Thirty-Three Mile An Hour Winds Hit Racing Fleet

Sunday, June 17, 2012 - 20:51

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its Long Distance Race for the Jim Suckling Trophy last Sunday afternoon 17 June when ten boats took part.  Earlier in the day there had been strong winds but, in line with the forecast, these had abated and by the time the race got underway it was a light force two southerly wind.  The craft headed down the coast to the Pier buoy, staying close to the shore to mitigate the strong ebbing spring tide.  As the fleet worked its way towards Clacton Pier so the breeze freshened, helping the craft on their way and, having rounded the mark the boats then went around the pier and continued to the Watersports buoy off Martello Bay before reaching back up the coast and on to Holland Haven.  Unfortunately the wind then continued to pick-up and the sea began to build, providing lively conditions for the competitors.  Barry Peters and Darcie Baker, in their Comet Duo, capsized, righted the boat, capsized again, and became separated from their craft.  The Club’s main Rescue Boat went to assist the two just as Bethany Ford, in a Topaz, capsized at the Seaward buoy and she struggled to right the boat.  Gunfleet’s second Rescue Boat was soon alongside her but this left the other craft very much on their own as they headed towards the Haven Outfall buoy.  Eddie White capsized in his Solution up at the Haven and Clacton Sailing Club’s Rescue Boat went to his assistance but the Club’s two Cadets, Conor and Finlay Williams, capsized their Hobie 405 and found themselves being swept towards Frinton.  Because of the deteriorating conditions, by now gusting to the top of a force 7, Clacton’s Inshore Lifeboat was launched and brought the two boys safely back to the shore, Gunfleet’s main Rescue Boat retrieving their dinghy.  The Club would like to thank both Clacton Lifeboat and Clacton Sailing Club for their assistance during these unexpected conditions.

 
The remainder of the fleet completed the race, which had been shortened to one lap due to the deteriorating weather, with Ken Potts taking the winning gun in his RS600.  He was followed by Yvonne Gough in her Laser who had wisely chosen a smaller sail to compete in the race.
 
Results: Jim Suckling Long Distance Trophy:
1. RS600 – Ken Potts
2. Laser – Yvonne Gough
3. Contender – Simon Clarke
 
The previous Wednesday evening a pleasant onshore breeze greeted the twelve entries for Gunfleet’s third race in its Summer Series.  Such was the enthusiasm of the competitors that a number of them jumped the line at the start and the Race Officer had no alternative but to signal a general recall.  On the second attempt the boats were away and they soon reached up to the Kingscliff buoy under a freshly ebbing tide before fetching back to the AWS mark and beating out to the Seaward buoy.  There then followed a long leg to St. Michael’s buoy before a reach back through the line.  At the end of the first lap, on handicap, there was nothing in it between Potts and John Tappenden, sailing a Blaze, but on completion of the second lap it was Potts that had pulled ahead.
 
Results: Summer Series 3:
1. RS600 – Ken Potts
2. Blaze – John Tappenden
3. RS600 – Kelvin Morton
 
Ken Potts on the wire of his RS600 at the start of the race for the Jim Suckling Trophy