GUNFLEET Sailing Club held the first race in their series for the Tony Chadd Trophy and Ken Potts claimed victory in his Laser.

A steady force three easterly breeze greeted the sailors and the first three boats across the start line were all Lasers, with Robert Gutteridge leading on the close haul to the Kingscliff buoy.

On a broad reach back down the coast to the AWS buoy, Gutteridge managed to hold off Ken Potts.

However, on the subsequent leg out to the Seaward mark, Potts moved into the lead position, with Gutteridge now second and Andy Dunnett third.

Rob Lockett closely followed in fourth place.

Derroll Pedder and Michael Gutteridge, in the GP14, held a very tight course out to sea and nearly made the buoy in one tack while others found themselves further down the coast.

Slightly further back was the Comet fleet, which has recently swollen in numbers.

Wily sailor Peter Downer led, with Cath Bicknell laying second and Jack Harvey third.

After Seaward it was a run down to the Eastcliff buoy before a beat back out to sea.

Dunnett headed further up the coast than the other competitors in order to compensate for the flooding tide, but found a slight wind-shift allowed everyone to equally make their goal.

To finish the first lap it was back to Eastcliff and then a close haul through the line.

At this stage, Potts was still leading with Rob Gutteridge second and Dunnett third.

The second lap saw very little change until the end of the penultimate leg, when Dunnett got himself level with Gutteridge.

Being on the inside, he sheeted hard in round the Eastcliff buoy and pulled away to take second place.

Results: Tony Chadd Trophy - race one: 1 Laser – Ken Potts, 2 Laser – Andy Dunnett, 3 Laser – Robert Gutteridge.

On Saturday evening a group of Gunfleet sailors took part in the club’s Moonlight Cruise.

Setting off at 9.15pm, the boats headed to Clacton Pier as the light slowly faded. The light breeze and warm air made for ideal conditions, although at times the full moon was hidden by cloud.

The rescue boat kept the group close together and, as the dinghies headed back, so darkness fell and the flotilla was guided back by the lights of the welcoming clubhouse.

Sunday saw several dinghies take part in Clacton Sailing Club's Double Dan Race from Brightlingsea Sailing Club to Gunfleet's finish line.