Adam Romps Home In New Race

Gunfleet Sailing Club members took part in the first race of what has become nicknamed “Super September Sailing”, on Sunday 6 September 2026, in Indian Summer conditions.  A force four breeze, coupled with unbroken sunshine, attracted an entry of sixteen dinghies to race for the Ionne Hyde Trophy, and with the wind direction being southerly the Race Officer opted for a gate start.  

As the start signal echoed across the water so Adam Kedge, designated as the pathfinder, tacked away from the Outer Distance Mark in his Laser; the Club’s Rescue Boat, flying international code flag U, following in his wake.  A minute later the flag dropped and the fleet was away, tacking out to the Seaward buoy on a beat.  Different tactics saw an early split with Ken Potts first to round the windward mark in his RS Aero, reaching it on port, whilst Jono Dunnett was second to get there in his Laser, having arrived on starboard.  There then followed a run back down to the AWS buoy, Andy Dunnett in his Laser being just behind son Jono, whilst father and son John and Charlie Heath were laying fourth in their RS200.  With the tide under them, it didn’t take long to reach to the Kingscliff mark but unfortunately both Potts and Jono then started to head back towards AWS when, in fact, the fourth leg was out to the Preston Park buoy.  By the time they realised their mistake they had lost valuable ground and allowed the Heaths to take the lead; Andy now being ahead of his son Jono.  A reach back to the line saw, on handicap, Kedge first, Andy Dunnett second, and son Jono third.  As the competitors started their second lap it was clear that the favoured tactic out to Seaward was to harden up towards the pier before throwing in a tack with the aim of making Seaward in one.  Some, not realising the slackening of the ebb tide, went further than necessary and overstood the buoy; Potts closed the gap on the Heaths and Ella Langfeldt in her RS Aero slipped cleanly into third place on the water but then being chased by father and son Dunnett, Tim Dye just behind in his RS Aero.  As the fleet completed the second lap it was Kedge still leading on handicap, followed by Langfeldt and then Jono Dunnett.  The third and final lap saw little change but Potts managed to get ahead of Langfeldt although he failed to take Jono Dunnett who finished second; victory remaining with Kedge.

Ionne Hyde Trophy:
1.    Laser – Adam Kedge
2.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
3.    RS Aero – Ken Potts