Gunfleet's Top Sailors Claim Their Silverware

Gunfleet Sailing Club members held their annual Laying-Up Dinner in the Clubhouse on Saturday 7 November 2026 and, following a delicious meal, Commodore Richard Walker looked back on a highly successful and very enjoyable season.  A number of new races had been added to the Club’s Fixture List and it was good to see such a wide range of winners.  The Club had also encouraged social sailing for those who enjoyed getting on the water to relax, without wishing to be competitive; this would be encouraged further in 2027.

The following trophies for this year’s sailing were then presented by the Chairman of the Directors of Gunfleet Sailing Club Ltd., Malcolm Jolly:

Winter Series 2025        Ken Potts
March Hare            Ken Potts
Spring Series            Ken Potts
Toppo Single Helm        John Tappenden
Cadet Single Helm        Finley Taylor
Wallet Trophy            Ken Potts
Coronation Trophy        John Tappenden
Personal PY Race        Adam Kedge
Gunfleet Chase            Tim Dye
Jubilee Trophy            Jono Dunnett
RNLI Charity Trophy        Jono Dunnett
Ken Potts’ Pot            John Tappenden
Bill Clarke Shield            Brian Allen
John Venables Trophy        Jono Dunnett
Tee Dee Challenge Trophy    Adam Kedge
Bill Geddes Trophy        Andy Cornforth
Cissbury Trophy            Ken Potts
Ken Dye Cup            Jono Dunnett
Hertford County Shield        Jono Dunnett
Summer Series            Tim Dye
Tony Chadd Trophy        Jono Dunnett
Class Points:    RS Aero    Tim Dye
        Laser        Paul Stanton
        Comet        Keith Lamdin
        Topper        Finley Taylor
        Menagerie    Michael Gutteridge
Autumn Series            Adam Kedge
London Trophy            Jono Dunnett
Potterers Pot            Chris Maloney
Jim Suckling Shield        John Tappenden
Eddie’s Endeavour        Simon Kedge
Ionne Hyde Trophy        Adam Kedge
Sid Dowding Trophy        John Tappenden
Les Murrison Trophy        Adam Kedge
Doug Ouwehand Trophy        Andy Dunnett
Fleet Championship        Jono Dunnett
Spirit Of The Wind        Finley Taylor
Tarrant Trophy            Derroll Pedder
Senior Leading Helm        Jono Dunnett
Junior Leading Helm        Adam Kedge

The following day, Sunday 8 November, the Club held the second race in its Winter Series under an overcast sky and a very light south/south-westerly breeze.  Ken Potts lead the fleet away, at the start, in his RS Aero but Brian Allen, sailing his RS Aero windward of Potts, managed to point higher and pulled ahead.  As the fleet arrived at the Lilley Farm buoy it was Allen first, Potts second, and Dave Ingle third in his RS Aero.  These positions remained for much of the first lap but Potts managed to regain the lead at the end of the fourth leg when the boats beat to the AWS buoy.  As the craft finished the first lap it was, on handicap, Potts first, followed by Cornforth, and then Allen, and these positions remained unaltered throughout the second and final lap.  

Winter Series - 2:
1.    RS Aero – Ken Potts
2.    RS Aero – Andy Cornforth
3.    RS Aero – Brian Allen