Clarke Versus Davis - But Who Will Finally Win?

Things are really starting to hot-up in the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Winter Series with a real battle for overall victory between Simon Clarke and Paul Davis, both sailing Solution dinghies. With just a whisker between the top two places after four races all eyes were on these two sailors as the fifth race in the series got underway last Sunday 21 November.  At the start the two boats were neck and neck but on the reach to the Kingscliff buoy Davis pulled ahead, managing to widen the gap on the next leg - a run to the Seaward mark.  However, on the beat back to Kingscliff different tactics were tried resulting in Clarke slipping ahead.  Just slightly behind, and determined not to give either of them victory on a plate, Andy Dunnett drove his Laser hard in the force two to three northerly wind.  Less fortunate was Matt Downing in an RS600 who, having capsized a few times, decided to retire back to the shore; but this was only after he had managed to smack his mouth on the mainsheet tower as the boat flipped once more.

Slightly further behind the front runners were Yvonne Gough and Eddie White, sailing a Laser and Solution respectively, but neither managed to be a real threat to the front runners.  After the first lap Clarke had a modest lead and whilst at times during the second lap he appeared to be under threat, by the time he was reaching back to the finish line from the St. Michael’s buoy it was evident he had sufficient lead to ensure a clear victory.  With just two races left in the series there still remains uncertainty as to a clear overall winner and both competitors and spectators must wait until Race 6 to see whether the outcome will possibly be any clearer.
 
Results – Winter Series 5:
1. Solution – Simon Clarke
2. Solution – Paul Davis
3. Laser – Andy Dunnett