Cruise Blown Off But Wednesday's A Winner

The strong winds last Saturday 28 May prevented the members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club from taking part in what was planned to be the first cruise of the season; up the coast to Walton, and the even stronger gale force winds on Sunday forced the postponement of the race for the Jubilee Cup.  However on Bank Holiday Monday, with the return of lighter airs, a number of sailors took to the water whilst a group of members currently undergoing Rescue Boat training had the chance to put theory into practice; taking the Club’s RIB out to sea under the watchful eye of an experienced helm.

The previous Wednesday evening saw the start of After School Sailing for the Cadets and Otters as well as racing in the Summer Series, open to all members.  Some eighteen boats launched at the top of the tide in a force two to three south/south easterly wind.  Slightly too eager to get going was Mark Venables in his Solution and seconds before the start he had already crossed the line, but immediately realising his mistake he returned to correct the error and remained in amongst the thick of the fleet.  With a freshly ebbing tide the boats didn’t take long to reach up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and then, close hauled, they made their way out to the Seaward mark.  This was followed by a run into shore and the AWS buoy before a beat back out to sea.  It was this last leg that started to split the fleet up and saw John Tappenden pull away in his Blaze.  There then followed some more reaches, this time down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy, before returning back to the line to complete the first lap.  Tappenden had by now marked out a clear lead with Ken Potts second in his RS600 and Kelvin Morton third, also in an RS600.  Shortly after came Simon Clarke in his Solution with Venables only a few seconds behind him.  Derroll Pedder, having suffered some technical problems in his Vortex had allowed Simon Mathewson, also in a Vortex, to come halfway up the fleet.

On the second lap, as the wind freshened a little, Potts suffered some gear failure and dropped back whilst Morton thrived on the conditions and romped around the course; but not quite fast enough to take first place.
 
Results: Summer Series 1
1. Blaze – John Tappenden
2. RS600 – Kelvin Morton
3. Solution – Simon Clarke