IT was a busy weekend for Gunfleet Sailing Club when they played host to the Comet Dinghy Class Association Championship.

The overall winner was Chris Hatton, from Bowmoor Sailing Club, near Swindon.

Competitors travelled from as far afield as Kettering, Tewkesbury, Bristol, Crawley, Farnborough, Beer, in Devon, and Helston, in West Cornwall, with many arriving on Friday afternoon.

Saturday started sunny with a light south-westerly wind but while the 20 Comets were sailing up and down the line the wind backed southerly, turning a perfect first leg beat into a fetch and resulting in a procession to the St Michael’s buoy. The subsequent legs, which had originally aimed to give all points of sailing, continued to turn into various reaching angles, leaving the competitors quite frustrated.

Following lunch, the wind had shifted easterly, but was very light and fickle. Special marks were laid in a attempt to provide that very important beat, but the little wind there was faded to nothing.

Counting down the start, it was evident that boats were unable to stem the ebbing tide so the race abandoned flag was hoisted and the competitors were forced to wait on the beach for over an hour, whistling for wind having little impact.

Eventually, a very light breeze appeared from the south so the temporary race marks were moved into a fresh position.

No sooner was the race underway than the pitiful wind backed to north-east resulting, once more, in a mass of reaching.

After a frustrating first day, Sunday dawned bright with a steady west/south-westerly breeze.

A special X buoy was laid near the start line and close to the shore and a large temporary buoy placed out to sea in order to allow for a good beat.

Such was the enthusiasm of the competitors that several jumped the line, forcing the officer of the day to signal a general recall.

The second start went smoothly and Peter Mountford, from Staunton Harold Sailing Club, led the field.

After a run out to sea, the fleet had a long beat down the coast to the St Michael’s buoy before reaching up to Kingscliff, followed by a close haul back through the line.

Mountford hung onto the lead at the end of lap one but lost it to Hatton shortly after.

By the start of the fourth race the tide had turned and was ebbing at an alarming pace.

To add insult to injury, the wind fell away and, after starting quite a bit further back, Hatton once again claimed victory, taking the overall championship.

Results: Comet Class Association Championship: 1 Chris Hatton – Bowmoor Sailing Club, 2 Eddie Pope – Ogstone Sailing Club, 3 Michael Ettershank – Up River Yacht Club.

First Gunfleet Comet: Harry Swinbourne.