Lockett's Laser Leaves Them Standing

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s third race in its Summer Series was held last Wednesday evening 6 July in humid, if slightly, overcast conditions; a west/north-westerly force 3 breeze providing pleasant conditions.

With the ebb tide holding competitors back, there was a clear start for what was planned to be a beat down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy, under the westerly wind.  However, as often seems the case with the evening sailing, the wind veered north-west as the start got underway, allowing the dinghies to fetch to the first mark.  Leading, from the line, was Robert Mitchell in his Laser, close by the Outer Distance Mark, with Andy Dunnett just windward of him in his Laser; the RS200 of John and Sarah Heath slightly behind and midway between the two Mitchell and Dunnett.  Closer to the shore was Ken Potts in his RS600, and then Rob Lockett in his Laser.  First round Eastcliff was Potts, followed by Lockett, showing that it paid-off to start near the Inner Distance Mark where the strong ebb tide was less of a problem.  A reach then ensued, to the AWS buoy where Potts tacked wide and headed up, now with the Heaths behind him.  At this point Dave Ingle capsized in his RS Aero, which turned out to be just one of three during his completion of the course.  With slight wind shifts, the third leg was a beat down to the Lilley Farm buoy but Potts stuck to his starboard tack, taking him into the ebbing tide but gaining clearer wind.  Unfortunately he capsized and lost time righting the 600.  Lockett, by now, had gained second place with the Heaths, immediately behind him, but the husband and wife pair tacked the wrong way round the mark and were disqualified, whilst Mitchell took his Laser to the brink of going over.  A little further back were Brian Allen, in his Laser, and Derroll Pedder in his Solo; both closing the gap on their rivals.  A broad reach up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, with the tide under the craft, didn’t take long but Potts lost time whilst in irons following his tack.  A beat back to the line saw Lockett in a strong first place, with Dunnett second and Potts third.  The wind then freshened but, with continued directional shifts, it started to turn the race into a bit of a procession.  The Heaths, once again, rounded the Lilley farm buoy incorrectly but this time Dunnett followed suit; resulting in him, too, being disqualified.  This helped both Carlo Bardetti in his Laser, and Simon Kedge in the Topaz, to move up the ranks, but nobody could threaten Lockett who sailed home to a convincing win. 
 
Results – Summer Series - 3:
1.    Laser – Rob Lockett
2.    RS600 – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Rob Mitchell