Norfolk Punt National Championships 2025 at the Norfolk Punt Club
by Rich Anderton 21 Aug 22:19 NZST
16-17 August 2025
Norfolk Punt National Championships 2025 on Barton Broad © David Edmund Jones
The largest turnout of Punts in recent memory competed for the 2025 championship on Barton Broad held over the 16th and 17th of August. Fireball / 505 sailor Rich Anderton shares his first experience of competing in the event...
I was lucky enough to be offered to go Punt sailing with Rob Daniels. John Friend had offered us 'Wahoo' (106) to sail. A 20' twin trapeze Norfolk Punt. Built in 2023, she has a very different look and feel from the other boats we were racing against.
The weather was perfect for a first sail - 10-12 knots, which allowed me to get used to the boat, and try and recall how to helm. She was amazingly responsive, and deceptively fast. Wahoo had just had a spinnaker fitted to her, completing the 49erFX rig that powered the boat.
The Punt is a restricted development class, and this has led to a myriad of boats over the years - all works of art, but all competing on the same racecourse, under a long-established handicap system.
The racing was fierce on the water, and incredibly social off the water. The floating clubhouse situated on Barton Broad, and some 2-3 minutes from the start line, offered a base for all to congregate before, between, and after sailing.
26 boats arrived at the start line - almost all at the same time, and off we went for the first of three 45-minute races. Being the most modern boat in the fleet, I don't feel we did Wahoo justice - but she was an amazing boat to sail. Responding quickly and rewarding patience and skill (sadly lacking from me!)
With lunch, tea and cake between races, and plenty of time to socialise, this event offered a great mix of relaxation and racing.
Races 2 and 3 followed much the same as race 1 - though I was starting to understand how to sail Wahoo. Throughout the fleet, there was tight racing, and the tactics required to navigate the broads' conditions meant that places changed often.
The evening party was hosted by Drew and Jackie Wilton who live 2 minutes from the club. Feeling immediately at home, the evening passed very quickly with no shortage of food or drink.
Day 2 provided two races in slightly lighter breeze, which mixed up the fleet again. At the end of the racing, I was offered to sail 'Swallow II' - a 1935 built punt. Being single trapeze, this was slightly closer to home - but very different to Wahoo. Another beautiful boat that handled amazingly.
Boat 19 - Prawn - was also racing. Built in 1918 she had no problems competing and ensured that the age of the fleet spanned over 100 years.
Given the chance again, I will be back.
After five races Blackbird claimed the championship title, though were pushed hard by Jackdaw and the hard chine designs Wild Goose and Wild Duck coming in second and third respectively.
Progress Cup for Fastest over the Water:
1. Blackbird
2. Jackdaw
3. Wild Goose
Hardchine Trophy:
1. Wild Goose
2. Wild Duck
3. Greylag
Broadshaven cup for traditional boats:
1. Swallow 2
2. Rushlight
3. Prawn
Cuckoo Cup for first under 18 helm or crew:
1. Snark
2. Greyling
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat name | Design | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Blackbird | Morrison | A.Friend | R.Friend | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | Wild Goose | Hard Chine | C.Stewart | T.Chandler | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Wild Duck | Hard Chine | J.Clarke | T.Evans | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| 4 | Snowgoose | Hard Chine | J.Pye | K.Armitage | 8 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 5 | Greylag | Hard Chine | E.Clifford | A.Standley | 5 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 20 |
| 6 | Razorbill | Wolstenholm | R.Parker | R.Snelling | 4 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 22 |
| 7 | Jackdaw | Morrison | M.Dixey | A.Hare | 10 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 26 |
| 8 | Swallow 2 | Traditional | E.Daniels | W.Daniels | 16 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 30 |
| 9 | Merlin | Morrison | D.Wilton | J.Clarke | 2 | 14 | 2 | 19 | 20 | 37 |
| 10 | Goosander | Bush | A.Drew | T.Howes | 9 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 41 |
| 11 | Redwing | Hard Chine | R.Reddingon | S.Mackay | 18 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 42 |
| 12 | Snark | Hard Chine | M.Elson | F.Elson A.Daniels | 15 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 49 |
| 13 | Rushlight | Traditional | C.Dixey | S.Clayton | 19 | 27 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 49 |
| 14 | Shoveler | Hard Chine | W.Johnston | K.Davies | 14 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 17 | 51 |
| 15 | Prawn | Traditional | W.Glover | A.Glover | 11 | 19 | 20 | 8 | 15 | 53 |
| 16 | Pipet | Hard Chine | J.Drew | P.Leventon | 12 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 54 |
| 17 | Wahoo | Friend | R.Anderton | R.Daniels | 13 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 57 |
| 18 | Woodpecker | Hard Chine | M.Scott | R.Scott | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 57 |
| 19 | Gamecock | Traditional | R.Owen | J.Owen | 27 | 6 | 27 | 15 | 12 | 60 |
| 20 | Cavander | Traditional | D.Conway | H.Bedford‑Payne | 23 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 60 |
| 21 | Cormorant | Morrison | B.Sawyer | E.Bolton | 6 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 66 |
| 22 | Rainbow Trout | Hard Chine | T.Vincent | H.Leveridge | 21 | 17 | 27 | 18 | 22 | 78 |
| 23 | White Eagle | Morrison | J.Holland | G.Smith | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 84 |
| 24 | Grayling | Hard Chine | U.O'Dwyer | M.O'Dwyer | 22 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 92 |
| 25 | Flamingo | Horne | J.Rudd | B.O'Dwyer | 20 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 94 |
| 26 | Swallowttail | Hard Chine | E.Francis | M.Francis | 27 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 95 |