Strong Tide and Light Winds Keep Helms on their Toes

The Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second race in its Autumn Series on Sunday 21 September in sunshine and a light easterly wind. Fighting a strong flood tide eleven boats headed up to the Kingscliff buoy, tacking close to the shore to minimise its impact, and once safely around the fleet headed out to the Seaward mark on a reach. One or two competitors found themselves being swept past the buoy and lost time putting in a small tack in order to successfully round it. There then followed a gentle run down to the Eastcliff buoy before a long slog back out to the Seaward buoy, back round Eastcliff and through the line. At the end of the first lap Simon Clarke was leading in his Solution with Ken Potts second in his RS600. However, on the second lap Potts hit the Seaward buoy and lost time carrying out a 360 degree penalty. Also making a mistake on the second lap was Eddie White who sailed his Solution to the wrong mark, and by the time he realised his error had dropped back a number of places. Yvonne Gough lead the Lasers throughout the race although hot on her heels was Paul Stanton, but despite all efforts he was unable to overtake her.

Clarke continued to lead at the end of the second lap but with a freshening wind it was John Tappenden on the third lap who just slipped ahead in his Vortex to take the winning gun.

Results:

Autumn Series 2:
1. Vortex – John Tappenden
2. Solution – Simon Clarke
3. RS600 – Ken Potts