Cruiser Open at the Norfolk Punt Club
by Alan Davis 12 Jun 2019 05:43 BST
8-9 June 2019
River Cruisers at the Norfolk Punt Club © James Arthur
As anticipated Saturday was blown out, but those brave enough to venture out onto the Broad enjoyed the continuous supply of tea and cakes from the tea hut.
The highlight of the afternoon was two 'hover' islands 'racing' across the Broad. The larger island might have been faster but was disqualified for hitting the pontoons and not doing its turns!
Sunday couldn't have been more different with almost perfect conditions except for the wind taking a break during the third race allowing for several position changes. For the most part the wind held in the SW backing or veering between SSW and W.
Nine boats came to the Committee boat start in two fleets for three races, beating to the first mark in the Neatishead channel. Given the spread of results the trophies could have been anybody's. 'Mystery' sailed by Matt and Jo Ford dominated the slow fleet and 'Breeze' sailed by the Chettleburgh family came out of the last race doldrums with a distinct lead only to see it shrink as the new breeze filled in from the South bringing back markers running up the Broad behind them. Steve Seeney in 'Mischief' had a good day winning the Fast fleet Trophy.
Barton Broad Challenge Trophy (Fast fleet)
1 307 Mischief, Steve Seeney
2 177 Breeze, Colin Chettleburgh
3 318 Pippin Jack, Paul Stevens
'The Mystery of Moonshadow's Knob' (Slow fleet)
1 218 Mystery, Matt Ford
2 290 Sprite, Mark Elson
3 179 Waxwing, Robin Clayton
'White Horse Trophy' (Overall winner)
1 218 Mystery, Matt Ford
2 307 Mischief, Steve Seeney
3 177 Breeze, Colin Chettleburgh
Achievement Trophy (special rules) not awarded
Club Racing
With the relentless rain and heavy winds, Saturday was a washout from a sailing perspective. However everyone made up for it with a great barbecue in the evening in the KonTiki.
Sunday was all together a different story. Racing commenced with three cruiser races and then over to Club sailing. The Club fleet struggled to reach the Committee boat start line joining the back of the last cruiser race with little or no wind at the South end of the Broad. Eventually the odd zephyr benefitted the boats in the right place at the right time before the wind eventually came back from the South to give good racing conditions.
Mark and Lenka Luckhurst in Camberwell Beauty managed a couple of firsts but ceded to Francis Trappes-Lomax in Coronet in the Yare and Bure race. It was nice to see a couple of juniors out. Daniel and Nick Conway in their Toppers but the length of course and the earlier lack of wind eventually proved too much of a challenge. Hopefully we will see more of them and in better conditions.
Next weekend is the Yare and Bure Open Regatta on Barton Broad and hopefully a better forecast will allow for the usual excellent racing. Entry details on the NPC website, www.puntclub.co.uk
Overall Results:
Race 1 (9)
1 46 Camberwell Beauty, Mark Luckhurst
2 126 Marsh Ringlet, David Adler
3 139 Lilac Beauty, John Seeley
Race 2 (5) Yare & Bure ODs
1 106 Coronet, Francis Trappes-Lomax
2 46 Camberwell Beauty, Mark Luckhurst
3 126 Marsh Ringlet, David Adler
Race 3 (3)
1 82 Merlin, Andrew Wilton
2 88 Cormorant, Bart Sawyer
3 21013 Laser 2000, Debbie Conway
Race 4 (7)
1 46 Camberwell beauty, Mark Luckhurst
2 82 Merlin, Andrew Wilton
3 126 Marsh Ringlet, Paul Watson