Adam Wins The Race, Whilst Ken Wins The Series

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the final race in its Winter Series last Sunday 30 November 2025 and, with three different winners to date, all eyes were on the key players to see who would take the trophy.

Bright sunshine proved deceiving, with a biting force 4 to 5 westerly wind giving a distinct chill in the air as the competitors rigged-up on the beach; a variety of rig sizes being chosen.  As the clock counted down so the helms tested the line and decided where best to position themselves for the start.  With wind over an ebbing tide the boats edged their way forward and as the class flag fell from the yardarm, signalling the start of the race, it was Ken Potts’s RS Aero and Adam Kedge’s Laser that were parallel to each other, albeit Potts was by the Inner Distance Mark and Kedge much nearer the Outer Distance Mark.  The first leg was a beat down the coast and, under the ebb, it was clear there was less adverse tide close to shore, but with the wind being slightly offshore there was a far more fickle breeze under the cliffs.  First round the Windward mark was Potts, whilst Kedge, having bore away slightly to gain extra speed, found Brian Allen ahead of him as he tacked to make the buoy; Allen having taken the middle ground.  The second leg was a broad reach out to the Seaward buoy, followed by a gybe and then a fetch into the AWS mark.  It was at this gybe that Kedge executed a very smooth transition and got ahead of Allen.  From AWS it was a second beat down the coast before a run back to AWS, a very short leg to the ODM before hooking through the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Potts in the lead but this was to change as Kedge, who had been second, edged his way towards the top spot, gradually shaving seconds off his time.  The tension mounted but, try as he might, Potts could not prevent Kedge from slipping ahead of him on handicap and winning the final race.  However, with a second place, and two previous firsts in the series under his belt, Potts had sufficient success to win the trophy overall.

Winter Series - Overall:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    Laser – Adam Kedge
3.    RS Aero – Brian Allen