Overall Victory to Clarke and Cossens in Egg and Bacon Series

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Cadets and Otters went afloat Saturday 14 June as part of the second Sail/Race Training in their SOS series.  Under instruction of the Club’s Sailing Secretary Paul Davis the 405’s, Lasers, Toppers and Topazes learnt how to use the tide to their advantage, and how to ensure they steered a straight course when laying a mark.  This advanced course attracted some 10 boats whilst a “ducklings” course for the novices saw a further five Toppers and Topazes learning the basics of sailing.  Following straight on was the Gunfleet's annual Crabbing Contest.  Some 50 members took part, following a meal of sausage and mash, and there were prizes given out to the largest, smallest, most caught, and even one for the crab with the funniest walk!

 

The next day Gunfleet Sailing Club’s second and final race in its Egg and Bacon Series was held with 15 boats taking part.  The northerly wind gusted to force four at times and the sky was full of grey cloud, setting a fairly bleak scene for the competitors.  The first leg was a beat to the Kingscliff buoy and by starting at the shore end of the line it was possible, in most cases, to make the mark in one tack.   There then followed a run out to Seaward before a beat into the AWS buoy.  The largest fleet was the Laser and it seemed that the leading craft were inseparable; Andy Dunnett and Paul Stanton being absolutely neck and neck. Also hot on their heels was Yvonne Gough whilst slightly further back amongst the latter Lasers was Peter Downer in his Comet.  Despite the slower handicap of the Comet, Downers steely determination and sheer skill were evident as he pushed his boat to its maximum.  Once round the AWS buoy it was a reach down the coast to the St. Michael’s mark before a beat back through the line.  At the slow handicap end of the fleet there was a real tussle between Cadets Harry Swinbourne and Max Bates, both sailing Toppers with Swinbourne taking the lead as the race progressed.  Aaron Baker was the only competitor to capsize during the event, not once but three times, righting the boat within seconds and losing very little time in the whole process.  As the boats completed the first lap it was Paul Davis and Beth Ford in first place in their RS 400 with John Tappenden second in his Blaze and Ken Potts third in his RS 600.  The second lap, however, saw some changes in fortune, and places moved around as the wind freshened.  Potts got in a muddle with his buoys whilst Stanton not only broke away from Dunnett, but went on to push his way into second place on handicap.  Similarly Tappenden nudged his way up to the top spot but failed to gain victory in the series overall.  Having worked hard throughout the race the competitors then sat down in the Clubhouse to enjoy a hearty breakfast.

 

 

 

The previous Wednesday evening was idyllic in almost all ways, with blue skies and sunshine, but unfortunately a sailor’s wind was lacking; this latter point failing to deter the fifteen competitors from taking part.  The Officer Of the day wisely set a small course and, with the flood tide under them, the boats reached down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy before heading out to sea, close hauled.  All the time the wind was getting lighter and whilst the run into the AWS buoy caused no problems the beat back out to the Seaward mark was painfully slow.  Fortunately the faster handicapped boats managed to cheat the tide but the slower handicapped ones really were at a standstill; subsequently cutting their losses and retiring back to the shore.  For those helms that continued there was relief to see the shorten course flag hanging limply from the yardarm as they rounded the Kingscliff buoy.