Potts Performs In 33 mph Winds

It was a case of “hang onto your hats” on Sunday 10 May 2026 when the members of Gunfleet Sailing Club took part in the 3-in-1 race for the Wallet Trophy.  An extremely strong North/North-Easterly wind blew down the coast as the helms rigged up on the beach and bravely launched onto a murky North Sea.  Capsizes occurred before the first race got underway as the boats flew up and down the line, their helms hanging on in there, and when the start got underway the wind was gusting 33 mph – a force 7.  Casualties occurred early on with Gary Hollis making a wise decision to retire early with his Laser.  Unfortunately Arlo Atkins capsized and snapped the mast on his Laser but the Club’s Rescue Boat was alongside him in seconds and towed him back to shore.  Brian Allen capsized his RS Aero moments before starting, righted the boat, capsized again, but got back up and chased after the fleet.  Off to a flying start were Ken Potts in his RS Aero, followed by Jono Dunnett in his Laser, then Tim Dye in his RS Aero, with Adam Kedge in his Laser just behind.  Finley Taylor retired shortly after, in his Topper, finding conditions just a bit to lively, whilst Allen also headed back to the shore as his rivals disappeared into the distance.  Having beat up the coast to the Kingscliff mark it was Potts to round it first, followed by Kedge, Dye and Dunnett.  After a short reach out to the Preston Park buoy it was then a gybe before a very broad reach/run down to the Eastcliff mark and, at this second gybe mark, Dunnett, who had just overtaken Kedge, capsized but was quick to right his boat, whilst Kedge also capsized but took a little longer to get back upright.  There then followed a reach out to the Lilley Farm buoy before a beat back to the line; this resulted in Potts winning, Dye second and Kedge third.  The second race saw Dunnett starting on port tack close by the Inner Distance Mark whilst the rest of the competitors stood out at the Outer Distance Mark and headed towards the shore on starboard.  However, Dunnett was sharp enough to cut across the bows of his competitors whilst Potts capsized and lost valuable time righting himself; Dye then also capsized at Kingscliff allowing Dunnett to hang on and take the winning gun.  In the third race all the sailors started on port tack, close by the shore, and Dye tried a cunning tactic of running from Lilley Farm to Eastcliff without gybing; a tricky, and rather risky, ploy which failed to get him ahead of Potts who took first place and victory overall.

Wallet Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    RS Aero – Tim Dye
3.    Laser – Jono Dunnett