Topper Eastern Travellers at Horning Sailing Club
by Holly Hancock 9 Jun 2018 22:17 PDT
9 June 2018
Horning Sailing Club was host to a Topper Traveller event on Saturday 9th June 2018, attracting a strong turnout of 22 entrants including 11 visitors from both local clubs and those further afield, including sailors from Cambridgeshire (Grafham Water Sailing Club, Hunts SC), Essex (Harwich Town SC), Suffolk (Alton Water SC) and Norfolk (Snettisham Beach SC, Norfolk Broads Yacht Club and Hickling Broad SC).
Racing began on the River Bure outside the Clubhouse in a gentle breeze, proving just enough to get competitors around the course. As the fleet converged in a calmer patch close to the Broad entrance, Tom Thwaites (NBYC) managed to break away and retained this lead for the remainder of the race. Second was Charles Alston and third Charlotte Knight (both NBYC). The second race followed shortly after, Tom winning again, with Timothy Evans (Grafham Water SC) second and Charles third.
After lunch racing moved to Hoveton Little Broad where a more consistent breeze was found. Two further races took place, Tom winning both to make it a clean sweep of four wins out of four. Timothy finished second in these two races, with Charles and Noah Fitzgerald (Alton Water) each taking a third position.
For many of Horning's young sailors it was their first time taking part in such an event and all persevered, showing great sportsmanship. It was particularly encouraging to see the young sailors working their way up the fleet, with notable performances in individual races from Abigail Penny (4th), Jasper Richardson (8th), James Street (9th), Charlie Broadbent (9th), Jamie Logsdon (10th) and Noah Smith (11th).
Despite a few capsizes, and unseasonably cool weather, all returned to the Clubhouse with a smile having enjoyed the racing - Horning Sailing Club looks forward to welcoming back the young sailors soon.
Overall Results: (top six)
1st Tom Thwaites (Norfolk Broads Yacht Club)
2nd Timothy Evans (Grafham Water Sailing Club)
3rd Charles Alston (Norfolk Broads Yacht Club)
4th Charlotte Knight (Norfolk Broads Yacht Club)
5th Malcom McLeod Flemming (Hunts SC)
6th Finley Webb (Harwich Town Sailing Club)