Tappenden & Taylor Take The Trophies

It looked like it was going to be a bit of a drifter when members of the Gunfleet Sailing Club took part in the race for the Toppo Single Helm, coupled with the Cadet Single Helm on Sunday 16 August 2026.  What little breeze there was started as offshore but slowly worked its way north-easterly before continuing to veer easterly.

Competitors got out on the water in good time and began to plan out their tactics only to be thwarted by the wind shifts.  As the seconds ticked by so all but one of the fleet edged its way towards the line; the sole “rebel” being Brian Allen in his RS Aero who sailed down the line on starboard and, at just the right time, swung his boat towards the Kingscliff buoy and hardened up.  He immediately lead the fleet to the first mark with Tim Dye, Ken Potts and John Tappenden all close behind, and all also sailing RS Aeros.  It was a slow leg as the boats fought the flood tide and as they reached Kingscliff it was Allen still in the lead with Dye, Potts, Tappenden, and then the RS Aero of Derroll Pedder following.  As the boats headed out to Seaward on the second leg, the helms soon found the strong tide dragging them towards Clacton Pier resulting in a series of tacks.  The question was whether to sail freer but a little further, or point as high as possible to reduce distance.  Behind the Aeros were the Lasers, Paul Stanton leading but finding Finley Taylor uncomfortably close to him; Gary Hollis being a little further back.  Chris Maloney in his Comet, having overtaken Michael Gutteridge’s Solo, was now chasing the leading Lasers but found it difficult to make any inroads.  Once round Seaward it was a broad reach to the AWS buoy with Dye now leading and Potts slipping past Allen, but Allen was having none of it and tacked first at the mark, so nudged ahead, only to see Potts reclaim his position by the time they were back out at Seaward.  With the wind continuing to veer it was then a run to the Eastcliff buoy before fetching back through the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Dye leading, then Tappenden, Potts and Allen.  On the second lap, Potts got in front of Dye who subsequently regained his lead back on the water, whilst Tappenden skilfully sailed through the fleet to take the winning gun.

Toppo Single Helm:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden 
2.    RS Aero – Tim Dye
3.    RS Aero – Ken Potts

First Cadet:  Laser – Finley Taylor