Leader Open at Hickling Broad Sailing Club
by Brian Wilkins 17 Jun 2008 08:26 BST
14-15 June 2008
Eight leaders, five of them visitors, took part in HBSC's annual Leader weekend, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June. By tradition, Saturday's racing took the format of a passage race across the Broad, into the river, across remote Heigham Sound, through Candle Dyke to Martham and then right, down the River Thurne to Potter Heigham. With a following northerly breeze and boosted by the ebb tide, with spinnakers up nearly all the way, passage times were quick - about 50 minutes.
Following a sojourn at the Broadshaven Tavern, extended because the Race Officer forgot to order his lunch, the return passage race into the wind and up-tide proved difficult sailing and took a lot longer - up to two hours. Andy and Anne Hobson (HBSC) won the first passage race and Mike and Val Sherwen (Deben Yacht Club) the second.
Sunday stayed dryer, and with a light northerly and three races round the cans on the Broad, saw many reversals of form, with Roger Morse from Welwyn Garden City SC taking Race Three from Roger Wilson (Sussex Yacht Club).
With three races to cound of the five over two days, first place overall went to the Hobson team, second to the Sherwens and third to Club Commodore John Parker crewed by Sarah Cole.
Overall Results:
1st Andy and Anne Hobson (HBSC)
2nd Mike and Val Sherwen (Deben Yacht Club)
3rd John Parker and Sarah Cole (HBSC)
4th Roger Morse (Welwyn Garden City SC)
5th= Chris Wharmby and Sally Morris (Milton Keynes Sailing Club)
5th= Roger Wilson and assorted crew (Sussex YC)