Andy's Son Sets-Off Sailing Around Britain
The Club is presently closed to sailing whilst the Clacton/Holland Coast Protection Scheme is underway directly in front of Gunfleet. However, short-term pain....long-term gain as it won’t be long before we are back on the water, nestled in a superb bay with wonderful beaches; allowing Club members to sail at all states of the tide. During this “down-time” the actual Club is still open and it provides a superb opportunity for members to work on their boats.
On Sunday 7 June former Gunfleet Sailing Club member Jono Dunnett, who learnt to sail at the Club in Toppers back in the 1980’s, set off for a Round Britain Windsurf using Clacton Pier as his starting line. Several Club members, along with friends and family, were there to see Jono depart, with a light offshore breeze and calm sea to ease him in gently. His first stop was Southend, and then along the Kent coast before heading past Sussex, with Cornwall to follow, but it’s the wild and rugged coast of Scotland that will prove the most challenging.
And if the sail itself is not going to be gruelling enough Jono has set himself the challenge of completing the mission without the usual support team; so he really will be all alone as he takes on what Mother Nature decides to throw at him during the next three months. This is the time he thinks it will take him to circumnavigate Great Britain and we certainly all wish him the very best of luck.
As well as being a fantastic achievement his solo sail will raise money for two charities:
· Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund – A charity that funds research in and support for those affected by pancreatic cancer, and
· Supporting Tanzanian Orphans and Widows – a charity that enables Tanzanian orphans to go to school and assists widows with business start-up loans.
To follow Jono’s progress go to his website at:
http://windsurfroundbritain.co.uk/
For info it was Jono that built the Gunfleet Sailing Club’s brilliant website; thanks to his time and patience. We look forward to cheering him back through the finish line, at Clacton Pier, in three months time, by which time we hope we might have our wonderful new beach in full operation.
