North West Norfolk Week 2026
by Alex Gore 21 Sep 06:22 PDT
8-15 August 2026
Sunrise at Blakeney - North West Norfolk Week 2026 © Neil Foster /
www.neilfosterphotography.com
North West Norfolk Week returned in 2026 with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, bringing together modern and vintage National 12s and a diverse Allcomer dinghy fleet for a week of competitive racing.
Supported by clubs along the North Norfolk Coast, the week started at Snettisham, moving onto Ouse Amateur at Saddlebow, Wells, Blakeney, Overy Staithe, and finally back to Snettisham to finish off the week. The weather was amazing, making it a perfect summer holiday on and off the water.
Saturday 8 August - Norfolk Week gets under way
Sunshine and blue skies greeted competitors at Snettisham Beach Sailing Club for the opening day of Norfolk Week.
The large fleet of dinghies entered for the whole week were joined by a strong turnout of S.B.S.C. members for the weekend, making a fleet of 50+ boats on the water. As usual Snettisham laid on great sea courses - two races were sailed back-to-back, with a triangle course for the first race followed by a sausage course in the second race.
In the first N12 race, Ian and Alex Gore from Up River YC took line honours, Steve & Joanne Sallis from Hykeham SC were second and Tom Watson & Kirsty Milne, also from Hykeham SC, were third. These results were the same for second race and therefore were same for the overall result for the day.
In the Allcomer fleet, there was only one name that appeared twice in the top three from both races and that was Nicholas Welbourn from Stokes Bay in his ILCA 7. The first race saw Laser 2000, Sam Davy and Michael Robson from SBSC in first, Nicholas second and Robbie Bell, also from SBSC, in his RS700 in third. The second race saw local Tom Playford in his RS700 take the win, with Jasper Barnham, also a local, coming second in the Solo and Nicholas in third place in his Laser.
Overall, for day one though saw Nicholas take fist, Tom Playford second and Jasper third.
Sunday 9 August - More perfect conditions
Sunday afternoon brought a dose of light wind sailing conditions to SBSC. Two further races were sailed back-to-back using the same triangle and sausage format. It was all done in a timely fashion before the tide went out exposing the vast mud flats of the Wash.
The first National 12 race saw Kevin Iles crewed by 10-year-old grandson George lead from start to finish, with Ian & Alex in second and Paul & Caroline Watson from Hykeham SC taking third. The second race saw the Gores regain the top spot, followed by the Sallis' and team Iles.
Overall then it was Ian & Alex in first, Steve & Joanne in second and Kevin and George from West Oxfordshire SC in third.
In the Allcomer fleet, the first race saw a whole host of different names at the top, with Ben Hawkes from SBSC taking the win in his Phantom, followed by Stuart Turnbull, also from SBSC, in his Hartley Zenith and Andrew Cooney from Broadwater SC in third place in his Aero 7.
The second race saw Nicholas Welbourn back in the mix in first, Ben Hawkes taking a second this time followed in third by Tim Landles, from SBSC, in his Finn.
The overall standings for Sunday's trophy were Nicholas Welbourn in first, Ben Hawkes taking second and Andrew Cooney coming third as first visitor.
Monday 10 August - Two Fleets, Two Events
As the NWNW fleet was so large, Ouse Amateur SC, based at Saddlebow near Kings Lynn, hosted two events: one in the morning for the National 12s and one in the afternoon for the Allcomer fleet.
With a beautiful view across the fields, the 12's launched for two back-to-back races. Conditions proved particularly challenging, ranging from almost no wind to sudden gusts as the fleet zig-zagged up and down the narrow channel.
Ian & Alex won both races, with father and daughter duo Steve and Joanne Sallis also taking second in both. There was battle for third overall, with John Sears and Andrea Murphy, from Notts County SC, coming third in the first race and Team Iles coming third in the second race. However, John and Andrea suffered an unfortunate capsize in the second race, leading them to retire, meaning Kevin and George had the best results to take third overall.
The Allcomer Fleet had arrived in time to see the end of the N12 racing, so they had a good idea of what was in store for them in the afternoon. With the Allcomer fleet too large for a single start, the fleet was split into two starts; the faster boats starting first followed by the slower ones.
The first race saw familiar face Nicholas Welbourn win on handicap, followed by local sailor Paul Bloom in his Supernova and in third was Phillip Highfield in his RS Aero 7. The second race saw Ian Bradley and Howard Hawkes from OASC in their Wanderer take the win, followed by Matt Pickett from Up River YC in second and Nicholas in third.
The Allcomer overall standings for Ouse Amateur SC were, Nicholas Welbourn in first, Matt Pickett in second and Ian and Howard in third.
A great day's sailing was had by all and the NWNW Fleet were made very welcome by the members at OASC.
Tuesday 11 August - Evening sailing at Wells
Making the most of the final late start of the week, having had most of the day to explore the area, competitors travelled to Wells SC for an evening race.
Beautiful sunny conditions greeted the fleet, with a favourable wind direction allowing the boats to sail out of the creek and out to into the wider harbour. Windy Wells lived up to its name, giving the windiest conditions we'd seen this week so far. A great course was set by the Committee Boat, although a few boats were caught out by some shallow spots.
The National 12 fleet were joined for the first time this week by George and Lucy Finch from Royal Harwich YC in their colourful N12 "Over the Rainbow". The Sallis duo made the most of the windier conditions to get to the windward mark first, only to go around it the wrong way. By the time they'd unwrapped themselves they'd slipped to the back of the fleet so had some catching up to do.
