Eleven Norfolks enjoyed a fast run downriver from Whitlingham to Bramerton when Frostbites started their down-river series on Sunday.

Robert George and Caroline Lord established an early lead which they held until, having passed under the by-pass, they came in to Postwick Grove, graveyard of so many ambitions and saviour of the following pack.

Surprise, surprise, it was David and Kate Mackley who emerged into the open waters on the final leg, marginally ahead of a pack of pursuers, to cross the line first just as the pub opened.

From the pursuing half dozen, Kevin and Pippa Edwards followed 21 seconds later, a mere second ahead of Alan Mitchell and John Winsworth, who had entered the Grove almost last, while George came in sixth.

The beat back was a longer affair, but after John Atkinson and Leona Levine led into the Grove, the Edwards came through to lead a well-spaced out fleet home, and take the Darley Cup.

Rollesby just beat Frostbites' turnout with 14 for their Spring Regatta, sailing a figure-of-eight course in the shifting winds, producing much place changing.

In the first race Auriel Gibson and Lindsey Nettleton took line honours in the Wayfarer, but not by sufficient to cancel out the leading Solos, Barry Graver and Bob Hawkins. These two took the first two places, but in the other order, in the second race, with Bob Sparrow and Tony Gibbs best of the rest, leaving them to battle the last race for overall victory. Hawkins again emerged on top and Graver second overall, despite a spirited performance in the Enterprise from Chris Mann and Heather Vaughan, whose second place earned them third overall on the day.

At Hickling, R Taylor and James Savage each won sailing Lasers with Chris Tucket taking the third race in his International Canoe on a day that, with 23 starters, saw seven different helms earn guns sailing five different classes.

Forthcoming open meetings: The Open season starts this weekend, when WOBYC host a Laser Grand Prix Open on Easter Saturday and on Easter Monday Horning hold their traditional Open Down-River to Thurne and back. Meanwhile NBYC hold their Easter Sailing School from Monday to Friday, with an Optimist Open on Saturday April 14 and a Wayfarer Open on the Sunday. Other Open Meetings that weekend are Solo Travellers at Hickling ( Saturday) and on Sunday ( Rollesby), Northern Rivers Spring Trophy Races on Barton, both days, and on Sunday only Buckenham's Pump Station Race, and, a little further afield, Southwold SC's up-river race to Blythburgh.