Another Win For Tappenden

Gunfleet Sailing Club members took part in the long distance race on Sunday 23 August 2026 for the Jim Suckling Trophy, with John Tappenden winning in his RS Aero.

On arrival at the Club, the competitors found hardly a whisper of wind but as they rigged their craft a light south/south-westerly breeze appeared which, coupled with blue skies and unbroken sunshine, indicated it was going to be a pleasant if not very exciting sail.  As the seconds ticked away and helms sought their favoured place on the line it was a choice between staying with the bunch, close by the Outer Distance Mark, or sticking closer to the shore to try and stay out the tide.  As the class flag fell from the yardarm it was Ken Potts that lead the way in his RS Aero, followed by Brian Allen and then John Tappenden, both sailing RS Aeros and all three close to the ODM.  Arriving a little late to the line, after a tactic that didn’t quite work, was Tim Dye in his RS Aero and he slipped in between the RS Aeros of Dave Ingle and Paul Jackson.  Meanwhile, closer in were the Lasers of Gary Hollis and Simon Kedge with Hollis pulling ahead.  The boats headed, close hauled, down the coast to the St. Michael’s buoy with the lead Aeros pointing as high as they dare, without stalling, to make the mark in one.  Whilst those closer to the shore clearly had the acceleration, as they fought the ebb tide, they were disadvantaged by having to tack out to sea in order to round St. Michael’s.  Potts was first to go round and, even by that time, had opened up a good lead as he reached out to the Seaward buoy.  He was followed by Tappenden, Dye, and then Adam Kedge in his Laser.  These places remained as the fleet gybed offshore and headed into the AWS mark before the long broad reach up the coast to the Walings buoy off Frinton.  With the tide now under them it was more like a cruise as the boats passed Great Holland, although at this point the breeze suddenly became lighter and the speed of passage slowed down.  Potts remained first to round the mark but Dye was now in second place Tappenden third and Allen fourth.  The final leg was the long slow slog, now against the tide, back to the Club; the wind having backed south/south-easterly which meant a fetch all the way.  Chris Maloney, in his Comet, who until then had held his own against a number of Lasers, could only watch as they slipped away from him.  Despite Potts being first back on the water, it was Tappenden with his smaller rig that took the honours on handicap.

Jim Suckling Long Distance Trophy:
1.    RS Aero – John Tappenden 
2.    Laser – Adam Kedge
3.    RS Aero – Ken Potts