John Takes The Winning Gun

The third Wednesday evening race in the Summer Series took place at Gunfleet Sailing Club on 9 July 2025, with a comfortable win for John Tappenden in his RS Aero.

A pleasant force three south-easterly breeze greeted the competitors, but with the forecast indicating that the wind strength would fall, it was decision time as to what rig to go for.  Choices made, it was out on the water and deciding how to approach the line as everyone headed to the Outer Distance Mark in the hope of being the windward boat.  The eagerness to lead the fleet made for a very tight start but Derroll Pedder took this honour in his RS Aero, Tim Dye’s RS Aero just behind and it wasn’t long before Dye had slipped to the front.  An early casualty was Michael Gutteridge in his Solo. The first leg was a reach up the coast to the Kingscliff buoy, punching a flood tide, and it was Dye first to round it, followed by Pedder, and then Ken Potts in his RS Aero.  More Aeros followed with John Tappenden, Dave Ingle and then Brian Allan, before the first Laser which was helmed by Andy Dunnett.  The second leg was a reach back to the AWS buoy, by which time Potts had stolen the lead but still bunched closely with Dye and Pedder. John and Charlie Heath had moved up the ranks in their RS 200, now just behind Ingle, who had seen Allen pass him, and behind the Heaths was Martin Chivers in his RS Aero.  The beat that followed was out to the Seaward buoy, and everyone was quick to tack and let the tide draw them onto the mark as they headed offshore; Potts was first to round it, with Dye following.  A broad reach into the Lilley Farm mark saw no change in the top places but Dye caught up with Potts on the short run to Eastcliff, tacked hard round the buoy and reached to the line just four seconds ahead.  Handicaps applied and it was Dye first, then Tappenden, with Potts third.  On the second lap, Dye lead the way around Kingscliff but, like the first lap, Potts moved into the lead as the competitors headed to AWS; however, he touched the mark in rounding it and was forced to carry out a 360 degree penalty turn, so allowing Dye back in leading the fleet. The wind, by now, was falling away as predicted, and a few helms found they had to put an additional tack in to round the Seaward buoy; Pedder touching it and losing time carrying out his 360 degree turn.  As the second lap was completed, so Adam Kedge retired in his Laser, accompanied by both Dunnett and Chivers, and by now Tappenden had the lead on handicap.  The third, and final, lap was a much slower affair with the wind continuing to fall but the top three places remained unchanged.      

Results – Summer Series - 3:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
2.    RS Aero – Tim Dye
3.    RS Aero – Ken Potts