GUNFLEET Sailing Club held its Regatta Weekend with some great sailing spread over two days.

The event, sponsored by Discount Windows and Conservatories, kicked off with Cadet Day with 11 boats taking part in the morning race.

Conditions were lively and capsizes came thick and fast.

The first leg, a beat up to the Kingscliff buoy saw Robert Gutteridge take an early lead in his Laser, with Harry Swinbourne, also in a Laser, chasing hard after him.

The two 405’s made a fine sight with Beth Elliott and Harry Spence driving their boat to its full, whilst Tom and Ed Philpot retired as the wind started gusting force six.

In the Topazes Harrison Smith and Alfie Searle capsized several times, often turtling the boat, but each time they got it upright and carried on with steely determination.

Nick and Francesca Cottee retired, as did Maddie Corbett and Daisy Swinbourne but in the latter case it was due to a broken mast.

Abigail Hayes was forced to retire when the boom on her Topper broke, leaving Robbie Jay and Ted Newson to battle it out, Jay being the first Topper home.

Shona Goodchild and Alex Corbett were the first Topaz to finish.

Results – Cadet Day Trophy: 1. Laser – Robert Gutteridge; 2. Topper – Robbie Jay; 3. Topaz – Shona Goodchild and Alex Corbett.

On Sunday the club welcomed visiting competitors from both Brightlingsea and Clacton Sailing Clubs to the Gunfleet’s race day.

The wind was a force four to five south westerly which freshened as the morning went on.

In an impressive start, the Lasers of Ken Potts and John Tappenden sailed absolutely neck and neck.

James Stacey and S Curtis in their Spitfire catamaran just tore past everyone else as they headed down the coast, on a beat, to St. Michael’s buoy.

Robert Mitchell pushed his Dart 16 to its limit and overtook the Hurricane and the Dart 18, the latter having to retire due to rudder problems.

In the slow handicap fleet it was great to see a real battle going on between the Pico, Topaz, and Topper classes, Steve and Daisy Swinbourne leading the pack.

Results – RNLI Charity Shield: 1. Dart 16 – Robert Mitchell – Clacton Sailing Club; 2. Spitfire – James Stacey and S Curtis – Brightlingsea Sailing Club; 3. Laser – Ken Potts – Gunfleet Sailing Club; First Cadet Home: James Stacey.

As the afternoon Class Racing commenced a squall hit the competitors.

But it didn’t stop the more experienced crew from lapping-up the winds that, at one time, hit 33 miles per hour.

Class Racing Winners: Catamarans – Hurricane: Larry and James Foxon; Lasers – Ken Potts; Menagerie – Solution: Sonny Hart.