John Tappenden Takes The Trophy

Fine weather greeted the competitors of Gunfleet Sailing Club when they entered the final race in the 2022 Summer Series on Wednesday evening 3 August.  The winner of this was Ken Potts in his Laser, but overall victory for the whole series, which attracted nineteen dinghies, went to John Tappenden in his RS Aero.

With a southerly force 4 wind, and an ebbing tide, it allowed the helms to ease their way up to the line as the seconds ticked away, and as the start got underway it was Robert Mitchell leading the fleet in his Laser; Brian Allen’s Laser just to windward and champing at his stern.  Meanwhile Andy Dunnett seemed to stall his Laser on the line and once he got underway he looked ahead at a cluster of dinghies heading towards the Eastcliff buoy.  Meanwhile John Heath had powered-up his Blaze and was soon at the front of the fleet and first round the mark.  At this point Tappenden touched the buoy with the back of his buoyancy aid, as he hardened-up and hiked out on his RS Aero to keep it upright.  Faced with completing a 360 degree penalty or retiring he, surprisingly, did the latter but sailed on for a while to enjoy the competition around him.  The second leg was a short beat out to the Lilley Farm buoy before a reach to the AWS mark and then a beat out to the Seaward buoy.  This last leg began to split the fleet as some took what was considered the right move, tacking and heading down the coast against the tide, which was weaker closer to shore.  One or two others just sheeted in as they rounded the mark and headed straight out to sea, the tide sweeping them away from their destination.  As the boats circumnavigated the offshore buoy and started the broad reach to Preston Park mark it was Heath still leading, with Potts second and then Mitchell, Allen, and Dunnett; the latter having done well to overtake so many at this point.  A quick gybe and a short run to the Kingscliff buoy saw no change, and then it was close hauled back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Potts, Heath, then Mitchell in the top three slots, whilst the second lap saw Simon Clarke squeeze his way into third place in his Solo.  By the end of the third lap Heath had closed the gap on Potts but not sufficiently to be able take the top spot. 

Results – Summer Series - 7:
1.    Laser – Ken Potts
2.    Blaze – John Heath
3.    Solo – Simon Clarke
 

Summer Series – Overall
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    Laser – Robert Mitchell
3.    Laser – Andy Dunnett