Ken Continues His Winning Streak

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s Ken Potts took the winning gun in his Laser when taking part in race five of the Tony Chadd Trophy Series.

This series of races is held in the evening and it was a gloomy and overcast backdrop that greeted the competitors, along with a steady force 4 southerly breeze.  This didn’t deter the sailors who cautiously worked their way to the line, being held back by the last of the ebb tide.  It was Potts that immediately pushed ahead at the start, followed by Andy Dunnet in his Laser, and then the GP14 of Michael Gutteridge and Derroll Pedder.  The whole fleet headed down the coast, to the Eastcliff buoy, on port tack in an effort to stay close to the shore and dodge the negative effect of the tide.  After hopping around the fish tail groynes it was Potts that started to really establish his lead, sailing tight around the first mark; the whole fleet then enjoying the reach out to the Seaward buoy.  The third leg was a run up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and this gave the chance for the GP14 to hoist its spinnaker and gain some extra speed, closing the gap on Yvonne Gough in her Laser.  Between Seaward and Kingscliff came the inevitable gybe but this manoeuvre was handled well by the helms and no capsizing occurred.  Having rounded Kingscliff it was a beat back out to Seaward, but ensuring that the AWS buoy was taken to port en-route, and then a second run to Kingscliff, with still every competitor remaining dry on the gybe.  The final leg was a beat back through the line and it was clear, after the first lap, that Potts was sitting in a very comfortable position.  Further back it was the turn of Eddie White to put some pressure on Gough, in his Laser, but it appeared to be a bit too little and a bit too late.  As the sailors took on the second lap it was pleasing to see that the gap between the boats was closing, and it was evident that lessons had been learnt first time round; all but Potts recording a faster time.  However it was insufficient to change the top position with Potts putting another win under his belt.

Results:  Tony Chadd Trophy - 5
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
3.    Laser – Yvonne Gough

Course Board
Date 5 June 2019
Race Tony Chadd Trophy - 5
Start Time 19:00
Wind Strength (Beaufort) Force 4
Wind Direction Southerly
High Tide 14:06
Course E - S - K - AWS - S - K - Line