Tom's Topaz Takes The Trophy

Gunfleet Sailing Club held its long distance race for the Jim Suckling Trophy on Sunday 17 August 2025 and, after some very close tussles, the winner was Tom Bartlett in his Topaz.

A north-easterly force four breeze, coupled with sunshine, made for perfect conditions and the competitors were soon flying up and down the line, determining where best to position themselves.  All but one helm decided to start offshore and cross the start line by the Outer Distance Mark, beating towards the beach on starboard tack, and as the race got underway it was Ken Potts that lead the pack in his RS Aero; Tim Dye, also in an RS Aero, just behind him.  However, Simon Clarke decided on a different tactic and beat seaward in his Contender, starting by the Inner Distance Mark.  Tactically this made admirable sense as the first leg was a long beat up the coast to Frinton, with an hour of ebb tide to assist the craft on their way, but Clarke soon hit the first snag when he was confronted by a wall of dinghies cutting in front of him on starboard, so having right of way.  In swerving behind the boats he lost a few seconds which he knew he would have to make up to stand a chance of winning.  Dye was the first to throw in a tack and head out into the beneficial tide and clean wind but it wasn’t long before the rest of the fleet followed suit.  Dave Ingle had followed Dye across the line in his RS Aero whilst Paul Stanton led the Lasers, followed by Simon Kedge, Yvonne Gough and then Gary Hollis, with Alba and Rafa Lopez showing the older helms that young sailors are just as hot in a Laser.  The dinghies headed well out to sea before tacking again; the Club’s Safety Boat keeping close tabs all the time.  Meanwhile, as the boats headed back to shore so Bartlett just kept going out to sea in his Topaz until he was almost a speck on the horizon and this bold move paid dividends once he went about, flying past Holland Haven.  Although Clarke was well in front, Dye now had the lead in the RS Aero fleet as he sailed close in towards the shore, but Potts decided to head back out to sea and when their paths crossed again, Potts now had the advantage.  As the dinghies reached the turning mark, off the Frinton Walings, the tide began to turn; so much so that John Tappenden, in his RS Aero, touched the buoy and had to complete a 360 degree penalty turn.  The run back towards the Club proved uneventful although Brian Allen edged his way closer to Dye who now fought to try and close the gap on Potts, but Clarke continued his impressive lead on the water.  Rounding the Kingscliff buoy, there followed a reach out to the Seaward mark, a gybe, and then a second reach into the AWS buoy.  The run then continued to the St. Michaels mark before a beat back to the line.  As the leading dinghies finished so it appeared that, on handicap, Clarke had won but a little later Bartlett crossed the line and showed his fellow sailors that he had beaten them all.

Jim Suckling Long Distance Trophy:
1.    Topaz – Tom Bartlett
2.    Contender – Simon Clarke
3.    RS Aero – Ken Potts