John and Peter Share The Honours

Gunfleet Sailing Club held two races, one for the faster handicapped craft, and the other for the slower handicapped dinghies last Sunday 28 May 2023; John Tappenden and Peter Downer wining the London fast handicap and Potters slow handicap respectively.

The blue skies and sunshine seemed to mask the force four to five north/north-easterly wind but as soon as the competitors left the shore they felt the true force of it; the helms revelling in the conditions.  The faster handicapped dinghies were first away, Ken Potts and Robert Mitchell staying close to the Inner Distance Mark, hardening up, and heading out to sea on port tack in their Lasers in order to get the full benefit of the ebbing tide.  However, cutting in front of them on starboard tack was Tappenden in his RS Aero, who had right of way and used this to his advantage. Just behind were Simon Clarke in his Solo, Paul Stanton in his Laser, and Dave Ingle in his RS Aero.  As the lead boats tacked, so Potts, now on starboard, crossed in front of Tappenden, Mitchell hot on his tail; Potts reaching the Kingscliff Buoy first.

By now the Potterers Pot race was underway, with Finley Taylor taking his Topper out to sea, whilst Downer pursued him in his Comet.  Eddie White found conditions just a little too lively and retired back to the beach in his Comet; living to fight another day.  Back in the fast fleet the second leg was a run to the AWS buoy and Potts held back the competition, although the subsequent reach out to the Seaward mark saw Tappenden scream past Potts.  The offshore mark required a gybe to minimise delay but, for some, the slower but safer tack round proved the favourite call.  With the wind freshening, this proved the deciding point for some competitors, and Chris Maloney headed back to shore in his Solo, followed by Ingle.  On the broad reach to the Lilley Farm buoy, Brian Allen capsized in his Laser and, following some damage to the rudder, he too was forced to retire.  Tappenden, now in the lead, took the fleet to the Eastcliff buoy, before beating back through the line. However, on handicap, Potts held top place by just two seconds.  With winds touching force six, Stanton decided he had enough, but slightly further back the GP14s of Simon and Nicky Kedge, and Paul Jackson, battled on.  Whilst the second lap saw Potts increase his lead by one second, it was on the third, and final, lap that he let the tiller momentarily slip from his hand; sufficient delay to allow Tappenden to slip past.  Meanwhile, Downer had overtaken Taylor in the slow fleet and cemented his victory.  However, Cadet Taylor proved the star of the day for sailing a very tight course, without any mishap, and proved he is a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Results: 
London Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    Laser – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Robert Mitchell
Potterers Pot:
1.    Comet – Peter Downer
2.    Topper – Finley Taylor