Adam Kedge Wins After Hard Fought Battle

Ideal conditions greeted the Gunfleet Sailing Club members when they took part in the second of the 3-in-1 races on Sunday 15 June 2025; three short, back to back, races over the same course with all three results counting, this time for the Hertford County Shield.

Blue skies and sunshine complimented the south westerly force three to four breeze and helms clearly had different ideas as to which end of the line to start in the first race.  Tim Dye in his RS Aero was at the Inner Distance Mark whilst John Tappenden, also in an RS Aero, sat at the Outer Distance Mark; the rest of the fleet being sandwiched between the two.  The boats beat down the coast to the Eastcliff buoy with Dye making the mark from the shore, well ahead of Derroll Pedder in his RS Aero, whilst Tappenden approached it from out to sea.  There then followed a run back to the ODM with Dye leading, Paul Stanton’s Laser second, then Pedder third, and fourth Martin Chivers in his RS Aero.  Finley Taylor was forced to retire due to gear failure on his Topper but repairs were hastily carried out in time for him to take part in the second race.  Meanwhile a second beat to Eastcliff saw Dye maintain his lead on the water, holding onto it on the broad reach to AWS, before a quick gybe and a short beam reach back to the ODM and through the line.  On handicap it was Stanton first, Dye second, and Adam Kedge in his Laser third.

The second race saw a much closer bunch, Pedder refusing to let go of Dye; Stanton also doggedly by them.  Tappenden found himself fighting off Ella Langfeldt in her RS Aero with Langfeldt eventually showing him a clean pair of heels.  Paul Jackson capsized his Solo and lost time after several failed righting attempts.  In the end, on handicap, it was Kedge first, Langfeldt second and Stanton third.

The third and final race saw Robert Gutteridge in his Europe and Chris Maloney in his Comet, both by the IDM at the start whilst the majority of the competitors stood out at the ODM.  Dye once again lead the way but, on handicap came second to Tappenden, whilst Kedge gained third place.  In combining all three races, with just a point or two between them, it was a win for Kedge.

Hertford County Shield:
1.    Laser – Adam Kedge
2.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
3.    RS Aero – Tim Dye