Yare & Bure One Design Open at Norfolk Punt Club
by Alan Davis 18 Jun 10:06 BST
15-16 June 2019
Norfolk Punt Club Yare & Bure One Design Open © R. Myerscough
The Norfolk Punt Club Yare and Bure One Design Open Event was held on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of June.
The NPC team set up for the open on Saturday in bright sunshine and a light wind. Great conditions for course setting and recieving guests on the pontoons. By 2pm, however, there was more cloud and a freshening breeze for the thirteen starters.
Race 1 began at 2.00pm and from the start Flip Foulds in The Miller took an early lead from Chris Bunn in The Fox and stayed in front until the closely fought finish. James Dugdale came in 3rd in Ghost with the first Punt club boat Silver Blue helmed by Simon Daniels 4th.
Race 2 began at 4.00pm in increasingly challenging conditions, with only 11 starters and several skippers looking for a third to help manage the gusting conditions.It was again Wroxham that took the honours with Chris Bunn leading in Fox, Flip Foulds in The Miller and James Dugdale in Ghost challenging closely in that order.
Sunday morning was equally challenging, weather wise, with three men or women in a boat, for Race 3 and Chris Bunn in Fox crossing the line first, from Martin Thompson in Dingy Skipper second and James Dugdale third in Ghost.
Race 4 was very finely judged start by Fox, a hairs breadth further would have taken him over the line! Undeterred Chris Bunn won again, with Flip Foulds in The Miller second and Simon Daniels in Silver Blue third, closely pursued by Peter Robbins in Small white. Simon and Peter enjoyed some excellent competitive sailing in all four of the series and overall finished 5th and 6th respectively, Simon just pipping Peter for the Whelpton Trophy for the first NPC white boat in the event.
The overall winner was Chris Bunn in Fox,who received the Consortium Cup ahead of Flip Foulds in The miller and James Dugdale in Ghost took third place, a clean sweep by Wroxham.
In spite of the challenging weather the members and our guests managed to consume large amounts of tea and cake, with the overnight barbecue a very social affair. Thanks to the NPC crew for the hard work and hosting this friendly event.
Race Results:
Race 1 (13)
1 136 The Miller, Flip Foulds
2 142 Fox, Chris Bunn
3 118 Ghost, James Dugdale
Race 2 (12)
1 142 Fox, Chris Bunn
2 136 The Miller, Flip Foulds
3 118 Ghost, James Dugdale
Race 3 (10)
1 142 Fox, Chris Bunn
2 6 Dingy Skipper, Martin Thompson
3 118 Ghost, James Dugdale
Race 4 (9)
1 142 Fox, Chris Bunn
2 136 The Miller, Flip Foulds
3 54 Silver Blue, Simon Daniels