The Hickling Sailing Club Charity Day began with Mac Powell, PRO for the day, giving his briefing in memory of Rob Powell his son of 37 years of age who tragically passed earlier this year.

Eastern Daily Press: Action from the charity day at Hickling Broad SC Picture: Ian SymondsAction from the charity day at Hickling Broad SC Picture: Ian Symonds (Image: Archant)

Rob's success had been to promote the local music scene through photography.

His legacy and the charity for the day at HBSC was the OPEN Youth Trust who are ring-fencing donations for photographic sessions for young people between nine and 19 hoping to pursue a career in photography.

Further details of the free sessions and how these can be arranged are available through OPEN (https://opennorwich.org.uk/).

The racing was suitably brisk despite the forecast being for 7/8mph winds it was in truth terrific sailing in 12/15 mph, with gusts up to 20mph, wind from the SE.

Mac Powell was able to start racing right in front of the clubhouse for a splendid beat to the first marker, a long run up the broad and essentially back around. Club Solos featured well in the first race, Kevin Postlethwaite and Chris Barker first and second with Steve 'Dangerous' Johnson third in his Phantom New. Ten Solos competed against 14 mixed dinghies, it took an increase in wind speed for the mixture of boats to be stirred around in the second race. That wind increase immediately put Peter Dearnley in his Wayfarer with spinnaker at an advantage; he took first with the Solos of Robert Hawkins and Jim Rosser second and third, just holding off Lasers and Punts.

Over the lunch break gusts hit 20mph plus and this saw the Punts withdraw leaving a much smaller fleet for the third race in the day's trophy hunt. This final race went down to a tussle between one Wayfarer and three Solos, the conclusion was Jim Rosser's Solo first, Peter Dearnley's Wayfarer second and Phil Atherton's Solo third.

The pursuit race was cancelled for very valid reasons – too much wind and too few boats. The trophy for the day, All-comers Silver Anniversary Rose Bowl, went to Peter Dearnley, crew Di Slater; second Jim Rosser and third Kevin Postlethwaite. All the race entries with generous additional contributions went to OPEN for the Rob Powell legacy.