Big Seas + Strong Winds = Great Racing

Members of Gunfleet Sailing Club enjoyed lively conditions when they took part in the race for the Fleet Championship on Sunday 7 September which, as well as determining the individual winner etc., also determined whether the RS Aero or Laser was in fact the top fleet in the Club.

A force 5, gusting 6, east/south-easterly wind meant reduced rigs for the competitors, but of greater concern was launching into the very large waves.  With the help of a shore crew the boats were soon afloat and determining how best to clear the line and stay ahead of the opposition.  In the last hour of the flood tide it was Jono Dunnett that led the fleet in his Laser, followed closely by Tim Dye and then Brian Allen, both in RS Aeros, but within seconds Ken Potts, also in an RS Aero, steamed past Allen and then Dye, leeward of them.  The first leg was close hauled up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy and Potts, by now, had overtaken Dunnett and rounded it first; Dunnett second, Dye third, and then Simon Clarke fourth in a Topaz.  The second leg was a screaming reach back down the coast and out to the Lilley Farm mark, the helms just loving every minute of it.  Following Clarke was Adam Kedge in his Laser, with Ella Langfeldt catching him fast in her RS Aero; in fact when they reached Lilley Farm the two boats were neck and neck.  As the leading boats rounded Lilley Farm so both Potts and Dunnett hardened up and headed out to sea for the third leg, which was a beat out to the Seaward buoy.  Dye, on the other hand, immediately tacked and headed back up the coast with the aim of reducing the negative effect of the adverse tide and so gain valuable seconds on his rivals.  Whilst the theory made absolute sense it was difficult to judge if, in practice, it had gained him anything.  Potts continuing to open up his lead on the very broad reach from Seaward to the AWS buoy and then it was a gybe before another reach, this time to Eastcliff.  Clarke, who had driven his Topaz hard, unfortunately messed up his gybe and dropped back, allowing Adam Kedge to slip past, as well as Pedder who was now in front of Langfeldt.   A second gybe round Eastcliff then saw the boats beat back to the line and at the end of the first lap it was Potts, Dunnett, and then Dye on handicap.  On the second lap both Allen’s Aero and Simon Kedge’s Laser capsized at Eastcliff, but after that things settled for the third lap; the three top places remaining unchanged.  

And when the results were all calculated they identified that Team RS Aero beat the Lasers by a very narrow margin.

Fleet Championship:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
3.    RS Aero – Tim Dye