Peter Wins The Race But Ken Wins The Series

Gunfleet Sailing Club concluded its Spring Series with the fourth race on Sunday 27 April 2025, resulting in overall victory for Ken Potts.

Summer-like conditions greeted the competitors for the final race in the series, with a light south/south-westerly breeze and unbroken sunshine.  The flooding tide proved a bit too strong as the sailors edged their way to the line and it was clear that several were going to be swept over; sure enough, as the start gun echoed across the water, the general recall flag was hoisted and everyone returned for a second bite of the cherry.  This time it was all clear and Cadet Adam Kedge lead the fleet away in his Laser but he was soon overtaken by Martin Chivers in his RS Aero; then followed Chris Maloney, sailing his Comet.  With the tide under them, the dinghies fetched down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy with Chivers rounding it first, followed by Paul Stanton in his Laser; after which came Adam Kedge, and John then Tappenden in his RS Aero, but Tappenden cut tight round and, in doing so, pulled ahead.  Chivers managed to make the second mark, at Lilley Farm, in one but the rest of the sailors realised they had to put a tack in.  The thirds leg was a run back to the Outer Distance Mark which saw Tappenden close the gap on Stanton.  Chivers, at this point, began to look unstoppable but confused himself as to which way round the buoy to go, losing much of his lead in the process.  Once round, it was a beat back to Lilley Farm buoy and Tappenden wisely tacked straight out to sea to gain clear wind and benefit from the stronger tide.  Having worked his way through the fleet, Peter Downer took his Comet into fourth place on the water, with Paul Jackson also moving up the pecking order in his Solo; slightly further back, Simon Kedge, in his GP14, was certainly not letting everyone have their own way.  The wind continued to remain fickle and the reach, against the tide, hooking round the AWS buoy and up to Preston Park, was a slow affair, such that the Race Officer decided to shorten the course to one lap.  At this point it was Chivers and Tappenden tussling over lead position in their RS Aeros, Stanton’s Laser close behind, and the two Comets of Downer and Maloney leading the rest of the dinghies.  After the official handicaps were applied it was a win for Downer, with Tappenden second and Maloney third.  However, with three firsts under his belt, it was Potts that won the series overall.

Spring Series - Overall:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    RS Aero – Brian Allen
3.    RS Aero – John Tappenden