Dave Takes His RS Aero To Victory

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the second Personal PY Handicap Race and, after a hard-fought battle in testing conditions, Dave Ingle claimed first place in his RS Aero.

The forecast had predicted strong winds so the force 5 south/south-westerly that was blowing was lighter than expected but all those boats, that could be, were rigged down.  Fifteen dinghies hovered around the start line and as the race got underway the majority headed down the coast, close hauled on port tack, heading for the St. Michael’s buoy.  Ingle led the way, with Adam Kedge and Yvonne Gough, both in Lasers, close behind.  Meanwhile, a few competitors headed out to sea on starboard, banking on the freshly flooding tide giving them an extra lift; Ella Langfeldt’s RS Aero leading, with the Topaz of Tom Bartlett and the RS Aero of Tim Dye following.  As the boats drew close to the windward mark so the wind backed southerly, making life a little easier for those following the shoreline.  Simon Clarke was first round the buoy in his Contender and was soon broad reaching back to the Eastcliff mark, whilst Jono Dunnett, having returned from windsurfing around Japan, took his Laser into second place; father, Andy Dunnett, just behind in his Laser and then Robert Gutteridge in his RS Aero.  By the time the competitors rounded Eastcliff, Langfeldt had overtaken Gutteridge who was holding back Dye’s.  The third leg was a closer reach out to the Seaward buoy followed by a gybe, and then a run into the AWS mark.  Clarke was pulling away all the time whilst Jono Dunnett maintained his second position.  Belle Hart capsized rounding AWS but was quick to right her Topper, by which time Finley Taylor, also sailing a Topper, had opened up a sizeable gap. It was then back out to Seaward on a beat and with clever tactics, Dye now moved up behind Jono.  The penultimate leg was another very broad reach to the Kingscliff buoy before sheeting hard in and heading back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it looked as though Simon Kedge was in a strong position to win the race, based on his personal handicap, but unfortunately he went through the line on the wrong side of the Outer Distance Mark and was disqualified.  On the second lap, having gained an impressive lead on the water, Clarke capsized and lost his rudder; the Club’s Safety Boat recovered it but, in handing it back to him, put Clarke out of the race;  by this time the wind was touching force 6 and Jono Dunnett also capsized, on the run from Seaward to AWS, allowing Dye to lead the way.  However, the biggest excitement was when Gutteridge, who had been closing the gap on Langfeldt throughout the second lap, drew level with her just yards from the finish, and then slipped his bow just in front as they both crossed the line.    

Personal PY 2 Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – Dave Ingle
2.    RS Aero – Brian Allen
3.    RS Aero – Robert Gutteridge