Ken Claims The Top Spot

Gunfleet Sailing Club’s fifth race in its Winter Series, held on Sunday 16 November, saw a convincing win for Ken Potts in his RS Aero.

A fresh force four northerly wind warned the competitors of gusty conditions as they rigged-up on the beach; the question being which size sail to use to maximise performance whilst not being under or over powered.  The craft were closely bunched at the start and headed up the coast, on a fetch, to the Kingscliff buoy; the Lasers of Andy Dunnett and Adam Kedge leading the way.  However, Potts soon had his RS Aero sandwiched between them and managed to use the gusts to pull ahead, establishing a lead that just continued to grow.  Bearing away round the first mark it was then a run out to the Seaward buoy and the need to determine when to gybe; unfortunately Kedge mistimed it and, getting the downhaul caught in the mainsheet block, promptly capsized.  He wasted little time in righting his Laser and was soon back in the thick of things.  Meanwhile Derroll Pedder had trouble with the sail of his RS Aero when the halyard came away from the cleat and required some out at sea maintenance.  He too capsized but also took little time in getting his boat upright and on its way.  Once round Seaward it was a beat back to the Kingscliff buoy and, at this point, Finley Taylor had his Topper going like a train, being not far behind the Aeros.  A second short run out to the Preston Park buoy was followed by an exhilarating reach down the coast to the Eastcliff mark before a close haul back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was very evident that Potts had a healthy lead with Dunnett in second place, having taken the opportunity to overtake Kedge when he capsized.  The second lap saw Pedder capsize again but otherwise was uneventful, whilst the third and final lap saw more problems for Pedder; once again he capsized, this time taking a little longer to right his Aero, and then he found his daggerboard was stuck in its case and this prevented him adjusting it to the wind direction.  All in all it was clearly not going to be his race, and only to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.  Meanwhile Kedge worked hard to close the gap on Dunnett but was unable to get in front of him whilst Potts romped home to victory.

Winter Series - 5:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Andy Dunnett
3.    Laser – Adam Kedge