GUNFLEET Sailing Club members took part in the race for its oldest trophy, the Tee Dee Challenge Cup.

Ken Potts claimed victory, in his Laser.

From the shore, the sea was flat and the sun shone, but the wind was variable, both in direction and strength.

One minute it was a west/south-westerly breeze and the next there was a strong gust from the west/north-west.

The conditions certainly kept the competitors on their toes as they set off, following a clean start, on a close haul down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy.

The strong ebbing tide slowed the boats down.

The next leg was a reach to the AWS buoy but, unfortunately, Andy Dunnett took the wrong course in his Laser and started to head out to sea. By the time he realised his error, he had dropped back considerably.

Having rounded AWS, it was then out to the Seaward mark before beating down to St Michael’s buoy and taking a speedy broad reach up to Kingscliff.

This latter leg gave the opportunity for Dave Fowell and Derroll Pedder, in the GP 14, to fly their spinnaker.

A frustrated Tom and Ed Philpot retired early-on in their 405 with mainsail problems, while Potts soon carved out a good lead in his Laser.

As the boats beat back to the line to complete the first lap, it looked like the winner would be a foregone conclusion. Eddie White had his new race sail up on his Topaz but he, along with Yvonne Gough in her Laser, were finding the sudden gusts quite a handful.

Peter Downer, on the other hand, took the whole thing in his stride in his Comet and, on handicap, was challenging the many Lasers.

On the penultimate leg of the second and final lap, John Tappenden managed to catch-up with, and pull ahead of, Potts in his Laser.

As the two boats rounded the Kingscliff buoy, Tappenden seemed to be in a strong position.

However, Potts just sheeted in and beat tight on starboard tack while Tappenden put in a tack and headed towards the shore, in theory gaining an advantage from the weaker, adverse tide.

Unfortunately, being under the shadow of the cliffs, there was a reduction in wind and Tappenden could only watch as Potts romped home.

Results – Tee Dee Challenge Cup: 1 Laser – Ken Potts, 2 Laser – John Tappenden, 3 Laser – Paul Stanton.