Exciting Conditions For The Last Autumn Series Race

Gunfleet Sailing Club held the final race in its Autumn Series on Sunday 5 October 2025 in some very lively conditions that saw winds touching force 7 at times; a spectacular end to the main 2025 sailing season.

All the competitors chose their smallest rigs as they set-up on the beach, whilst some rather vicious gusts blew through.  Despite the winds being predominantly westerly and therefore slightly offshore, the somewhat flatter sea close to the beach soon morphed into more turbulent waters topped with white caps.  As the boats launched it soon became very clear that this was going to be no easy ride.  With the experienced crew of the Club’s Rescue Boat on the water and always ready for action, so the capsizes began to occur; even before the race had got underway.  Tim Dye was the first to go over in his RS Aero but he soon had it up, whilst Tom Bartlett was the next to go over in his TS Aero.  Derroll Pedder, in his RS Aero, and Simon Kedge in his Laser, both chose to retire.  With just seconds to go before the start, Brian Allen capsized in his RS Aero and drifted the wrong side of the line whilst Ken Potts just lifted his wings of his RS Aero and simply flew towards the Kingscliff buoy on a screaming reach.  Bartlett capsized again and had a number of attempts at righting his craft whilst Allen, having got his boat upright, headed back to the line but then decided that it might be better to retire safely back to shore.  Bartlett, with the Rescue Boat standing by him, eventually got the boat upright but he too felt enough was enough and headed home.  Meanwhile Dye misread the start sequence and, believing he still had one minute to go, ended up having a very poor start, realising he had a lot of catching up to do.  The second leg was another reach out to the Seaward buoy before hardening up and beating in to the Eastcliff mark.  It was on this latter leg that Dye closed the gap on Potts but not sufficient to threaten him at this early stage in the game.  It was then out to the Lilley Farm buoy before a second beat to Eastcliff and a final reach back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was a comfortable lead for Potts and, try as he might, Dye only narrowed the gap by four seconds on the second lap; although a third lap had been planned, the Race Officer shortened the course, resulting in Potts taking the winning gun.  However, overall in the series, it was Dye that claimed the trophy.  

Autumn Series Overall:
1.    RS Aero – Tim Dye
2.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
3.    Laser – Adam Kedge

The main sailing season may be over, but the Gunfleet Winter Series starts on Sunday 19 October and runs until the end of November.