Saturday was a real success for Hickling Broad Sailing Club with commodore Julian Jefferies proclaiming it the best open day this century.
What he meant was that for a club on the rise with its first RYA Push the Boat Out Day combined with an Open Day the result was truly amazing.
More than 60 visitors resulted in just over 30 new club members who signed and paid on the day.
Sunday's racing appeared to be starting in the slow lane with grey, overcast weather.
The centre of the broad had a good westerly breeze that offered good upwind and downwind for all the boats.
Race management was key to the success of the day, PRO Bob Hawkins ran the racing in the best part of the broad to give the sailors as much challenge as possible. Adjusting the course between races was also critical to maintaining the sailing integrity.
The first race, after handicaps were applied, was won by Dave Shipston in his Finn; the second race by Richard Whitefoot in his Punt HC; the third by Peter Dearnley in his Wayfarer. This was a day for the boats carrying the most sail despite the handicap system that would normally pull the results closer together.
Next Saturday is a club training day for all ages, many of the new members were hustling to join the regular enthusiastic crowd.
Saturday saw Horning Sailing Club host a Single-handed Open event, attracting a variety of dinghies from Toppers to Splashes and Lasers.
In the Lasers, Edward Wildman won all three races from brother Thomas, whilst James Street achieved the same in the Toppers, ahead of Hamish Harmer. Five Splashes competed, with Pippa Edwards taking two wins and Jack Barnham the third race.
They both also took a second place, along with James Pettit. Sunday's weather provided frustratingly light and shifty winds, making the reach up and down the river somewhat of a lottery, particularly when joined by the Hustler fleet from Hunter's Yard making their way from Horning upriver. Kim West and Bernard Mann won all three Rebel races, whilst Ron Jackson and Alastair Fields took a win each in the YBODs. Geoff Stubbs and Andrew Gallant also won a race each in the Yeomans, with Stuart Bailey winning the Reedling race.
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