Horning Sailing Club End of Season Regatta
by Holly Hancock 11 Oct 2016 08:30 BST
8-9 October 2016
Horning Sailing Club End of Season Regatta © Holly Hancock
Horning Sailing Club celebrated the end of the 2016 season over the weekend of 8/9th October with racing taking place on Hoveton Little Broad on Saturday and the river on Sunday, the weather going through all four seasons during the course of each day, from warm sunshine to hail showers, flat calm to squally conditions. A mixed fleet of thirty-seven boats took part, including dinghies, keelboats and cruisers.
Saturday afternoon's racing on the Broad began in very light winds, with a huge wind shift minutes before the first start resulting in a postponement. Once racing got underway the winds became even lighter with the Broad resembling a millpond at times, and all the fleets converging at various points on the course. Ironically the breeze picked up towards the end of the race, only to drop for the start of the second, resulting in an extremely slow race and forcing several retirements.
More wind was forecast for Sunday, with racing taking place on the river, and hopes were high for a good final day of sailing. However, the river was glassy calm and the day began under postponement. When racing got underway, the weather fluctuated between gusty squalls accompanied by torrential rain to brilliant warm sunshine and rainbows. Both the Allcomers B and Yeoman fleets saw strong turnouts, with it being particularly encouraging in the latter to see several new sailors joining the fleet.
There were dominant performances in all the fleets, with Peter and Joe Brown sailing Rebel Rothay, and Ron Jackson and Julia Bower sailing YBOD Holly Blue, each taking a clean sweep of five wins in their respective fleets. Robert Hancock in the Reedling fleet achieved four first places, whilst Mario Tinge helming Fire Opal, and Kevin & Jo Edwards sailing Norfolk Dinghy Minnie, each scored three firsts in their respective fleets.
A strong tide and shifting winds made racing extremely challenging, but patience was rewarded, particularly for the dinghies, with these taking the top three places overall. First was Norfolk Dinghy Minnie, sailed by the Edwards family – on Saturday sailed by Kevin and daughter Pippa, and on Sunday Jo crewed by older daughter Ellie, whilst in second and third were the Lasers of Roger Hannant and Edward Wildman respectively, just one point separating them after six races.
Overall Results:
1st Minnie – Norfolk Dinghy (Kevin/Jo & Pippa/Ellie Edwards)
2nd Way 2 Go – Laser (Roger Hannant)
3rd Custard Cream – Laser (Edward Wildman)
Fleet trophies:
Reedlings: Parsons Dyke Quaich – Siskin (R Hancock/H Hancock)
Rebels: Chieftain Trophy – Rebel Rothay (P Brown/J Brown)
Yeomans: Dydlers Mill Cup – Fire Opal (M Tinge/L Whitefoot)
YBODs: Martin Dugdale Memorial Trophy – Holly Blue (R Jackson/J Bower)
Allcomers B: Bure Trophy – Minnie (K/J Edwards/P/E Edwards)
Cruisers: End of Season Cruiser Trophy – Cygnet (M Reilly/C Shallcross)
Production Cruisers: Racing Reach Trophy – Poppy (C & J Thomson)