Reports 2022

Gunfleet Sailing Club held one of its 3 in 1 races, for the Tee Dee Trophy on Sunday 7 August, in what proved to be almost perfect conditions - a force three to four south/south-westerly wind, backing southerly during the event.

Fine weather greeted the competitors of Gunfleet Sailing Club when they entered the final race in the 2022 Summer Series on Wednesday evening 3 August.  The winner of this was Ken Potts in his Laser, but overall victory for the whole series, which attracted nineteen dinghies, went to John Tappenden in his RS Aero.

The penultimate race in the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s evening Summer Series saw another win for John Tappenden in his RS Aero.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the fourth and fifth race in its Summer Series, amidst variable conditions, and concluded by leaving the series still open to anyone to win overall.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its Diamond Jubilee Regatta, sponsored by Orsted Energy, and Odiin Recruitment, over the weekend of 16 & 17 July, a full two-day event, amidst unbroken sunshine and a freshening onshore breeze.  The Club saw more than thirty craft take part with visiting sailors making the most of the fine weather.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held a race with a difference on Sunday 10 July when its Fleet Championship was also divided into four teams of sailors, randomly selected, to provide team racing.

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.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second race in its evening Summer Series on Wednesday 29 June and, after a very closely fought battle, it was John Tappenden that sailed his RS Aero to victory.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its pursuit race “The Chase” on Sunday 3 July when it was joined by several catamarans from neighbouring Clacton Sailing Club.

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the first race in its evening Summer Series last Wednesday 22 June and welcomed fourteen boats onto the water.  Weather conditions were almost ideal with a force three East/North-easterly wind, blue skies, and the end of the day’s sunshine.

A very strange weather pattern lead to a frustrating race for members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club on Sunday 19 June.

Gunfleet Sailing Club members enjoyed glorious weather conditions on Wednesday evening, 15 June, when the final race in the series for the Tony Chadd Trophy was held; a pleasant force two to three easterly wind complimenting the sinking sun.  On a closely bunched line it was Simon Clarke in his Solo who timed it just right as he hardened up, by the Outer Distance Mark, and headed close hauled up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy.  But he wasn’t alone, and sitting just on his leeward side was Brian Allen in his Laser, very closely followed by a cluster of dinghies.

The single helm race at Gunfleet Sailing Club, for the Toppo Trophy, saw the Laser class take the top three places, and victory going to Ken Potts.

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s midweek racing continued, on the evening of Wednesday 8 June, under a mix of weather conditions.  As the competitors rigged-up a squall blew through, resulting in a few Laser sailors changing rigs to give themselves slightly less sail area to handle.  Following a few spots of rain the sailors launched against a rainbow backdrop and felt the full impact of the gusting westerly wind.  First to capsize was Brian Allen in his Laser and this turned out to be the first of many on his part, but he wasn’t alone.

The weather on Sunday 5 June appeared unsettled but the forecast reassured members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club that the wind would ease down as the day went on.  The grey skies certainly did not deter entries for the third set of races in the Class Points Series.