Alan MallettTwenty-four Optimists, some of them visitors and some practising skills taught during the previous week, assembled for four intensive races on Wroxham Broad last Saturday.Alan Mallett

Twenty-four Optimists, some of them visitors and some practising skills taught during the previous week, assembled for four intensive races on Wroxham Broad last Saturday. There were 11 in the Gold fleet and 13 in the Silver.

In the Gold fleet proceedings were dominated by Emily King, who, after trying the Toppers a week earlier, hit top form to win the first two races and add a third and second to take the Pank Optimist trophy by a three point margin from Tom Johnson, last race winner, and Chay Taylor and David Labrouche, third and fourth on the tie break.

These four took 11 of the 12 guns, fifth placed Hope Gozzett gaining a second place in the second race.

The Silver Fleet was equally hard fought, with Billy Johnson of the home club counting six points to take his Trophy from Matthew Jayasekara and Mack Mackay, each on nine points.

Wins were well shared, Johnson and Jayasekara each winning one race while fourth placed Arabella Sabberton won the fourth race and sixth placed Alexandra Knight the second.

Hickling's Open Laser meeting in the Traveller's competition had all the right ingredients, unbroken sunshine, and a steady 10 knot breeze which remained constant all day, and 17 starters, some local, others from as far afield as Wales.

Pity then that the first race had to be scratched owing to a misunderstanding over a shorten course signal which led to a protest.

It was especially unfortunate for WOBYC's Sam Cole, who had crossed the line first, ahead of James Cully (NBYC) and Hickling's veteran Phil Atherton. The two remaining races were both won by Jordan Rumsby, also HBSC, who took the HSBC Laser Trophy, a wooden half model, with Cully runner-up in both races.

t Close on 20 craft came to the line for Horning's Acle Bridge race, ranging from Cruisers to Reedlings.

The most exciting episode was at the start when a Cruiser and a White Boat ran firmly aground on the start line across the river.

Whilst the White Boat extricated itself relatively quickly, the Cruiser remained a semi permanent feature of the landscape, causing chaos to the other craft as they tried to find their way round it, and ultimately retiring.

The return leg saw all competitors finish within six minutes.

John Holden won a hard fought cruiser race while Bernie Westgate and George Whitefoot each won a leg in the Yeomans.

t Frostbites again had to limit their down-river to Postwick Grove and back in the light airs, David and Kate Mackley winning the down-river stretch, while the return proved more competitive, Ray Johnson and Wendy Bush beating Geoff Coulthard and Charlie Heath by just one second, with the remaining five boats crossing the line within a further 46 seconds.

t I walked the dogs down South Walsham Dyke recently and was pleased to see more than 20 sailing cruisers, several near Thurne Mouth, and close on ten sailing on South Walsham Broad.

Most of these were hired by Bitternes Afloat, a Southampton based Christian organization which has been bringing youngsters up for a week on the Broads for over 50 years. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves and it was good to see them introduced to the Broads.

t This weekend NBYC hold their first Star Open of the season on both days, coupled on Sunday with a Laser Open in their Traveller series.

On Sunday Beccles have an Open Day which will include the launching of their new RS Fevas.

These, together with a new Safety boat, have been funded by the Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund and the programme recognizes the efforts the club has been putting into youth training and development.

The proceedings start about 1pm, and guests will include the BA Chief Executive John packman, with his wife Caroline. Moving on a week, next Friday sees Yare SC start their 3 day May Day Cruise and evening events at Reedham on Friday and Rockland on Saturday.

The major event is of course Coldham Hall regatta on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, slightly overlapped by Hickling Broad SC's Spring regatta on Sunday and Bank holiday Monday.

One day meetings include Rollesby's Open Day on Saturday, and on Sunday Horning's down river to Thurne and GYGSC's Open Sprint Series Number One.