Dunnett Wins The Opening Race Of The Season

Gunfleet Sailing Club opened its 2022 sailing season this Sunday 27 March with the race for the March Hare Trophy.  There was no sign of the previous days’ sunshine, and a fresh force three, gusting four, north-easterly wind provided a distinct chill in the air, but this didn’t deter nine dinghies taking part in the event.  Six of the fleet were the Laser class and all but one helm decided to rig a full sail whilst odd-man out Andy Dunnett, having weighed-up the conditions, opted for his radial sail; a decision that paid dividends for him.

The boats reached up and down the line, as the clock ticked away and the preparatory flag signals flew from the yardarm, and all too soon they were off.  John Tappenden, sailing his RS Aero and having stayed close to the shore, sheeted in hard on port tack and headed out to sea, whilst Tim Dye, in his Laser, was at the far end of the line by the Outer Distance Mark; his tactic being to sail tight on starboard tack and force those on port to give way.  Unfortunately Dye’s plan failed to catch all his competitors as the fleet beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, the ebb tide under them.  Tappenden immediately carved himself a decent lead and was first to round the mark, followed by Paul Stanton in his Laser, then Dye, and just behind them came Dunnett.  The next leg was a lively broad reach out to the Seaward buoy with Brian Allen and Carlo Bardetti having their own tussle in their Lasers, still up with the leaders.  With the Seaward buoy being a gybe mark there were one or two very near capsizes, with Dye going all the way, but he soon had the boat up again and champing at the sterns of his nearest rivals.  There followed a closer reach to the AWS buoy, and a second gybe with a few more capsizes, before a run to Lilley Farm buoy; Dave Ingle rolling his RS Aero in what turned out to be the first of a few!  Meanwhile Tom Bartlett had taken his Laser past Bardetti as the boats then reached in to the Eastcliff mark before a beat back to the line.  At the end of the first lap Tappenden had the lead, followed by Dunnett and then Stanton; with Simon Clarke the first Solo to cross.  The second lap saw a few more capsizes and a couple of retirements, with Dunnett working particularly hard to nudge himself into the lead.  All eyes were then on the third lap but Tappenden got caught in a rather fluky wind-shift on the reach out to Seaward, capsizing unexpectedly and confirming Dunnett as the outright winner.

Results – March Hare Trophy:
1.    Laser Radial – Andy Dunnett
2.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
3.    Laser – Paul Stanton

The previous evening saw the celebration of the sailing season's start with the Fitting-Out Supper in the Clubhouse.  The traditional Fish & Chips Supper was enjoyed by all, with the members toasting an exciting eight months ahead.