GUNFLEET Sailing Club celebrated the start of the 2018 season with their fitting-out supper on Saturday evening.

Members filled the clubhouse for their traditional fish and chips meal.

Commodore Richard Walker welcomed all those present and spoke of the ups and downs of the club over the winter.

The weather had disrupted the cutting-back of the cliff vegetation and the work weekend was postponed a week due to the snow - only to be prevented from taking place the following weekend by further bad weather.

Fortunately, a number of retired members had since met-up and carried out many of the jobs.

On the plus side, the clubhouse now has an impressive new bar that lifted the facility from the 1970s, when it was installed, to current-day requirements.

The winner of Gunfleet’s Winter Series was Ken Potts and he received double honours, having beaten Walton and Frinton Yacht Club's members in their Winter Series.

Finally, it was disappointing to have to postpone the first race of the season - Sunday's March Hare Trophy.

This was due to the volume of sand blocking access to the beach after the recent storms.

The first race in the Spring Series is due to be held on Easter Sunday and the postponed March Hare race will be run on Easter Monday morning.

Walker concluded his talk with a demonstration on the bar’s new glass washer, which seemed to cause much amusement.