Clarke & Fowell Claim Victory in Their GP14

Gunfleet Sailing Club members revelled in the superb weather conditions last Sunday 11 June 2023 when they took part in the 3 in 1 race for the Hertford County Shield;  made up of three short back to back races with every result counting towards overall placings.  

In a force two to three east/north-easterly breeze Brian Allen had a good start, on starboard tack, out by the Outer Distance Mark, whist Simon Clarke and Dave Fowell were almost level pecking in their GP14 but closer inshore to gain some clear wind.  Allen immediately tacked out to sea to get full advantage of the ebb tide, and as the fleet beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy Paul Stanton in his Laser was busy trying to shake off Yvonne Gough, also in a Laser.  The fleet remained quite closely bunched on the broad reach to the AWS buoy but Peter Downer did pull away from Eddie White, both sailing Comets.  The third leg was a reach down to the ODM, and by now Clarke and Fowell had a reasonable lead, followed by Allen, Stanton, and then Dave Ingle in his RS Aero and Chris Maloney in his Solo.  A second beat up to Kingscliff followed before a run back to the line; the results, on handicap, being Clarke and Fowell first, Maloney second, and Stanton third.  In the second race, Allen once again got a cracking start, as did Clarke and Fowell, closely followed by Paul Jackson sailing his GP14 single handed.  Most craft were quick to head out to sea to gain the last of the ebb tide and there were some exciting tacking battles going on, with Allen making the windward mark first.  A little further back Finley Taylor, sailing his Topper, kept Ian Barker and Vince Crabtree at bay in their GP14.  At the end of the second leg Allen continued to lead the fleet and holds onto this, with Stanton ten seconds behind, but on handicap it was a second win for Clarke and Fowell.  The third and final race saw Ingle just behind the lead GP14 at the start, both inshore, whilst Gough and Allen stood out by the ODM.  By now the tide was starting to turn and flood, catching a few competitors out that tacked and headed out to sea; the wiser ones staying close to shore.  Whilst it was becoming clear which boat was to take top spot, there was a real battle for second place; Allen holding Stanton off despite the gap closing on the run back to the line.  

Results:
Hertford County Shield Overall:
1.    GP14 – Simon Clarke and Dave Fowell
2.    Laser – Brian Allen
3.    Laser – Paul Stanton