Frostbites enjoyed their best turnout of the season when 14 Norfolks and two Toppers started in a cold SW wind ranging between Force 2-4 and gusting to Force 5 – providing an exhausting four round beat, run and reach and necessitating a split start for the first time in the Norfolks.

Ian Tims and Martin Devlin set the pace in the first start and, after Kevin Edwards and Martin Devlin retired following an infringement were way out on their own to finish over five minutes clear of their nearest rivals, John Clabburn and Mike Tims, and almost lapping the last boat in their section.

Meanwhile, the second start was to prove more competitive, Sam Woodcock and Clare Ellis revelling in a close battle with Ray Johnson and Wendy Bush to win by 22 seconds, albeit two minutes short of Ian Tims.

Paul and Karen Armitage continued their improvement with a hard earned third place, and, on merging the results, this trio took second, third and fourth overall after Ian Tims. Emily King won the teenage battle in the Toppers against Ellie Edwards, three years her junior.

The personal handicap race following saw a reduced entry attributed to senior exhaustion, and produced a notable win for Emily in her Topper by a minute over Tims and Devlin in another testing battle, in which Emily actually beat three of the Norfolks lover the water.

Derek and Jo Edwards put in a sterling performance against Sam Woodcock, only succumbing just short of the line.

Snowflakes found the wind a challenge as they sailed two races up to a point half way between the Broad entrance and the Mill, weathering gusts well into Force 5.

Steve Cliffe and Chris Hanson took the honours from Paul barker and Trevor Whiting, while a couple of Yeomans retired and Kim West's Laser again went horizontal.

Barker won the second, shorter race. Doubtless some were preserving their energy for this Sunday's Martin Dugdale Memorial Race.