The 2025 Comet Nationals Provides Some Lively Sailing

Gunfleet Sailing Club hosted the Comet class dinghy 2025 National Championships, a three-day event attracting entries from as far afield as Liverpool, Bristol, Lyme Regis and Inverness.  Twenty nine boats took part in a very mixed bag of weather.

On the first day the competitors were confronted with a force 5 gusting 6 wind, from the south-west, which proved somewhat daunting to many of the visitors that had come from inland water clubs; the waves breaking quite aggressively on the shore.  For those not used to open sea sailing it was a baptism of fire as they launched and headed for the line, a squad of Gunfleet members acting as launchers and recovery.  In a closely bunched start, in squally conditions, it wasn’t very surprising that capsizes occurred early on, keeping the three Club Safety Boats busy ensuring everyone was alright; retirements soon followed.  Lead boats appeared quite early on, with Jack Daly, of Hampton Pier Yacht Club, making his presence felt and taking the winning gun.  In second place was Peter Coop of Winsford Flash Sailing Club, whilst Gunfleet’s Ken Potts came in third.

The wind abated just a little for the second race but a few competitors decided it was wiser to sit it out and watch the antics of the others.  Capsizes were less evident but a number of boats retired due to conditions, and for Coop it was a race to forget as, beating hard up the windward leg at the end of the first lap, he came inside the Inner Distance Mark and was disqualified.  Once again it was a win for Daly, Potts now second, and Nigel Austin of Cransley Sailing Club third.

On the second day the conditions looked a little bit brighter, with a slight moderation in wind strength and a gentler sea, but some five minutes after the start a squall blew through, touching a force 7, followed by a downpour of rain, before dropping to a force four.  The competitors did well to cope with this, and after that things settled down.  By now, risks were being taken as the boats tacked between the fishtail groynes; Daly catching his dagger board, causing mild damage, whilst Coop ceased every opportunity to gain first place, second going to Daly, whilst in third place was Ian Gore from Up River Yacht Club.  The second race saw winds gusting to force 6 at times, Coop taking first place, Potts second, and Ben Palmer of Baltic Wharf Sailing Club third.  The final race of the day saw Daly back on the water having carried out running repairs, and he showed his prowess by taking first place, Coop second and Potts third.

The third and final day sealed victory for Daly with two further wins, leaving no one in doubt that he was the 2025 Comet National Champion.

Comet National Championships:
1.    Jack Daly – Hampton Pier Yacht Club
2.    Peter Coop – Winsford Flash Sailing Club
3.    Ken Potts – Gunfleet Sailing Club