Dye Takes Convincing Win In First Of Summer Series

The Wednesday evening Summer Series arrived at Gunfleet Sailing Club on 19 June 2024 and, whilst the sun was out, a stiff force 4 to 6 north-easterly wind resulted in several white-caps on a choppy north-sea.

It was Tim Dye that led the fleet across the start line, in his Laser, followed, neck and neck, by Derroll Pedder in his RS Aero and Tom Bartlett in his Topaz.  The first leg was a beat up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and everyone stayed close to the shore to mitigate the effect of the flood tide, having to work hard in the sudden gusts.  Dye was first around the windward mark and then his Laser simply shot out to the Seaward buoy, the tide now accelerating his craft.  Further back, the Toppers were battling it out; Adam Kedge pulling away from Finley Taylor.  Capsizes were “a plenty”; Bartlett doing just that as he rounded Kingscliff, and as Andy Dunnett gybed at the Seaward mark so he capsized and turtled his Laser.  The third leg proved to be a screaming reach in to the AWS buoy before a second beat up to Kingscliff and then a lively run down to the Eastcliff buoy; the latter leg causing further capsizes.  However, whenever someone went over, the Club’s Rescue Boat was on the scene and keeping a watchful eye on the situation.  After a number of capsizes, Dunnett decided to call it a day and headed back to the beach; tempted, no doubt, by the aroma of bacon baps being cooked in the Clubhouse!  Finally, for the rest of the fleet,  it was a beat back to the line.  On the second lap, Pedder closed the gap but not sufficient to threaten Dye who romped home to a resounding victory, having stayed upright, although certainly not dry, throughout the race.

Results – Summer Series - 1:
1.    Laser – Tim Dye
2.    Topaz – Tom Bartlett
3.    RS Aero – Derroll Pedder