Tom Watson and Kirsty Milne unfortunately had to retire before the start of the race due to an unfortunate capsize which led to hull damage.
Result: 1st: Ian & Alex; 2nd: Steve & Jo; 3rd: George & Lucy
In the Allcomer Fleet, it was Nicholas Welbourn who took line honours, followed by Joseph Jackson & Sophie Uzzell in the 2000 and in third was Andrew Hewitt from St. Mary's Loch in the ILCA 6.
The sailing was rounded off with a fantastic BBQ laid on by Wells S.C which was greatly appreciated by hungry sailors.
Wednesday 12 August - An early start at Blakeney
Less than 12 hours later, Wednesday brought the first of Norfolk Week's early starts, with some competitors' alarm clocks reportedly set starting with a '4'!
Blakeney provided a spectacular setting, with sunshine and light winds making for a gentle morning on the water. The fleet zig zagged across the harbour, making use of Blakeney's many racing marks.
Local photographer Neil Foster was out on the water getting some fantastic shots of the whole fleet.
The race was completed just in time, but getting back to the dinghy park proved a challenge against the strong outgoing tide. With progress under sail becoming increasingly difficult, some competitors resorted to walking their boats back!
N12 Results:
1st Ian & Alex; 2nd Steve and Jo; 3rd Tom and Kirsty
Allcomer Results:
1st 2000, Joseph & Sophie; 2nd ILCA7, Nicholas Welbourn; 3rd ILCA6, Andrew Hewitt
AGM, BBQ and Eclipse
That evening, the fleet gathered in 'Nina's field' for the AGM and a fantastic BBQ. The social programme continued with a game of rounders, while competitors also enjoyed watching the Eclipse together.
Thursday 13 August - Brancaster's battle with the breeze
Another early start took the fleet to Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club.
Although the morning initially looked promising, the wind and tide had other ideas. Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club pulled out all the stops to try to get racing away, with the fleet being towed out to the race area.
Unfortunately, the conditions ultimately proved uncooperative, and the fleet had to be towed back ashore without a race.
Whilst we didn't get any racing in, it was just a wonderful morning to be on the water in a beautiful part of the world.
Friday 14 August - Champagne sailing at Overy Staithe
24 hours later, the wind delivered. As soon as the water arrived, Overy Staithe Sailing Club hosted a fantastic course around their stunning harbour, with the fleet enjoying some of the best conditions of the week.
N12 Results:
1st Ian & Alex; 2nd Kevin & George; 3rd Steve and Jo
Allcomer Results:
1st ILCA7, Nicholas Welbourn; 2nd RS AERO 7, David Cherrill; 3rd 2000, Joseph & Sophie
Saturday 15 August - A windy finale
The final day of North West Norfolk Week brought the fleet back to Snettisham Beach Sailing Club for two races sailed back-to-back. The wind had strengthened considerably, providing the strongest conditions and some of the most exciting racing of the week.
It turned out to be perfect practice for the N12 Championships soon to be held at Shoreham. In the first race the Gores and the Sallis' had a great battle with the Sallis being triumphant in the win. Paul and Caroline took third and John and Andrea took a well-deserved fourth in difficult conditions in their Vintage N12.
In the second race, Kevin Iles came out to play having sat out the first race as it was too windy for young George. He'd teamed up with Kirsty as unfortunately; Tom and Kirsty's centreboard broke after a capsize in the first race. Even closer racing ensued with 3 different leaders at different stages. However, the windy weather gurus Steve and Joanne took the bullet with the Gores in second and Kevin and Kirsty in third.
Allcomer Results:
1st ILCA7, Nicholas Welbourn; 2nd RS700 Colin Dacey; 3rd Jasper Barnham
NWNW - A Successful Event and Overall Results
Norfolk Week 2026 was a great family sailing week and, perhaps most importantly, a successful revival of an event that had been in danger of folding, thanks to the enthusiasm of the sailors, host clubs and volunteers.
The event welcomed a group of sailors from Broadwater Sailing Club for the first time, all who thoroughly enjoyed the week and are planning to return next year with more club members!
Above all, Norfolk Week 2026 demonstrated that there is still a real appetite for a competitive yet quirky, sociable week of dinghy sailing in North Norfolk.
With the event now firmly rejuvenated, Norfolk Week will return in 2027, with dates to be confirmed, but likely to be the first week of August. If you are interested in joining in the fun next year, then for further information please contact the association through www.norfolkweek.co.uk
National 12 Overall Results:
1st Ian and Alex Gore N3525, Up River Yacht Club
2nd Steve and Joanne Sallis N3531, Hykeham Sailing Club
3rd Kevin and George Iles N3527, West Oxfordshire Sailing Club
4th Paul and Caroline Watson N3497, Hykeham Sailing Club
1st U18 National 12 Crew - George Iles
Robin Steavenson's Three Harbours Trophy - Ian and Alex Gore
Allcomer Overall Results:
1st ILCA 7 Nicholas Welbourn, Stokes Bay SC
2nd Laser 2000 Joseph Jackson & Sophie Uzzell, RAFSA
3rd ILCA 6 Andrew Hewitt, St Mary's Loch
4th RS AERO 6 David Cherrill, Broadwater Sailing Club
5th RS AERO 7 Andrew Cooney, Broadwater Sailing Club
1st Lady - ILCA 6 Alec Denny