Horning
It was a busy weekend at Horning Sailing Club with two events taking place over the Bank Holiday.
Saturday saw the return of the popular pursuit race and social, which attracted a large variety of craft from a river cruiser to almost every class of keelboat sailed at the club, together with a number of dinghies.
With the slowest boats starting first, sailing cruiser Elfin, helmed by Andrew Bond, a Miracle dinghy, sailed by Derek Jones, and the Splashes of Ellie and Jo Edwards, did well to stay ahead for a large part of the race.
It was, however, the final starter Robert Hancock sailing his Reedling Keelboat on his first outing of the season who worked his way through the fleet to take a clear win ahead of Mario Tinge and Roger Hannant, both sailing Yeomans.
Popular demand meant that a second race was run, won this time by Ellie, with Mario second and Jo third.
Coldham Hall
The first Open Regatta of the season took place at Coldham Hall Sailing Club.
The Saturday got off to a good start with steady winds although this quickly changed as winds increased to very strong, providing challenging sailing conditions, and claiming the mast of Yeoman Y72 Millchic. Early contenders for trophies were quick to show, with David Mackley, John Wells, David Hickman and Amanda Blezard taking good positions early on.
Sunday dawned and with the excellent course set by Race officer Paul Tegerdine, racing was able to continue even with the very high winds increasing throughout the day, causing several capsizes.
As racing progressed the entries for the series races continued to drop reflecting the increasing winds.
However, the brave souls who did continue gave much entertainment to the crowds watching from the safety of the bank.
David Mackley took the Norfolk Cup winning all four races from John Ellis who won Jack Points and Harry Last trophies.
David Woolston, crewed by wife Margaret, won twice with one second and took the Youngman Bowl for Yeomans, after a fiercely contested series with David Hickman, who took the cup for local boats crewed by Debbi Jaffey.
John Wells, even with capsizing, still managed to win the Wayfarer Cup with long suffering crew Sandy. Colin Brown took the Cruiser cup on Saturdays results.
Beccles
Good numbers were out on the Waveney last Saturday afternoon as the last two races in series A were contested.
Jonathon Blankley and Sophie Manders in their RS200 had the best of the first start keeping the lead throughout despite Harry Shipley always close. After a shortened two rounds Blankley took the win, George and Glen Curtis second on corrected time from Shipley third.
Winds became more challenging than forecast, gusting force five as race two got underway. Ryan Langston and Amy Hewitt quickly developed a lead over good starters Richard Salisbury and Mike Thrower in their Norfolk. Blankley got close to Langston but ran aground briefly near the Norfolk bank up near the finish.
On handicap team Curtis in Norfolk 'Penelope Jane' got the win, Shipley in 'King Murphy' second and Langston third. With six out of ten series races to count the RNLI Pennant silverware went this year to Harry Shipley in his Laser and Ed Rake with five solid performances to count collected the Poyser Cup Trophy.
Hickling
Hickling Broad Sailing Club held their Spring Regatta over the bank holiday weekend. Unfortunately Sunday dawned very blustery and with gusts close to gale force the Race Officer took the sensible decision to abandon racing for the day.
Better luck was had on Monday and although it was still grey and blustery conditions were suitable for racing. There was a steady Force 4 blowing from the south east with gusts coming through at top end of Force 5. Still 20 entries were forthcoming and the race officer set a challenging first beat from a committee boat start to the SE corner of the broad. A lively reach and run were then enjoyed back to the clubhouse end of the broad, including a couple of gybes on the way back for fun.
Despite the conditions all of Monday's planned races were sailed and whilst all trophies could not be awarded, due to Sunday's abandonment, there was a prizegiving as follows:
Norfolk Punts points series – Norfolk Punt Cup – Chris & Cliff Haslam
Allcomers A&B points series– Harold Swan Cup – David Maisey
Lasers points series – Mervyn Wright Cup – Matt Sayer
Solo points series – Myers Cup – Giles Bradford
Allcomers A – Broads Haven Cup – Peter Cullum & Edward Evans
Allcomers B - Martini Cup – Chris Haslam
Pursuit Race – Thurne Cup – David Maisey
Best placed Junior in points series – Junior Cup – Chris Haslam
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