.  As the fleet left the beach there was a light onshore breeze but as the boats beat out to sea so the wind freshened and small white horses started appearing.  It wasn’t long before the craft were thrashing through the water and within a very short space of time they had all arrived at their destination.  Running back home, with the wind dead-aft, meant it was an extremely quick return journey and all too soon the crews were ashore and the boats safely back in the compound.

The previous Wednesday evening the fifth and final race of the Gunfleet Summer Series took place under very pleasant conditions.  In a southerly force three to four wind the competitors were so keen that three of them, Ken Potts in his RS600, John Tappenden in his Blaze, and Simon Mathewson in his Vortex, all jumped the line at the start.  With the individual recall flag speedily hoisted Potts returned to correct his error but the other two carried on and as a result were both disqualified.  Taking an early lead was Kelvin Morton in an RS600 with Simon Clarke hard on his heels in his Solution.  Further back in the slow handicap fleet was Michael Pedder in a Qba who, after a bit of a gap from sailing, was proving he had not lost any of his skill and drove his boat hard throughout the race, beating his father Derroll who was sailing a Vortex.  However, at the end of the first lap it was Morton who was leading but despite the wind falling away and the very poor start, Potts drove his RS600 hard and pushed his way back to the front over the next two laps, ending up taking the winning gun.

Results: Summer Series – 5
1. RS600 – Ken Potts
2. RS600 – Kelvin Morton
3. Solution – Simon Clarke

Summer Series Overall:
1. Blaze – John Tappenden
2. RS600 – Ken Potts
3. Solution – Paul Davis