Unsettled Conditions Fail To Spoil The Racing

The weather had an almost winter feel to it when Gunfleet Sailing Club held two races last Sunday 29 May 2022.  Dark skies and a cold northerly wind greeted the competitors as they rigged their boats, coupled with a smattering of light showers.  The dinghies in the medium and fast fleet were first away, in the race for the London Trophy, and John Tappenden lead the way up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, in his RS Aero, followed by father and son Andy and Jono Dunnett, both sailing Lasers; just behind them was the Laser of Robert Mitchell, and then Simon Clarke in his Solo.   As the fleet reached the first mark Dave Ingle capsized in his RS Aero, and having righted the boat found his feet involved in some knitting with all the ropes, whilst Chris Maloney found the rather vicious gusts just a bit too much and retired in his Solo.  Tappenden kept his lead on the reach out to the Seward buoy but found himself being overtaken on the beat back into shore, and then around the AWS mark.  Next was a run back out to Seaward before a second reach down to St, Michael’s buoy and finally a close hauled leg back to the line.  By now Tappenden had regained his lead and Jono had overtaken his father to be in second place, whilst Mitchell remained fourth.  On the second lap the wind veered slightly and began to fall away a little, allowing the Dunnetts to close the gap on Tappenden and take the top two spots on handicap.  Unfortunately some of those competitors further back, including Brian Allen who had chosen to race his Laser with a radial rig, found themselves almost becalmed.

Ten minutes after the start of the London Trophy it was the turn of the slower handicapped dinghies in their own race for the Potterers Pot.  Sticking close to the Inner Distance Mark was Malcolm Smith in his Comet, who made a clean start, closely followed by Yvonne Gough in her Laser 4.7.  First to find himself in trouble was Carlo Bardetti in his Laser 4.7, when the gooseneck came away from the mast, but the Club’s Rescue Boat was soon on the scene.  It wasn’t long before Eddie White found conditions just a little too lively and he retired back to shore.  With a smaller course to circumnavigate, Smith had Gough continuously snapping at his heels and then he took the wrong course and allowed Gough to take pole position.  However, after some good tactical sailing Smith regained first place and sailed home to victory.

Results – London Trophy:
1.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
2.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden

Results – Potterers Pot:
1.    Comet – Malcolm Smith
2.    Laser 4.7 – Yvonne Gough
All other entries Retired