Yare and Bure One Design Bolingbroke Bowl at Norfolk Broads Yacht Club

Start of the first race during the Yare and Bure Open at Norfolk Broads YC © Bill & Diana Webber

Twenty-four Yare and Bure keelboats (locally known as White Boats) came to the start line on Saturday afternoon in a light north easterly wind and overcast skies. The weather not changing until the sun came through after the last race on Sunday.

In the minutes up to the start of the first race, the starboard end of the line was heavily favoured with David and Nicky Talbot in Red Admiral and Chris Bunn and Nicky Tansley in Fox leading away. A big wind shift soon after the start induced most of the fleet to tack as it looked for a while that the port end starters would be ahead but Fox, Red Admiral and James Dugdale with Kath Fiddy crewing in Ghost managed to cross ahead. As the race continued, Stu Rix and Dave Bye in Cinnamon Twist and Tim Frary with George Davies in Lunar gained places to finish second and third behind Fox.

Chris Bunn and Nicky Tansley in Fox during the Yare and Bure Open at Norfolk Broads YC - photo © Bill & Diana Webber

In the second race, it was the same few boats in the top finishing group with Fox winning again. In the third race, an uncharacteristic fifth place for Fox meant that Duke of Burgundy or Cinnamon Twist could win the meeting if Fox was out of the first few places in the final race.

For the fourth and final race it was the port end of the line which was favoured which meant that boats starting at this end of the line would need good speed and then wait for a header to be able to tack onto port tack and clear the fleet. This is exactly what Fox and Duke of Burgundy attempted. Fox succeeded but Duke of Burgundy had to duck the first starboard tack boat and thus be swallowed up into the fleet. Cinnamon Twist took advantage of a good lift and gust on the first beat to lead for a while but it was to be Fox at the front at the first mark followed by Simon and Edward Whipp in White Admiral. Fox pulled away to a strong lead at the finish and win the race and meeting.

Overall Results: