Hickling Broad SC's Open Leader meeting was competed over two races on Saturday and three on Sunday. Both Saturday races were from Hickling to Potter and back, notable for a testing beat to Potter and a long spinnaker run back.

Hickling Broad SC's Open Leader meeting was competed over two races on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Both Saturday races were from Hickling to Potter and back, notable for a testing beat to Potter and a long spinnaker run back.

They were won by visitor Mike Sherwen from Deben YC, the first with Chris Wharmby (Milton Keynes SC) second and John Parker from the home club third.

The next saw Anne and Ruth Hobson second and Wharmby third.

Sunday's races were “round the cans” on the broad, and proved equally exciting, with the long courses testing all points of sailing. The first race went to another visitor, Mick Fitzgerald of Dell Quay SC, with the Hobsons second.

Thereafter the day belonged to the girls as Anne and Ruth Hobson won the fourth race and then the tie-breaking fifth and final race, both from Saturday's winner, Sherwen, to take the honours.

Club racing produced 29 starters, with Dale Lawson coming out on top from Jordan Rumsby in the juniors, while the steadily increasing winds produced eight different helms taking the 12 guns in the seniors' section.

Seventeen Toppers, including eight visitors from clubs as far as Huntingdon and Hertfordshire, went to the line for NBYC's Open Topper meeting on Saturday.

Home club helm Nathan Ackroyd dominated proceedings with two first and a second to sweep to the title, with James Wilson, of Rollesby Broad SC, runner-up on the back of two seconds.

Hickling's Jordan Rumsby, meanwhile, finished strongly to count a fourth and then a last race victory to clinch third spot from Hunts SC's Alex Alcock, whose two thirds were not quite enough.

Young Cameron Jones did well to get fourth places in the second and third races.

On Barton Broad, 11 YBODs mustered for the Open meeting contesting the Consortium Cup and, as at Hickling, the weekend provided memorable and testing sailing coupled with the Punt Club's legendary hospitality and a truly spectacular sunset.

Mike Evans won three of the four races to take the honours, but the following places went to the wire.

Simon Daniels clinched second overall thanks to a second race win, while Colin Chettleburgh's two seconds on Saturday were just enough to put him third.

Seven Enterprises gave this class one of its best local turn-outs in recent years at Beccles, where the Arapaho Cup and Woodcock Salver points were at stake. Kevin Edwards, who has dominated this class in recent years, swept to two wins and a second. Richard Deller came second with two seconds and a first, although the ultimate results somewhat obscured the close level of competition.