Broadland Squib Regatta 2022

Friday picnic after the river race during the Broadland Squib Regatta 2022 © Richard Bowers

Squib sailors returned to Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club over the weekend of 26/27 March for the Broadland Squib Regatta, the first time that this event has been held since 2019 due to Covid cancellations. Once again, the fleet was greeted by the beautiful sunny conditions of the Costa del North Suffolk that have blessed the Class on its recent visits to Oulton Broad and Lowestoft.

Whilst numbers were slightly down on previous years, the Club welcomed visitors from Burnham, the Isle of Wight, West Midlands and Weymouth, although these long distance travellers were trumped by Race Officer Owen Delany who made the trip from Devon to be with us at the event. Whilst numbers were down the quality of the competition certainly wasn't and the entry included three former class National Champions.

Broadland Squib Regatta 2022 - photo © Matt Harper

For those that arrived early, there was a "friendly" River Race on the Friday culminating with a picnic at Burgh St Peter on the River Waveney, followed by a leisurely sail home in the afternoon. Jono Brown, crewed by Chris Agar, showed us that he had remembered all of the river racing skills that he learnt as a youngster on Wroxham Broad and led the fleet home.

Saturday morning dawned with more sunshine and a light north-easterly breeze, which was just sufficiently easterly to enable Owen to decide that we would be able to race as one fleet rather than in flights as in previous years.

Broadland Squib Regatta 2022 - photo © Matt Harper

Three races were sailed in a shifty force 2 to 3 breeze. Bryan and Jenny Riley were top boat in the first race, with Stu Rix and Steve Warren Smith hitting form to win the second race and Jono and Chris taking the third win of the day, but it was the Rileys who were well clear at the end of the day with 6 points, ahead of Rix on 11 points and the very consistent locals, Richard Smith and Graham Reeve, on 14 points.

With the fleet being split into Gold and Silver Fleets for Sunday, the Riley's overnight advantage was reduced to one point, with Saturday's overall positions carried forward and two further races held, with all three to count. It was Smith and Reeve who hit top form winning both races to take the trophy from the Rileys, with Rix and Warren Smith in third place, Brown and Agar in fourth.

Broadland Squib Regatta 2022 - photo © Matt Harper

The Silver Fleet was won by Ray Apthorp and Petru Balau from Burnham, narrowly beating Mark Moncrieff and Nick Hawkes from the home club, followed by Dan Wastnage and Fred Brown, also from Burnham.

Once again, this was a very sociable event with typically close racing and now the Class looks forward to the Squib Gold Cup and East Coast Championships, both to be held at Burnham, with fleets of 40 plus boats expected.

Overall Results:

Broadland Squib Regatta 2022 - photo © Matt Harper