Sailors Brave The Squall In Class Points Race

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the third race in its Class Points Series, on Bank-Holiday Monday 27 May 2024,, with each class of dinghy having its own start time, course and, on completion of the series, trophy.

The weather continued unsettled but it didn’t deter 16 members taking part.  In a force 4 to 5 south-westerly wind, first away were the RS Aeros, Brian Allen leading the fleet with his 7 sail.  Martin Chivers found himself on the wrong side of the line, with his 5 sail, but hastily corrected himself and kept ahead of Derroll Pedder and Dave Ingle as they all tacked down the coast to the St Michael’s buoy.  The Lasers were the next to start and, with the exception of Yvonne Gough who had a 4.7 sail, the fleet were sporting radial rigs.  Robert Mitchell lead, with Andy Dunnett, Tim Dye and then Paul Stanton all huddled behind him, and it wasn’t long before places started changing as they made for the Eastcliff buoy.  Last away were the Toppers, all helms wisely having rigged their 4.2 sails; Adam Kedge took an early lead but just as he reached the Eastcliff buoy he capsized, losing him time but not his position; second being Finley Taylor and third Belle Hart.

As the RS Aeros rounded their windward mark it was still Allen out in front, Pedder now in second place, with his 7 sail, then Chivers, followed by Ingle with his 5 rig, but at the end of the long reach to the Seaward buoy, Allen capsized, allowing Pedder to claim top spot, whilst on the reach into the AWS buoy, and back out to Seaward, there was a further capsize for Allen, and one for Ingle; the Club’s Rescue Boat wisely sitting close to the offshore gybe mark to ensure everyone was safe.  Meanwhile, in the Laser fleet, it was Dye that rounded the windward mark first, with Dunnett second and Mitchell third, but places were to continue changing with each leg of the course.  The Lasers broad reached out to the Seaward buoy before gybing and heading into the AWS mark, beating to Lilley Farm buoy and running to the Kingscliff mark, finally beating back to the line.  Although Dye had led for much of the first lap, it was Dunnett that rounded the Kingscliff buoy first, but by the time the Lasers crossed the line, marking the end of the first lap, it was Mitchell that was now in front, followed by Dunnett, Stanton, Dye, and then Gough.  The Toppers kept the same positions throughout their race.

Unexpectedly a vicious squall of 35 mph suddenly blew through on the second lap, causing most of the boats to capsize.  This incident certainly kept the Rescue Boat on its toes, picking up crews that had parted from their craft, but everyone safely returned to shore and there was no damage to the boats or the competitors.
 
Results – Class Racing - 3

RS Aero:
1.    Martin Chivers
2.    Derroll Pedder
3.    Dave Ingle

Laser:
1.    Tim Dye
2.    Andy Dunnett
The rest of the fleet retired

Topper:
1.    Adam Kedge
2.    Finley Taylor
3.    Belle Hart