Gunfleet Members Celebrate The Very Successful 2025 Sailing Season

Gunfleet Sailing Club members held their annual Laying-Up Dinner in the Clubhouse on Saturday 18 October 2025 with a “full-house”.  Commodore Richard Walker welcomed everyone and, after a splendid meal, looked back over a very busy and successful year both on and off the water.  He felt the Club should be particularly proud of the united way the members carried out some major improvements to the Clubhouse itself last winter.  The testament to the hard work was a splendid new race box, entrance lobby, and landing and steps into the compound; plus the replacement of the handrails to the steps leading down the cliff.  On a sadder note, Walker reflected on the sad loss of two of its members during the year;  founder member of Gunfleet, and former Director, John Murrison passed away after 63 loyal years to the Club, and Eddie White who joined 25 years ago upon retirement, and sailed until his very last; at 89 years of age an inspiration to us all.  

On the sailing front, the season had only lost one race out of the 50 that packed the 2025 programme, due to bad weather, and had seen very healthy numbers taking part in all the events.

The following trophies for this year’s sailing were then presented by the Club’s Sailing Secretary Chris Maloney:

Winter Series 2024:  Ken Potts
March Hare:  Ken Potts
Spring Series:  Ken Potts
Toppo Single Helm:  John Tappenden
Cadet Single Helm:  Ella Langfeldt
Wallet Trophy:  Ken Potts
Coronation Trophy:  Ken Potts
Personal PY Race:  Paul Jackson
Gunfleet Chase:  John Tappenden
Jubilee Trophy:  John Tappenden
RNLI Charity Trophy:  Tim Dye
Ken Potts’ Pot:  Paul Stanton
Bill Clarke Shield:  Ken Potts
John Venables Trophy:  Tim Dye
Tee Dee Challenge Trophy:  Ken Potts
Ken Dye Cup:  John Tappenden
Hertford County Shield:  Adam Kedge
Summer Series:  John Tappenden
Austin Ladies Trophy:  Yvonne Gough
Tony Chadd Trophy:  Ken Potts
Class Points:    RS Aero:  Tim Dye
        Laser:  Paul Stanton
        Solo/Europe:  Michael Gutteridge
        Comet:  Chris Maloney
        Topper:  Finley Taylor
Autumn Series:  Tim Dye
London Trophy:  Tim Dye
Potterers Pot:  Finley Taylor
Jim Suckling Shield:  Tom Bartlett
Eddie’s Endeavour:  Dave Ingle
Fleet Championship:  Ken Potts
Spirit Of The Wind:  Finley Taylor
Tarrant Trophy:  Derroll Pedder
Senior Leading Helm:  Ken Potts
Junior Leading Helm:  Finley Taylor

A special presentation was then made by Tim Dye, on behalf of all the sailors at the Club, to Debbie Chivers and Jo Taylor for their help throughout the season in helping to launch and recover the dinghies at Club events.