Despite the constant threat of thunderstorms, a good weekend was enjoyed on the water at Horning Sailing Club over Saturday 3rd/Sunday 4th July. Saturday afternoon saw the start of the Club’s annual Keelboat Weekend and, after a break in 2020 due to Covid-19, saw good class racing and a strong turnout with 23 boats on the water. The first day’s racing was on the river in a southerly wind, the course was mainly a reach, but was changeable winds made for light and shifty conditions. In the Reedlings, Robert and Holly Hancock (Siskin) started the weekend well with two wins, ahead of Kevin Saunders and Phil Logsdon (Cockatrice), with Geoff and Michael Stubbs (Tara) achieving the same in the Yeomans. In both races Paul and Sarah Clarke (Two C Sons) were second, with the young team of James Pettit and Edward Wildman (Anoah) third. The first Rebel race was won by Kim West and David Pritchard (Rebel), despite taking a penalty, with Kevin and Ellie Edwards (Rebel Maid) winning the second race. Both Yare & Bure races were won by Simon Means and his family (Painted Jezebel). On returning to the Clubhouse, many of the Club’s dinghy sailors enjoyed participating in the evening’s Sundown series (which again managed to dodge the storms).
On Sunday, racing took place on Hoveton Little Broad – which would, over the course of the day, provide its own challenges. In the morning, the shifty light winds caused some frustration but the biggest difficulty was the weed, which several sailors picked up on their rudders during the racing – most notably amongst the Reedlings and Yeomans. An entertaining sight between the races saw many of the fleet sailing backwards in an effort to displace it! On returning to the Broad after lunch, a sea breeze had kicked in, which - although providing a more consistent breeze - had swung round considerably! At the conclusion of six races in total, Siskin won in the Reedlings, counting just one win more than Cockatrice. In the Yeomans, Tara was first overall, whilst a strong effort from Anoah saw them win the last race to come second, and third overall was Two C Sons. The Rebels were narrowly won by Rebel, scoring three wins ahead of Rebel Maid with two. It was similarly close in the Yare & Bures, with Painted Jezebel just taking the series with three wins ahead of Ron Jackson and Julia Bower (Holly Blue).
