Yesterday the sun made its appearance at Wroxham Regatta, accompanied by a stiff westerly. The morning saw a number of issues settled. James Rushton, 13, gained the win necessary to win the Oppi Trough with one race to go, making an encouraging prelude to the Optimist Nationals at Weymouth this week, where close on 200 youngsters will congregate.

Yesterday the sun made its appearance at Wroxham Regatta, accompanied by a stiff westerly.

The morning saw a number of issues settled. James Rushton, 13, gained the win necessary to win the Oppi Trough with one race to go, making an encouraging prelude to the Optimist Nationals at Weymouth this week, where close on 200 youngsters will congregate.

Second spot in this race went to Oli Chapman and third to Thomas Needham, but in the midday and afternoon races Needham had his revenge. He beat young Rushton into second and Chapman into third, although it still leaves Rushton as front runner for the Garincha Cup and Moore Optimist Trophy.

In the same series a second place was enough to secure Geoff Coulthard the Wroxham Regatta Clock, in a race notable for a splendid win by John and Robert Atkinson, and a first ever gun (third) for Nick Hancox and Jenny Hall. Two wins, morning and afternoon, gave Danny and Jonathan Tyrrell both the Star Trophies, while five out of five victories ensured that the Landamore Trophy (Yeomans) would go to Sally Dugdale, and the Hugh Rudd Trophy (BODs) to Ian Tims.

Between these races the Cruisers had had their midday fling, and, with the wind continuing at the Force 4 level with some unfriendly gusts, the activity proved fascinating. The Cruiser Trophies remain open, more so among the faster boats, which saw victory for Robin Richardson, and disaster for two others. Matthew Thwaites' Storm, having generously ceded right of way to a rival in view of the conditions, was caught by a sudden gust and forced aground, while Cuckoo lost her main halliard.

In the slower fleet Charles Cator and Henry Fillery both look well placed, Fillery slightly better off with a third today from Richard Lord and Will Bentall.

Wind strength prompted the ordering of one reef for the BOD and YBOD classes, and this proved justified in the case of the former. It also held good for the following dinghy series, in which Gilly Foulds enhanced her trophy prospects with another win, this time from Nick Eastwood and Geoff Coulthard. Then a spot of rain was enough to deal the wind a mortal blow, and the YBOD fleet had to do three rounds in a Force 1 with one reef. It seemed to suit John and Nelia Clabburn, who, after returning from being over at the start, held on to cross the line first, only to suffer the "Flag F" penalty of 20pc. Ian Tims, following, suffered a like penalty, leaving third placed Chris Bunn to emerge as winner. In all probability he will secure the Hayes Challenge Cup, from Patrick Richardson, after a spirited fight from Simon Whipp, who held second for much of the race.

John and Robert Atkinson made it a double by winning the Norfolks with a two minute win, after a little help from Geoff Coulthard, who rounded the first mark in the lead, but unfortunately the wrong way. While he was winding himself up, and unwinding his tracks, the rest got round and away, Atkinson clear ahead, with Jeremy Ives second. The fleet closed up, though, with Tim Power and Claire Lincoln, appearing for the first time for some years, opting to keep away from the rest. It paid off as they moved into second, and in third came "Pat and Bat" who got past Martin and Jenny Broom on the final round, although Broom remains front runner.