Yeoman Open Weekend at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club for the Wayfarer Trophy

by Bill & Diana Webber 30 May 2019 13:25 BST 18-19 May 2019

Overcast and cool conditions greeted nine boats for the first Yeoman Open of the season.

In the first race, Paul and Janet Barker in Brandy Bottle lead away from the start line with Mark and Ellie Ringwood in Gremlin 3 and Bill and Diana Webber in Nimrod to leeward. A wind shift after Nimrod tacked to the first mark put her in the lead, closely followed by Brandy Bottle and Gremlin 3. The boats finishing the first beat forced Nimrod to sail towards the bank at the start of the run allowing the following boats to pass to leeward. A wind shift on the second beat allowed Nimrod to take the lead which she held to the finish. Brandy Bottle crossed the line second followed by Gremlin 3. Unfortunately, Mark had overlooked the need to enter the event and lost his position.

In race two, John and Kay Rawlinson had the best start, putting their midweek starting training to good use. It was however Brandy Bottle that led around the first mark. Later in the race Nimrod caught up to challenge for the lead but Brandy Bottle pulled away again to win.

With a similar strength breeze on Sunday morning but oscillating between NE and NW, most of the fleet started at the clubhouse end of the line. It was Nimrod further out in the Broad that had the slightly stronger wind to be in the lead by the first mark. Brandy Bottle was close behind but lost out to Gremlin 3 as the final lap started.

With both Nimrod and Brandy Bottle still able to win the event, it promised to be a closely fought last race but unfortunately Brandy Bottle was over the line at the start. This allowed Nimrod to go on to win the race after some early pressure from Gremlin 3. Brandy Bottle pulled through to second place late in the last lap. Michael and Frances Holmes sailed consistently well to cross the finishing line in fourth place in every race.

It was good to see some new faces racing for the first time in and enjoying the weekend.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Yacht Name	Helm	Crew	Pts
1	164	Nimrod	Bill Webber	Diana Webber	3
2	91	Brandy Bottle	Paul Barker	Janet Barker	5
3	302	Gremlin 3	Mark Ringwood	Ellie Ringwood	7
4	303	White Spirit	Michael Holmes	Frances Holmes	11
5	300	Revolution	Andrew Musgrave	Daphne Musgrave	14
6	21	Lara	John Rawlinson	Kay Rawlinson	17
7	92	Swallow	Brett Martin	Ian Malton	18
8				Helen Hayes
9	168	Jade	Les Clarke	Lynda Clarke	22
10	65	Snowgoose	Clare Cavell	Esther	24