Despite the unfavourable forecast, an enjoyable weekend’s racing for the Platinum Jubilee was held at Horning Sailing Club. Saturday evening saw the start of the Sundown series for 2022, with racing taking place on the river in gusty conditions. The lively winds were popular with the dinghies, nine taking part in Lasers, Toppers and Splashes. With capsizes a-plenty, racing was exciting with some spectacular downwind sailing. After three races Abbey Penny sailing her Topper won two, the remaining race being won by Anya Gittins also sailing a Topper.
Sunday had seen a prediction of strong winds and torrential rain, which impacted on the number of keelboats out racing. However, the dinghies, buoyed from the previous days activities and looking forward to getting back onto Hoveton Little Broad, turned out in force with a fleet of 11 on the water. The winds not being as strong as forecast, and the skies dull and overcast but the rain holding off, three races were completed in quick succession. In the Yeomans, Chris Bolton in Folly Too won the first, with Geoff Stubbs in Tara winning the later two races; Paul Clarke in Two C Sons was third in each race, all struggling with problems caused by weed on the Broad. The Rebels saw Kevin Edwards in Rebel Maid win three races from Kim West in this, the Jubilee weekend, helming the aptly named Rebel Queen. The Allcomers B fleet saw James Pettit (Splash), Jasper Richardson (Laser Radial) and William Woolston (Laser) take a win each, whilst amongst the Toppers three wins went to Abbey Penny, with Anya Gittins second in all the races, and third places going to Ella Middleton and Jasmine Herring.
Back at the Clubhouse the social afternoon was in full swing, with many sailors opting to sail outside the Clubhouse well into the afternoon. Tomorrow (Monday) sees the start of the paddleboarding evenings at 6pm.
