Testing Conditions For Coronation Trophy

The elements appeared to be anything but kind to the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club on Sunday 4 May 2025 when they took part in the race for the Coronation Trophy.  A chilly northerly wind faced the competitors as they rigged up their boats, coupled with a grey and overcast sky; gust shadows blowing across the water.

At the start it was Andy Dunnett who lead the way in his Laser, as the dinghies fetched up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, but it wasn’t long before Ken Potts had passed him, to windward, in his RS Aero.  Clare Giles was second away from the line and had prudently positioned her Europe close to the Inner Distance Mark in order to ensure a more speedy reach.  As Kingscliff was rounded it was Potts in the lead, Simon Clarke second in his Europe, Giles third, and John and Sarah Heath fourth in their RS200; the Heaths immediately hoisting their asymmetric spinnaker, so overtaking Giles and putting the pressure on Clarke as the fleet gained the first of the flood tide to head back to the AWS buoy.  The third leg was a run out to the Seaward mark before a beat back in to the Preston Park buoy.  Whilst nearly everyone just hardened-up when rounding the offshore buoy, to then beat parallel to the coast, Clarke tacked and broke away from the pack, followed a little later by Giles.  This move didn’t seem to pay off although it did give them both clean wind; by now the Heaths were just behind Potts, whilst Dunnett capsized his Laser which allowed several boats to pass him.  As Preston Park was rounded, Derroll Pedder touched the mark in his RS Aero, did a 360 degree penalty turn which actually took him back round the buoy, whilst Dave Ingle, also touched the buoy in an RS Aero and then capsized.  A broad reach to Lilley Farm buoy, in freshening winds, provided the chance for the boats to lift their bows and experience some really exhilarating sailing before a beat into Eastcliff, at which point Giles capsized.  As the boats fetched back to the line it was Potts first, Clarke second, and the Heaths third, but on the second lap, positions changed, with the Heaths taking the lead, on the water, from Potts.  Giles capsized, for a second time, on the same leg from Lilley Farm to Eastcliff, and Pedder fell out his boat when there was a sudden wind shift coupled with a lull.  On the third lap the wind then veered north-easterly and a rain squall blew through, and all credit goes to Cadet Finley Taylor who handled his Topper with great skill to smoothly take advantage of conditions.  The squall went almost as quickly as it came and what followed was a complete lack of breeze, leaving a few competitors in the doldrums.

Coronation Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    RS200 – John and Sarah Heath
3.    Europe – Simon Clarke