Gunfleet Members Cruise Back To Napoleonic Days

 

On Sunday afternoon 20 May thirteen boats took part in Gunfleet’s race for the Hertford County Shield.  A northerly force three, gusting four, wind blew over the cliffs and across the sea causing capsizes even before the start; Team Williams, in their Hobie 405, going over three times but quickly righting the craft and speeding off again.  As the class flag fell from the yardarm, signalling the start of the race, it was the Topper of Robert Gutteridge, Charlie and Harry Spence in their Topaz, and the 405 that lead the fleet – all the crews being Cadets.  With the wind veering in direction, and altering in strength, it kept the competitors on their toes and the first leg, to the Kingscliff buoy, which proved quite a tricky beat.  First to incur a problem was Aaron Baker in his Topaz after he capsized and turtled the boat, requiring Rescue Boat assistance, and he subsequently retired back to shore.  Once around the Kingscliff mark it was a run to the Seaward buoy followed by a gybe and then a fetch to the AWS mark.  At this point Gutteridge capsized and he too retired, whilst his rival Ben Richardson, also in a Topper, pulled away.  Having successfully rounded AWS it was a second beat to the Kingscliff buoy, back offshore and then a reach to the St, Michael’s buoy before a close-hauled leg back through the line.  At the end of the first lap Ken Potts had built-up a significant lead with Paul Davis second in his Solution and Paul Stanton third in his Laser; although Andy Dunnett, also in a Laser, was just seconds behind.  However, on the second lap Dunnett capsized at the Kingscliff buoy and so allowed Stanton to strengthen his third position.