Jono And Chris Take The Honours

Gunfleet sailing Club held two races on Sunday 19 July 2026, one for the faster handicapped boats and one for the slower handicapped craft, competing for the London Trophy and Potterers Pot respectively.

First away was the faster fleet, under a cloudy sky and offshore force 4 to 5 wind.  Jono Dunnett led the competitors in his Laser, staying inshore, as they headed up the coast against a freshly flooding tide, to the Kingscliff buoy.  Tim Dye and Brian Allen, both sailing RS Aeros were close by him, whilst further out were John Tappenden in his RS Aero, and John and Charlie Heath in their RS200.  Dunnett was first to round Kingscliff, followed by Allen and then Dye but there was a slight gap before the fourth boat which was Derroll Pedder in his RS Aero.  The Heaths were next round and immediately hoisted their asymmetric spinnaker which accelerated them to the AWS mark.  On the third leg, out to the Seaward buoy, Allen took the lead but in a moment of confusion he rounded the mark on the wrong side although as soon he realised his mistake he unwound himself; however, it cost him dearly.  Just behind was Dave Ingle in his RS Aero whilst slightly further back the Lasers of Paul Stanton and Shelby Fowell were having a good old tussle.  Dunnett was now at the front with Dye challenging him as they headed to the Preston Park buoy but then Dye got caught out by a sudden gust and capsized, allowing Pedder to take on Dunnett, the Heaths just behind.  After Preston Park it was a reach to the Eastcliff mark, a run to the Lilley Farm buoy before heading back to the line.  At the end of the first lap it was Dunnett winning, both over the water and on handicap, Tappenden second and Pedder third.  The second lap saw both Dye and Allen working hard to try and sail through the fleet, Dye moving up to third place, whilst on the final lap, Pedder capsized from Preston Park to Eastcliff, righted the boat but capsized again, so killing his chances of being in the top three.

London Trophy:
1.    Laser – Jono Dunnett
2.    RS Aero – John Tappenden
3.    RS Aero – Tim Dye

Ten minutes after the London Trophy race commenced, the slower handicap boats got underway and although Finley Taylor got the best start in his Topper, it wasn’t long before Chris Maloney took his Comet into the lead, sailing a clean course to take the honours.

Potterers Pot:
1.    Comet – Chris Maloney
2.    Laser 4.7 – Gary Hollis
3.    Topper – Finley Taylor