VETERAN Gunfleet Sailing Club member Andy Dunnett came to the fore last Sunday when he won the first race in the Autumn Series in the morning, and went on to take third place overall in the Potts Pursuit Race in the afternoon.

Sunshine and blue skies greeted the competitors for the Autumn Series first race.

More than half the fleet started on port tack as they headed down the coast to the windward mark but Peter Downer, in his Comet, Andy Dunnett, in his Laser, and Richard Walker, in his Sea Ranger, all chose to head out to sea on starboard tack.

Then it was a run back to the AWS buoy, when Dave Fowell and Derroll Pedder hoisted the spinnaker in their Scorpion, as did Simon Clarke and Emily Cossens in their RS 400.

Hardening-up, the fleet then headed out to the Seaward mark which, taking into account the strengthening tide, went from a close haul to a fetch.

Gybing round this buoy it was back down to AWS on a reach, a second fetch out to sea, and then a very broad reach up the coast before sailing close hauled back through the line.

Robert Gutteridge just nudged a buoy and lost valuable seconds putting in his penalty.

And while positions remained close it was Dunnett that took the winning gun for his first win of the season.

Results: Autumn Series one: 1 Laser – Andy Dunnett, 2 Comet – Peter Downer, 3 Laser – Paul Stanton.

In the afternoon, the second and final race in the Potts Pursuit Challenge took place with 11 separate class starts.

First away were Fred Webster and Lesley Sacre in the Sea Ranger class, followed eight minutes later by the Toppers, then the Topazes after a further six minutes, until almost 34 minutes after the Sea Rangers, the RS 600 was let loosep.

After two-thirds of the time had elapsed the Sea Ranger still held the lead but was being challenged by Harry Swinbourne in his Topper, Downer was snapping at their heels in his Comet.

It was just 16 minutes before the end that Dunnett drove his Laser into the lead and looked determined to hang onto it until the bitter end.

By now Ken Potts, who had started last in his RS 600, had demolished 12 competitors and was aiming to take top spot.

As the minutes ticked away, a few more places changed, Potts had taken John Tappenden in his Blaze, Clarke and Cossens then slipped past Dunnett.

Potts blasted his way through all his rivals, pulling out a small lead as the 90-minute time signal concluded a very exciting race.

Results: Potts Pursuit Trophy: 1 RS 600 – Ken Potts, 2 RS 400 – Simon Clarke and Emily Cossens, 3 Laser – Andy Dunnett.