UNSETTLED conditions made for some interesting sailing when Gunfleet Sailing Club held their race for the London Trophy.

With the forecast predicting a slight drop in wind strength, the competitors optimistically rigged their boats in a force three to four west/south-westerly wind.

Under a strengthening flood tide, the helms darted up and down the line eagerly anticipating the start, but each one stayed just the right side to avoid any recalls.

Once unleashed, Ken Potts was first away on starboard tack, heading out into the full benefit of the tide, sailing just slightly free in order to build up boat speed.

Andy Dunnett was to windward of Potts, pointing a little higher but, as a result, impacting slightly on his speed.

An early casualty was the Xenon of Clare Williams and Michael Giles, which capsized on the first tack.

However, it wasn’t long before the boat was righted and carrying on.

The first leg took the boats down the coast to St Michael’s buoy prior to a very broad reach back to the Eastcliff mark.

It was early on in this second leg that Sonny Hart capsized in his new Blaze when his toe straps started playing games.

As the fleet headed out to the Seaward buoy, Potts had built up a reasonable lead, with John Tappenden second, Dunnett now third and Yvonne Gough a little further back in fourth - with all four sailing Lasers.

Gybing the boats round Seaward, it was a fetch into the AWS buoy and a broad reach up the coast to the Kingscliff mark before a beat back to the line.

By this time, against prediction, the wind had now strengthened and senior helmsman Eddie White decided it was a bit much for him in his Laser, so he retired back to shore.

As the second lap commenced, Hart capsized once more, trying to balance himself on the racks while having nothing to support his feet - a brave but fruitless attempt to just keep going.

Meanwhile, the three leading Lasers were all working hard to outdo each other and it looked like Potts might have been in with a chance as he piled on the pressure.

However, during the third and final lap, Tappenden put on a fine display of seamanship and stormed home to victory.

Results: London Trophy: 1 Laser – John Tappenden, 2 Laser – Ken Potts, 3 Laser – Andy Dunnett.