Snowflake SC enjoyed – at last – a day with wind, thanks to a south-westerly front bringing 15 to 20mph winds across Norfolk.
So good was this the dinghy sailors came out in force. Ten Lasers and three Toppers started the first race, although the Yeoman turn-out was a little disappointing, starting with six.
The Yeoman set off first tacking up-river to Black Horse Broad entrance. The dinghies flew off the start to the cries from the box of three that were over the line. By the time the lead boats reached their top mark at the bend the Yeoman were on their way back. The mix of boats then passing the club house gave spectators a real feeling for just how fast the strong but gusty winds were.
Sally Dugdale, helming Lavinia, was first Yeoman, Ian Hanson's Kittiwake second and Bernard Westgate's Misty Morning third. In the second race Dugdale won again but this time with John Parker's Cherokee second and Martin Thompson in Topaz third.
The dinghies saw the standard rig Lasers holding out against the radials in the first race. The first race ended with Richie Dugdale first, Matthew Thwaites in Tigger second and Richard Whitefoot third. The second race saw Chris Haslam regain some of his recent excellent form to win in Perdey with a radial sail, Dugdale and Thwaites second and third respectively in standards. Four Lasers ventured out for the afternoon race and right at the start Dugdale limped back to the club house with a snapped upper mast section. Haslam was first, Curtis Drew second and Will Symonds in Buster third.
It was a good day for Laser sailors at Waveney & Oulton Broad YC as they dominated the Fast Handicap races on corrected time in the blustery conditions. In race one Simon Beckett and Jonathan Jones took the top two positions, over a minute ahead of Nick Favell's Phantom. Then in race two Joe Drake joined in and gave an excellent demonstration of laser sailing to finish first, just ahead of Jamie Freeman's RS300, and to win on handicap by a margin of over three minutes, with Jones and Beckett claiming 2nd and 3rd places.
The Squibs enjoyed excellent racing. Bryan and Jenny Riley sailed Brimstone to victory in race one, while Ian Keely and Pete Matthews (Supernova) took race two.
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