Norfolk Punt Championship 2022 at the Norfolk Punt Club, Barton Broad

Norfolk Punt Championship 2022 at the Barton Regatta 2022 © Robin Myerscough Photography

Norfolk Punt Championship 2022 at the Barton Regatta 2022 © Robin Myerscough Photography

It was a beautiful day on Barton Broad for the start of the annual Norfolk Punt championships with a moderate to south westerly wind.

For the first race the fleet were remarkably line shy apart Goldeneye Dick Roe/Kate Dulieu. As the breeze built WillDaniels/Rob Daniels in Swallow II performed a spectacular capsize near the club pontoons with their kite up allowing Andrew Friend/Rob Friend to take the win on the water and on handicap from Simon Clayton/Mark Elson in Decoy with Drew Wilton/Elska Wilton third in Merlin.

The start of race 2 was more competitive with several including Rushlight, Blackbird and Cavender being recalled for being over. The freshening breeze resulted in many capsizes with some of the water logged traditional designs resembling submarines when righted! Winners on handicap were Decoy, followed by Blackbird with Swallow 2 third. The close finish between Decoy and Swallow 2 leading to an entanglement of rigs and capsize just after the finish.

For race 3 the fleet hit the line at speed with Cormorant attempting an unsuccessful port tack start.

The helm falling out of Goldeneye and an untimely gust for Redwing led to both capsizing. The wind then died completely as the leading boat rounded the last buoy of the course making the OOD regret her decision not to shorten on the previous lap. Blackbird again led on the water and on handicap with Swallow 2 second and Merlin third. Having successfully evaded a motor boat sandwich at the final mark Goldeneyes crew then fell off the wire to check the water temperature previously tested by the helm.

Norfolk Punt Championship 2022 at the Barton Regatta 2022 - photo © Robin Myerscough Photography

The weary fleet then headed ashore to be revived at the championship party hosted by Sally Edmunds and Roseanne Sawyer at Sallys home at Barton Turf staithe.

The weather was beautiful again for day 2 of the championships with the wind veering a little more to the west. The start of race 4 saw Wild Goose trying a port flyer, while it looked good initially she then had to duck several boats on starboard. With a large wind shift during the course of the race it was shortened on lap 2. Blackbird were the winners with Goldeneye second and Decoy third.

Several boats were again over the line for the start of race 5 and with the wind dropping away big gains were initially made by the slowest and oldest boat in the fleet Prawn. A close tussle between Blackbird and Jackdaw led to Jackdaw taking line honours with a celebratory high five! Winners on handicap were Swallow 2 from Max Dixey/Jack Leventon in Jackdaw, with Blackbird third.

Deserved winners of the championships were Andrew and Rob Friend sailing their modern twin wire Morrison design Blackbird. They also won the Progress Cup for fastest elapsed time. A tight tussle for the other podium positions between the older traditional designs resulted in a tie between Swallow 2 and Decoy with Swallow 2 in second and Decoy third. Swallow 2 also won the Broads Haven trophy for the first traditional design. The trophy for the restricted Hard Chine class being won by Wild Goose. The Juniors trophy the Cuckoo Cup being awarded to Rainbow Trout.

Overall Results:
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