Fitting Tribute To A Great Season

Gunfleet Sailing Club celebrated the end of the 2011 sailing season in style when 83 members attended the Laying-Up Dinner and Dance, and Presentation of Trophies, at Clacton on Sea Golf Club last Saturday evening 15 October.  Club Commodore Richard Walker proudly looked back at a very successful season packed with sailing and social events enjoyed by so many.  The racing had been extremely well supported and the cruises, whilst somewhat affected by the weather this season, had seen large numbers of crews getting pleasure from a more relaxed form of sailing, and always in good company.  The Cadets had thrived once more down at the Gunfleet with 45 of the Club’s younger members taking part in the 2011 Cadet Week; the weather this year being superb on every day. One of the many highlights of the season had been the Training Day for Cadets and Otters undertaken by a member of the Olympic Sailing Squad, the whole cost of which had very generously been paid for by a Club member. 

It was particularly pleasing to welcome to the evening the very first winner of the Club’s oldest Trophy, the Tee Dee Challenge Trophy, Richard Murrison who has been a member of Gunfleet since its formation in 1961 and still sails the same boat, a Sea Ranger class dinghy, which was bought brand new by the family in 1954.

Richard Walker then presented the following trophies:

March Hare   Ken Potts
Spring Series   John Tappenden
Toppo Single Helm   Peter Downer
Cadet Single Helm   Sebastien Mathewson
Bill Clarke Shield   Kelvin Morton
Egg and Bacon   Simon Clarke
Ken Potts’ Pot   Ken Potts
Potterer’s Pot   Richard Walker
Austin Ladies Trophy  Yvonne Gough
Jubilee Trophy   Ken Potts
Tee Dee Challenge Trophy  John Tappenden
Jim Suckling Shield  Simon Clarke
Summer Series   Ken Potts
RNLI Charity Shield  John Tappenden
London Trophy   Simon Clarke
Tony Chadd Trophy   Ken Potts
Wallet Trophy   Ken Potts
Hertford County Shield  Simon Clarke
Class Points: Laser  Paul Stanton
                      Solution  Simon Clarke
                      Topaz  Conor and Finlay Williams
                      Topper  Robert Gutteridge
                      Sea Ranger  Richard Walker
Bill Geddes Trophy   Derroll Pedder
Double “G” Trophy (Topper) Robert Gutteridge  
Bob Agate Trophy (Topaz)  Charlie and Harry Spence
Spirit of the Wind   Conor and Finlay Williams
Fleet Championships  John Tappenden
Autumn Series   Ken Potts
Tarrant Trophy   Eddie White
Senior Leading Helm  Ken Potts
Junior Leading Helm  Sebastien Mathewson
Terry Baker “Cheers” Trophy Barry Peters
Stan Camp Progress Cup  Emily Marsh
Junior Merit Trophy  Robert Gutteridge
Cissbury Merit Trophy  Aaron Baker
Stein Ladies Merit Trophy  Tracy Gutteridge
Gentlemen’s Merit Trophy  Alan Gutteridge